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April 15, 2013
Former Va. Dry Cleaner to Reimburse EPA Over Cleanup Costs

PHILADELPHIA — Agency spent $616,351 on sampling, removal, disposal of contaminated soil

PHILADELPHIA — The former Jay-Cee Cleaners and former owner John L. Darby have agreed to reimburse the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for costs the agency incurred while responding to the release of hazardous substances once used at the site, the agency reports.

Darby also agreed to resolve his failure to comply with EPA’s information-gathering efforts by paying a penalty.

The Nelsonia, Va., dry cleaning business ran its operations on the property from 1957 through 2003, and used hazardous substances that included tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene and dichloroethylene, which contaminated the soil, the EPA says.

The agency oversaw sampling, removal and disposal of contaminated soil from the Jay-Cee Cleaners site between September 2007 and March 2010, at a reported cost of $616,351.

Under the proposed consent decree, Darby will pay the EPA 100% of the net sale proceeds from sale of the property, and 50% of net sale proceeds from the sale of an adjacent property behind the site.

The settlement will go toward EPA’s Superfund for future hazardous-waste cleanup efforts.

July 24, 2012
Starting Strong: Getting a New Dry Cleaning Plant Up and Running (Part 1)

CHICAGO — Each start-up is unique, but there are basic guidelines to follow

CHICAGO — Opening a new dry cleaning business is a big step, whether you’re coming in fresh to the industry and are investing for the first time or you’re a current owner who’s looking to expand your operation by adding a new location.

Each plant start-up has its own unique challenges and requirements to meet, but there are some basic guidelines to keep in mind as you pursue your new venture.

STARTING POINT

An entrepreneur has to decide whether to buy an existing plant that will produce immediate cash flow or open a new location, says industry veteran Harvey Gershenson, who worked 44 years as a dry cleaner before selling his California business in 2007 and opening a consulting firm.

And whatever choice he or she makes, Gershenson hopes that it is influenced by a thoughtful business plan. “The No. 1 thing I would suggest for anybody who’s going into the business, whether they buy existing or look to start from scratch, is to do a written business plan.”

October 25, 2011
Pessimism Abounds in Municipal Bond Market

CHICAGO — When it comes to investing your money, there’s more than enough pessimism to go around, and nowhere is it easier to find than in today’s municipal bond market. Many state and local municipalities are facing the toughest budget problems they have ever seen. California, Illinois and New Jersey are among the states wrestling with money woes. Major cities such as Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Columbus, Ohio, are on a long list of municipalities looking at major tax increases and/or cutting of services and personnel as a last resort for rising above an enveloping debt crisis.

Marilyn Cohen, president and CEO of Envision Capital Management, describes the current bond market as “the biggest slow-motion train wreck I've ever seen.”

August 16, 2011
Your Money: Leaning Toward Alternative Investments

CHICAGO — Judging from my e-mail, it’s not difficult to find savers and investors who are questioning the conventional wisdom when it comes to investing their money. With the stock market on an erratic, volatile course that seemingly leads nowhere, and yields on cash investments such as money markets and CDs almost nonexistent, more and more income-seeking investors are breaking the old rules by dipping a toe in waters they would have considered too risky a few years ago.

Instead of sticking to the philosophy that calls for portfolios laced solely with a careful mix of quality stocks, well-rated bonds and cash, these hardy souls are venturing into eyebrow-raising investments such as junk bonds, commercial real estate, options like puts and calls, and equities in emerging markets in an effort to improve the anemic and unpredictable returns they’ve been enduring of late. According to one adviser, taking on even a little more risk requires overcoming fear of foreign markets.

September 15, 2010
Industry Continues Fight for Perc in Philadelphia

PHILADEPHIA — Nearly 100 people including officials from the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) attended a public hearing last month in Philadelphia to address concerns surrounding a proposed regulation seeking to ban perchloroethylene use in co-commercial drycleaning facilities and impose stricter controls and recordkeeping requirements on perc operations.

February 1, 2010
Industry Defends Perc Use in D.C., Philadelphia

WASHINGTON — Representatives of the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI), MidAtlantic Association of Cleaners (MAC) and Korean Drycleaners Association (KDA) recently appeared at a hearing of the District of Columbia’s Committee on Government Operations and the Environment to defend perchloroethylene against a proposed ban. The Human & Environmental Health Protection Amendment Act of 2009 would ban the use of several chemicals in the District of Columbia, including perc.

June 18, 2009
DLI Names Meritorious Service Award Winners

NEW ORLEANS — The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) kicked off the pre-show educational sessions by welcoming attendees and naming the winners of its 2009 Meritorious Service Awards.

DLI gives out the Meritorious Service Awards every other year in conjunction with Clean. This year, the association gave four awards.

March 17, 2009
Industry Heads Off Philly Colocation Ban

PHILADELPHIA — After hearing testimony from industry associations early this month, Philadephia’s Air Pollution Control Board (APCB) declined to act on a proposal that would eliminate perc use in drycleaning plants colocated with residences or other businesses.

October 24, 2008
State of the Solutions: A Look at Perc’s Alternatives

CHICAGO — As perc is slowly phased out of lawful use, the industry’s longtime favorite continues to face sporadic, localized ban threats, recently in New Jersey and Philadelphia. So, what’s going on with the alternative solvents?

General acceptance of high-flashpoint hydrocarbons such as DF-2000 and EcoSolv is driving most machinery sales. Variations on hydrocarbons such as no-distill, powder-filtration options and the vaporized hydrocarbon iPura system are also attracting fans.

August 19, 2008
Industry Testimony Delays Philadelphia Perc Ban

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Air Pollution Control Board has delayed a proposed ban on perchloroethylene in all co-located facilities, thanks in large part to oral and written comments provided by members of the drycleaning industry, including the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute’s (DLI) Jon Meijer and Dale Kaplan and the Pennsylvania and Delaware Cleaners Association’s (PDCA) Carol Memberg.