Fact Sheet: Drycleaning and Waste Reduction

Office of Waste Reduction
November 1988

Drycleaners are Prime Candidates for Waste Reduction.

Typical wastes generated by drycleaners include spent perchloroethylene ("perc"), still bottoms from distillation of solvents, spent filter cartridges, cooked powder residue and water contaminated with "perc." These wastes are categorized as dangerous wastes by Washington State's Dangerous Waste Regulations (Chapter 173-303 WAC). All dangerous wastes must be managed and disposed of legally. In order to run your shop as economically and efficiently as possible you should reduce all types of wastes including dangerous wastes, solid wastes, and air and water emissions.

There are a variety of ways that you can reduce the amount of waste that you generate and in turn reduce your operating costs. Potential dangerous waste reduction techniques for drycleaners include:

"Good Housekeeping"

Good housekeeping measures can greatly decrease the amount of wastes that are generated. To reduce excess waste production:

Substitute Raw Materials

Consider replacing your current raw materials with raw materials that reduce the amount or toxicity of the waste that you generate. For example, if you use a solvent other than perchloroethylene, use one which is not considered ignitable. (Ignitable solvents have a flash point of 1400 F. or less.) Check with your supplier for more information. You should always take into consideration the cost of disposal when you are deciding what raw materials to purchase.

Modify Your Process

If you are currently using a wet-to-dry cleaning unit, consider replacing it with a dry-to-dry unit. In wet-to-dry units you lose solvents in the transfer process.

Use refrigerated condensation systems to reduce vapor losses.

In order to qualify for the "closed loop" exemption in the Washington state Dangerous Waste Regulations, your system must be completely contained in tanks and pipes, all vapors being vented must be filtered and all wastes that are considered dangerous wastes must be sent to a treatment, storage, disposal facility. Wastes considered to be dangerous wastes include the distillation still bottoms, filters, and waste water if contaminated with over 100 ppm "perc."

Solvent Recycling

There are several methods you can use to reclaim "perc" from your system. "Perc" is expensive, so the more of it you can reclaim, the more money you will save. Recycling methods include:

Energy and Materials Conservation Program

Instituting a comprehensive conservation program can save money and valuable resources. For instance:

The Washington State Energy Office (206-586-5078) can provide you with written materials to help you analyze your energy consumption and determine how to achieve the best use of your energy resources.

Non-Hazardous Waste Reduction Methods

Non-hazardous waste reduction methods used successfully by Washington businesses include:

For more information on waste reduction techniques call Washington State's Waste Reduction Information Line toll-Free at 1-800-822-9933.

Information for this Fact Sheet was obtained in part from the Alaska Health Project.

Produced by:
Washington State Department of Ecology
Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling
Mail Stop PV-11
Olympia, WA 98504-8711
(206) 438-7541


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Last Updated: May 5, 1997