SPOKANE, Wash., April 8 (UPI) -- Some people in western Washington state say they are making smuggling expeditions to Idaho for old-style dishwasher detergent.
Spokane County, which shares a border with Idaho, banned phosphate detergents in July. But there are those who say the more environmentally friendly ones just do not do the job, ABC News reported Tuesday.
Lisa Brewer told ABC she ran through her stockpile this week.
"I understand what they're trying to do, but when you have to wash a load of dishes twice that's a dilemma," said Brewer, who is one of those hauling detergent back home on trips to Idaho.
Randy McIntire, a spokesman for grocery chain Super 1 Foods, confirms there are many Washington residents crossing the state line to get the good stuff.
"When Washington first banned, we had a difficult time keeping it in stock," said McGuire. "I talked to a person who was buying six boxes."
Phosphates help get dishes clean by acting as a water softener. Unfortunately, when the chemical gets into the water supply, it stimulates algae growth in rivers and lakes, depriving water of oxygen and threatening fish stocks.
By summer 2010, the rest of Washington will ban phosphate detergents along with Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont and Virginia.
