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October 23, 2012
Balancing New Illinois Perc Law and Small Business

DOLTON, Ill. — New state law blurs dry cleaner focus on providing good service: Spomar

DOLTON, Ill. — Illinois is once again a leader in making it more difficult to own and operate a small business.

A new state law will require all new dry cleaning machines, beginning in 2013, to have “primary and secondary” control systems to reduce the concentration of perchloroethylene (perc), and to have sealed containment structures to contain leaks or spill by 2014.

This is really not an imposition, because a business owner knows in advance what is required for a new unit. As third-generation units die out, they cannot be replaced. Only fourth- and fifth-generation units are allowed on end date, but a review will be allowed.

A tougher safety measure on the use of perc requires dry cleaners to utilize “best management practices” while using the solvent. When a dry cleaning facility is operating dry cleaning machines, it will be required to have at least one person present who is trained and certified. The Illinois Drycleaner Environmental Response Trust Fund Council must approve the training. Proof of training must be available at each plant, and a refresher course must be taken every four years.

September 10, 2012
Md. Dry Cleaner Gets Suspended Sentence for Illegal Waste Disposal

BALTIMORE — Drums containing dry cleaning solvent waste illegally dumped along roadside

BALTIMORE — Discount Dry Cleaners LLC, Laurel, Md., and its owner, Mehret Sium, 58, have been convicted of improperly disposing of hazardous waste in Maryland’s Anne Arundel County, reports state Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler.

Sium, on behalf of her business, pleaded guilty to illegal disposal of hazardous materials. She personally pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to comply with hazardous waste transportation requirements.

The convictions stem from a March 9 incident when the Maryland Department of the Environment Hazardous Response Team was contacted regarding a suspected hazardous drum dumping on Dicus Mill Road near Millersville.

Investigators from the Attorney General’s Environmental Crimes Unit found 18 drums varying in size from 5 to 35 gallons that contained hazardous waste from dry cleaning solvent. Numerous containers had no lids, and none was properly packaged, labeled or marked pursuant to Department of Transportation regulations. The drums were traced back to Discount Dry Cleaners.

June 6, 2007
Florida Cleaner Charged with Hazwaste Violations

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) says it charged Dry Cleaning Warehouse operator Luis Reyes with the improper storage and disposal of hazardous wastes in late April, each third-degree felonies punishable by up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

May 23, 2007
As A Petroleum User, What Should I Do with These Cartridges?

Q: Our process has used petroleum solvent since 1946. Twenty-five years ago, we started using a charcoal filtration system. What is the best and most appropriate way to dispose of the cartridges?

A: In our opinion, the only way to dispose of any type of solvent-related waste is to give it to a licensed hazardous-waste hauler.

Although petroleum wastes may be able to be disposed of at a facility that accepts waste oil, there may be an issue with cross-contamination from solvents or spotting agents present in the waste.