In 2010, the states of Washington and California enacted legislation addressing the presence of copper and other heavy metals used in brake friction materials. Environmental organizations maintain that remnants of these metals can find their way into water supplies and cause contamination. The legislation put into motion a program that would start in 2014 and phase copper out of brake production over the course of eleven years. Brake manufacturers are slowly complying with the schedule put forth by California and Washington, but some companies have proactively worked to stay ahead of these changes.
