Washington State Department of Ecology: Fact Sheet Number 5 - Drycleaners

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 you 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 waste reduction techniques for drycleaners include:

"Good Housekeeping"

1. Eliminate both liquid and vapor leaks by conducting a regular maintenance program including:
   
   1. Periodically replace the seals on the dryer deodorizer and aeration valves, the door gasket on the button trap and the gasket on the cleaning machine door.
      
   2. Repair holes in air and exhaust ducts
      
   3. Check hose connections and couplings
      
   4. Clean lint screens to avoid clogging fans and condensers
      
   5. Check baffle assembly in cleaning machine
      
   6. Check air relief valves for proper closure
      
   7. Monitor for vapor losses with solvent leak detectors
      
   8. Check to see that your water/solvent separator is working currently. If there is an unusually large amount of "perc" in your collection bucket, it is not working correctly.

2. Track your solvent "mileage" (pounds of clothes per drum of "perc"), to make sure your equipment is running efficiently. If mileage drops, call your equipment supplier for assistance. Good housekeeping measures can greatly decrease the amount of wastes that are generated. To reduce excess waste production:
   
   1. Adjust water flow through condensing coil so that entry and exit temperatures are within 100 Fahrenheit of each other.
      
   2. Keep tight fitting lids and bungs on containers to prevent loss of chemicals through evaporation or spillage. Keeping lids on containers also prevents contamination with water, dirt or other materials.
      
   3. Use spigots and pumps when dispensing new materials and funnels when transferring wastes to storage containers to reduce the possibility of spills.
      
   4. Provide secondary containment in areas where "perc" and "perc" wastes are stored.
   5. Store products in locations that will preserve their shelf life.
      
   6. Accumulate wastes indoors or in a covered area to prevent moisture from seeping in.
      
   7. Never mix different types of waste together. Mixing wastes may make recycling impossible, or make waste disposal much more expensive.

3. Modify your process
   
   1. 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.
      
   2. Use refrigerated condensation systems to reduce vapor losses.

4. 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:
   
   1. Distilling your spent "perc" in a distillation unit.
      
   2. Capturing the "perc" vapors which are vented from your machine, and passing them through an activated carbon filter. The "perc" is then reclaimed by passing steam, in reverse, through the carbon filter.
      
   3. Using "sniffers" to draw in the "perc" vapors from the shop, and then using the same process to reclaim the "perc."

5. Water Recycling
   
   1. Condensate water (water that has been in contact with "perc") is a dangerous waste. Wherever possible, reuse it in your dry cleaning equipment. It should never be put into a septic system, and should not enter a sewer without permission from your sewer utility.

6. Make sure that personnel are well trained.
   
   1. Your workers need proper training: for their health and safety, for the health of your business, and for the health of the environment.
      
   2. Research has shown that this is the most critical step in waste reduction.

For copies of publications or referral call 1-800-RECYCLE.

This publication has been produced by the Waste Reduction, Recycling and Litter Control Program of the Washington State Department of Ecology. This non-regulatory program seeks to promote source reduction, recycling and the prevention of waste through education and technical assistance.