Pollution Prevention and Dry Cleaning
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Resource Sheets
With increasing concerns regarding air pollution, waste reduction and health effects from exposure to chemicals, PACE often receives requests for a dry cleaner certification program. PACE typically helps businesses go above and beyond compliance or address non-regulatory waste issues. However, the dry cleaning industry is already heavily regulated to control emissions, and few cost-effective options are available for existing facilities. The following information provides an overview of the regulations and chemical issues affecting dry cleaners, and some alternative technologies for the consumer to look for when selecting a dry cleaner.
Dry Cleaning Regulations
Colorado dry cleaning 40 CFR Part 63 Subpart M describes control technology guidelines for various dry cleaning equipment, compliance dates, and operation and maintenance standards including leak detection and record keeping techniques. The document also details the potential sources for each source level: small area sources, large area sources, major sources etc. The regulation requires all perchloroethlyene facilities to have been in compliance with this document by September 22, 1996.
Traditional Dry Cleaning
Traditional dry cleaning creates both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, including solvent distillation residues, powder residues, spent filter cartridges, solvents which have been spilled, packaging (boxes, bottles, plastics), maintenance wastes, solvent containing emissions as well as steam and heat loss.
The primary solvents used in traditional dry cleaning are perchlorethylene, Stoddard petroleum solvent or fluorocarbon-113 (Valclene, 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane). Perchlorethylene (known as "perc"), which has been associated with causing cancer, lung damage and disorders of the nervous and reproductive systems is the most common solvent used in the United States. Workers, as well as people exposed to clothes that have been dry cleaned with perc, are all at potential risk.
Alternative Technologies
Some alternatives to traditional dry cleaning methods reduce air pollution and chemical exposure. Wet cleaning is one such alternative, which uses a water-based cleaning method. It utilizes computer-controlled washing and drying systems, steam cleaning and hand washing. Wet cleaning systems include a high tech washer, specially formulated biodegradable detergents, a high tech dryer, and proper employee training in cleaning skills, fabric types, and fabric care.
Alternative dry cleaning chemicals can also be used to reduce the quantities of hazardous waste generated. Solvents such as the Fluid-2000, an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, can be used in closed loop systems and once spent can be disposed of as used oil. Dried sludge and filters can be disposed of in the landfill.
Technological improvements in perc systems have been effective in reducing air emissions. A sealed closed-loop system with improved filtration and refrigerated condensers can potentially reduce hazardous air pollutant emissions by 90% and hazardous waste generation by 60%. These systems can decrease worker and customer risk, leaving very little perc residue on clothes.
Resources with more information on the dry cleaning process or industry regulations can be found below:
Center for Neighborhood Technology
2125 West North Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647
www.cnt.org
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Pollution Prevention Program
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO 80246
303-692-2000
www.cdphe.state.co.us
"Environment", "Air Pollution Control Division", "Downloadable Files", "APEN-Dry Cleaners"
Montana State University
Extension Service
Solid Waste and Pollution Prevention Program
406-994-3451
www.montanta.edu/wwwcxair
The Small Business Hazardous Materials Management Project
Alaska Health Project
431 West 7th Ave
Suite 101
Anchorage, AK 99501
907-276-2864
Boulder County Health Department
Environmental Health
303-441-1147
University of Nebraska
Cooperative Extension
402-472-8656
wwoldt1@unl.edu
EPA
Office of Small Business
1-888-EPA-1996
www.epa.state.il.us/small-business/perc/index.html
www.enviroclean.com
www.ifi.org
www.dnrec.state.de.us/deldrycl.htm
www.cciw.ca/glimr/data/final-green-clean/