A Bill to require manufacturers to fit microplastic-catching filters to new domestic and commercial washing machines; to make provision about the promotion of the use of microplastic-catching filters in washing machines and raising awareness about the consequences of microplastics from washing machines for pollution in rivers and seas; and for connected purposes.
House of Lords
10 June 2026
May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.
This Lords Bill would require new domestic and commercial washing machines sold or used in England to include microplastic-catching filters, aiming to trap about 90% of microplastics by mass for particles down to 10 micrometres. The rules would be laid out in regulations with a target date of no later than 1 January 2030, and the bill also imposes a duty to promote environmental benefits and raise awareness about microplastics (including in schools); the Government could publish guidance for public bodies. The Act would apply to England and Wales and would take effect on the day it is passed. Currently, the bill is at the 1st Reading in the Lords, with no amendments or committee recommendations recorded in the public trail yet.
The bill is currently at the 1st Reading in the Lords (as of 10 June 2026). There are no published amendments or committee recommendations yet in the public trail; the next stage would be the 2nd Reading in the Lords and further proceedings.
Generated 11 June 2026
10 Jun 2026
First reading took place on 10 June. This stage is a formality that signals the start of the bill's journey through the Lords.
What happens next?
Second reading - the general debate on all aspects of the bill - is yet to be scheduled.
The Bill would require new domestic and commercial washing machines sold or used in England to have qualifying microplastic-catching filters that typically catch about 90% of microplastics by mass for particles down to 10 μm. The requirement would be implemented by regulations to take effect no later than 1 January 2030, with offences for non‑compliance and enforcement via statutory instruments; it also imposes a duty to promote environmental benefits and raise awareness of microplastic pollution (including in schools), and allows the Secretary of State to publish guidance to public bodies. The Act applies to England and Wales and takes effect on the day it is passed.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
