Posted on 01/29/2007 4:42:23 AM PST by radar101
Ban on solvent may be disastrous for state's businesses
In the near future, the "Dry Clean Only" tag on clothes may become a thing of the past.
Last week at a meeting in Sacramento, California Air Resources Board enacted the nation's first statewide ban of perchloroethylene - a toxic solvent used in more than 70 percent of the state's dry-cleaning machines.
At the urging of environmentalists, dry cleaners will be banned from buying machines that rely on perchloroethylene beginning in January 2008. Also, those with such equipment must halt using them by 2023.
In 1991, the state declared perchloroethylene a toxic chemical.
"It's not good (for the industry)" said Nicholas Naccara, owner of Empire Cleaners in Rancho Cucamonga.
Naccara's equipment uses perchloroethylene, a popular dry-cleaning method in which the solvent replaces water to clean fabrics.
Naccara, who owns two dry cleaners and has been in the business for 10 years, said the cost of changing his machines will affect his businesses, both of which are already struggling due to rent increases.
"If you have to take the old (machines) out and put in new ones, you have to raise the prices," he said.
The new regulations will raise a customer's bill at least 10 percent, according to CARB estimates.
Chino Hills resident Kurt Allan said he will continue to utilize cleaners' services even if the prices rise, but said he hopes alternatives will become available.
"I just hope there are other alternatives that don't put the cost of dry cleaning out of reach," said Allan, who agrees with the ban because it will be better for the environment.
Alice Orona, of Ontario, who takes her clothes to the cleaners once a week, was surprised to learn most dry cleaners use a soon-to-be-banned toxic chemical.
"I'm still going to get my clothes dry-cleaned," Orona said. "Even if the cost goes up."
The owner of Ontario Cleaners, Daniel Jussicha, said one reason he switched to a nontoxic wet-cleaning method, which uses carbon dioxide, is because his landlord threatened to raise his rent if he didn't dispose of a perchloroethylene machine.
On a regular basis, the landlord sent an inspector over to make sure the harmful liquid wasn't damaging the floor, said Jussicha, who was told he would also have to seal the floor if he continued.
"That would cost about $8,000," he said.
In October 2004, Jussicha installed the wet cleaning system.
Last week, he was invited to the air resources board's hearing in Sacramento, where he shared the results from his environmentally friendly method.
"I spoke about safety and health issues, and cleaning results," he said.
Jussicha said he used to carry an inhaler for asthma because it would flare up when the old machine was running due to the strong fumes. Now, he rarely uses it.
Health officials told the board that perchloroethylene could cause several cancers, including esophageal, lymphoma, cervical and bladder cancer.
"Coalition for Clean Air has been working for more than a decade to remove this toxin from dry cleaning," said Annette Kondo, spokeswoman for CFCA, an environmental group.
She said she hopes the statewide ban will spread to the rest of the country.
"We are the first state to do this, and it's the wave of the future," she said.
Kondo said the 15-year phaseout is to give the small business owner plenty of time to convert.
Reports show that 85 percent of dry cleaners are small business owners with slim profit margins. The new equipment costs between $41,000 and $175,000.
Jussicha said he paid $40,000 for his wet cleaning system, but took advantage of rebates totaling $20,000 offered as an incentive by the state and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Naccara said the ban may force dry-cleaning business owners out of the state, and he's not looking forward to making the change.
"Why is the perch only banned here?" he said. "There's no proof it causes cancer."
Perchloroethylene's cleaning capabilities make it the best chemical to remove grease and oil.
Jussicha said the wet cleaning system works great on stains because most stains are water-based.
"If you wash it with a water-based system, it will easily wash out," he said.
Another dry-cleaning option uses hydrocarbons, which are a source of air pollution, and environmentalists have urged the state ban its use as well.
Jussicha said he chose the wet cleaning method because the hydrocarbon system uses flammable chemicals similar to diesel.
Staff writer Shelli DeRobertis can be reached by e-mail at shelli.derobertis@dailybulletin.com, or by phone at (909) 483-8555.
As long as people have expensive clothes, they will pay the price of dry cleaning. It is silly to talk of a dry cleaner leaving the state. It is an inherently local business. In any case, even the opponents of this regulation were talking about a 10% increase.
Nobody (sane) is going to ruin a $500 silk skirt by trying to wash it because the price for cleaning goes from $5 to $5.50, or for that matter $7.50.
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