Albany-New York is banning phosphorus in lawn fertilizer starting Jan. 1, 2012, and is phasing in a ban on phosphorus in dishwasher detergent after the legislative measure was signed last month by Gov. David Patterson. Phosphorus fertilizer will be allowed only to establish a new lawn or if tests show that the lawn does not contain enough of the nutrient. It will also be prohibited on impervious surfaces. Application will be banned within 20 feet of any surface water except where there is a vegetative buffer of at least 10 feet or where the fertilizer is applied by a device with a spreader guard, deflector shield, or drop spreader at least three feet from surface water. No application will be allowed between Dec. 1 and April 1. The provision does not apply to use by agriculture or for gardens. Retailers are being allowed to sell their inventory of phosphorus detergent in stock as of Aug. 14 until Oct. 13. Sixteen states have enacted a law that requires phosphorus-free household detergents starting July 1, 2010 – Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
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