I just read a somewhat humerous but sobering article in my local paper.
New environmental rules seem to have spurred a flurry of inter-state smuggling.
Last July, Spokane County Washington became the launch pad for our nation's strictest ban on dishwasher detergents made with phosphates. It is well known that phosphates are a heavy water polluter and this is an attempt to reduce water pollution! The ban will become statewide come July 2010 and several other states are expected to follow suit!
Now for the smuggling part: It would appear that "green" detergents do (1) Not cut grease and (2) Don't get dishes clean. Those folks in Spokane County were forced to either wash their dishes by hand, put them through a pot & pan cycle (more water) or head East on Interstate 90 into Idaho....for the real deal! One, unnamed, Consumer says"everyone she knows buys their soap in Idaho". The manager of the Costco in Coeur d'Alene Idaho estimates his detergent sales have increased 10%.
Among the other States considering a like ban are our sister states of Vermont and Massachusetts.
For years our border businesses in NH have benefited from tobacco and liquor pricing and our lack of sales tax......do we have another potential source of revenue? On which side will the Legislative debate land? Will we too go green or encourage non-green sales benefits?
Boy....Kermie was right! It's not easy being green! 
Concord NH Realtor Area Information
NH's Four Seasons
Joan Mirantz - Joni is a Realtor® with Homequest Real Estate, a locally owned, Customer Service oriented Firm.
Joan Publishes a monthly Newsletter "Food For Thought" under the pen name Realtor Sherpa.
(Joan also answers to Miz Maven and Miss Joni.)
Joan works in Buyer and Seller Representation with concentrations in the Merrimack Valley Area and towns surrounding Concord NH - the Capital City.
"I love what I do, and it shows in how I do it"
Having crossed over to the "other side of Middle Age" herself....Joan is an ongoing source of information about local programs, facilities and issues specific to her peers!
Livin' the Life...and Ridin' the Wave
Joan,
I love your last comment and the Kermit photo; it's not easy being green. :)
Mike in Tucson
Hi Joan, I read this n our paper today. Green can not only NOT BE easy but it may end up getting a lot more expensive as well. Just when we all caught on to the idea that we should try and do our part. There is no easy answer to these issues today and I can guess that a few people are getting rich with " Go Green". I could not imagine driving to another state for laundry detergent. Looks maybe like some of the voters need to change the office holders that are just keeping their seats warm.
Joan, saw this on the news last night. NASCAR racing was started by the guys that were running alcohol during the prohibition. Will this be the start of another sport? LOL
Hi Joan. I don't want to sound alarmist, but we have messed things up enough that I really hope our kids will be able to restore balance to the earth. It's not easy being green, but it's a bit of an illusion to believe that we really have a choice. What your state is trying to do is worthwhile if there is no way to redirect the phosphates to productive plant growth.
Nagab.org is a great resource for realtors.
Joan, good for NH! That's funny. I lived a short time (3 years) in MA and I remember one Superbowl Sunday making a beer run for the NH border! Very funny stuff. In TX (where I grew up and currently live) you can buy beer at grocery stores on Sunday after noon!! Anyway, we were hosting, and hadn't prepared...
This reminds me when I was a kid and the bootlegger would come to the house with a suitcase.. he would open it and there were labels from whiskey, scotch, vodka, brandy... You would put in your order and the goods came from a neighboring state. Now, we will have detergent labels!
Joan, The greener products are more expensive but I use them. I think we've all had enough chemicals in our lives.
Hi Joan... I try to use "green" products, but only when I am confident they do the job that I need them to. Dishwasher detergents that don't cut through grease or clean dishes would be worthless.
Mike....any excuse to use a picture of Kermie!
Hi William...This "dilemma" just served to point out to people that "going green" can mean some difficult choices or a change in how we do things we have as "normal"....we may have to hand wash our dishes?
Ron...The whole thing conjured up very amusing scenarios in my head too. Remember the Seniors making bus trips to Canada?
Bob....I agree we all have some serious choices ahead. But here in NH the benefits of "green" vs. in creased revenue will be making for some lively discussion!
Brian....the border wars still flourish!
Joan....what a hoot! You should do a post about that!
Carole....I try to also. But some of them are really crappy! (pardon my French:0))
Well Steve....start stocking upon the good stuff!!! LOL
Joni,
There must be a way to have it both ways! Come US chemist, I know you can do it!
Joni~
Possibly...the more quality of lifeissues come to the attention of the general public, the more demand for products that support wellness ...the less expensive they will be...or else someone will invent an electric car that runs at the speed of light =)
Hi Joan - I agree with you and Kermit! The more I try to go green, the more I realize it's filled with trade-offs. Less phospate - more water. High cost window replacements - Lower utility bills... the trade-offs continue. We just need to try to do our best to make wise choices. But, sometimes the choices are not black & white (no pun intended)!
It's funny how "green" parallels the financial mess. You just can't legislate honorable actions into place. People will find a way to do what they want until somebody catches them and forces them to change.
You know when I saw the pic of Kermit, I was singing in my head, "Its not easy being green" so your last comment made me smile. I would think that the "green" products would also be less damaging to your health which would make them even more appealing. After all, our heath is one of the most basic things we have. I don't know about forcing people to be green, but then again it has worked with automobiles. Great post.
Cynthia...unfortunately they won't invest the money into the research until they can see the potential profit!
Hi janeanne....you must be the lady of a thousand faces! Every picture of you looks totally different!
Marlene..I agree with you. Until the products get better (or our expectations lower) being green is a struggle!
Michael...how true! Doesn't say too much for our "modern day" society does it? Whatever happened to personal responsibility?
Rich...I suspect a compromise of some sort will have to be reached. Going back to basics does have its limits :0)
Joan, We all remember how good those Al Gore water saving toilets worked - the market for old fashioned toilets went out the roof, Karen
Karen....that's funny cause I was thinking about the first time I saw a composting toilet....didn't thinkit was so wonderful after I saw it!