Case
Study
DRYCLEANING SHOPS
Dry Cleaners: Switch to Wet Cleaning Process
| Company | Morrison Suede & Leather/Avenue Cleaners 401 East 17th Avenue Denver, CO 80203 |
|---|---|
| Person to Contact | Jim Orlin, CEO Telephone: (303) 894-9911 or (800) 982-6746 |
| Product or Service | Laundering/Dry Cleaning Leathers and Suedes, Textile Garments. |
| Number of Employees | 19 |
| Waste Stream Targeted | Perchloroethylene (Perc) Emissions |
| Original System | Dry-to-Dry Dry Cleaning System using perchloroethylene (perc). (Western Automation Vibramatic 150 with distillation unit and sniffer). Perc is a hazardous air pollutant (HAP) and potential human carcinogen. Waste such as filters must be disposed of as hazardous waste. Perc dissolves grease and oil from clothing without wetting the fibres (without using water). In the old system perc was used for 98% of their cleaning (leathers, suedes, textiles, etc.). |
| New System (with P2 Modifications) |
85% of Leather and Suedes and 25% of Textiles are cleaned by a Wet Cleaning process. Wet Cleaning is a water-based alternative to dry cleaning that includes high-tech washing, drying, and finishing equipment, and biodegradable detergents that leave water recyclable. Clothes are protected from shrinkage and wrinkling through precisely controlled water temperatures, mechanical action (agitation), chemical injection, and washing and drying times. |
| Cost Savings | |
| Initial Equipment Cost | Aqua Clean System (Wascomat wet cleaning washer/dryer) - $39,000. Veit 8315 Pressing Machine - $16,000. |
| Material Costs | 80% less perc is used under the new system, at a cost savings of $5,500/yr. Costs of the chemicals designed for wet cleaning and spotting have not yet been quantified. Water usage/costs have increased, but have not been quantified. Energy requirements have not changed significantly. |
| Waste Disposal Cost Savings | Waste disposable costs associated with Perc, including filters, have decreased by ~80%; however, actual cost savings have not been quantified. |
| Major Benefits | Reduced Perchloroethylene (HAPs) emissions by 80%. Reduced hazardous waste disposal by 80%. Positive Business Image. Improved worker health and safety and reduced liability. Reduced potential for spills and leaks of perc and the associated liability. Wet cleaning is superior to dry cleaning in quality and performance in a wide variety of garments. Colors won't fade with wet cleaning and there is no "chemical smell". |
| Obstacles | Successful wet cleaning takes skill and experience, and a learning
curve is involved in the process change. Special finishing (pressing) equipment is required (wet cleaned garments are more difficult/time consuming to press without special equipment). Some garments will still need solvent-cleaning. Morrison will maintain the Perc Dry-to-Dry machine for these garments. Their goal is to eventually do wet cleaning on 60% - 80% of textile garments. |
| Source/Supplier | Aqua Clean Systems, Inc. 469 Doughty Blvd. P.O. Box 960338 Inwood, NY 11096-0338 Telephone: (516) 371-4513 or (800) 645-2204 Note: Other Wet Cleaning Equipment/Suppliers are available. Morrison chose Aqua Clean because they seemed to provide the most advanced technology in wet cleaning available at the time. |
| Time Since Implementation | 3 years - wet cleaning with leathers/suedes. 6 months - wet cleaning textiles. (12/28/95) |
| Main Reason Implemented | Improved quality and performance of professional wet cleaning. Reduce costs and liability associated with use of perchloroethylene. |
| Key to Success in Making this P2 Modification | Management support/commitment to quality products and pollution prevention. |
Created by Lighthouse Communications Group, LLC.
Edited for use on this site by Ronald Lee Still and posted with
permission of CDPHE.