Wet Cleaning Demonstration
Site Incentive Grant Program
Professional Wet Cleaning:
Elimination of Perchloroethylene in Commercial Cleaning
Operations
Introduction
Toxics Use Reduction Institute Mission
The Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) provides the resources and tools to help
Massachusetts businesses and communities make the Commonwealth a safer and healthier place
to live and work. Established by the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act of 1989, TURI
provides research, training, technical support, laboratory services and grant programs to reduce
the use of toxic chemicals while enhancing the economic competitiveness of local businesses.
TURI collaborates with diverse groups such as communities, businesses, institutions, and
government and public entities to develop innovative ideas and share best practices. TURI
focuses on pollution prevention related to the use of toxic chemicals rather than the treatment
of wastes once they are produced.
One of the ways TURI works with Massachusetts industries is to provide incentive grant funds
to companies that are committed to the purchase, installation and sustained operation of
innovative technologies. The grantee for this program also commits to conducting open house
events to assure wide sharing of the lessons learned and the benefits of this technology.
Wet Cleaning Demonstration Site Incentive Grant
TURI is committed to providing assistance to Massachusetts
garment cleaners in switching from perchloroethylene to wet
cleaning. Perc has been targeted for elimination by the US
Environmental Protection Agency by 2020 for all facilities that
are co-located with residences. This restriction will likely be
carried out in Massachusetts as well. Other states have stricter
limitations on the use of perc in commercial cleaning operations,
and as a result there has been an upswing in the development of
technologies to replace traditional perc dry cleaning.
The Wet Cleaning
Demonstration Site
Incentive Grants program
focuses on the
installation of innovative
wet cleaning equipment
Toxics Use Reduction Institute
University of Massachusetts Lowell • 600 Suffolk St. • Lowell, Massachusetts 01854
Ph: (978) 934-3275 • Fax: (978) 934-3050 • Web: www.turi.org
Why Should I Be Concerned About Perc?
Short-term exposure to perc can cause symptoms such as skin, eye, and respiratory irritation,
headache, and nausea. Very high exposure can cause death. Long term exposure may damage
the liver, kidneys, or central nervous system. The International Agency for Research on Cancer
(IARC) has categorized perc as a probable human carcinogen (Group 2A). The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified perc as reasonably anticipated to be a
human carcinogen (Group B/C,). Perc may also affect the developing fetus.
Perchloroethylene is widely used in dry cleaning of garments
in Massachusetts, creating the potential for worker and
consumer exposures. Consumer exposure may stem from
clothes dry cleaned with older machines.
Perc most often enters the environment through fugitive emissions from dry cleaning, vapor
degreasing and other industry uses, as well as through accidental releases to air, soil or water.
People can be exposed to perc through consumer products, environmental contamination, or
exposures at work. Perc has been found in the breast milk of mothers exposed to the chemical.
How is TURI Helping?
To facilitate the development and use of techniques
that reduce the use of toxic chemicals, TURI offers an
incentive grant to one Massachusetts commercial
cleaning establishment that is currently using
perchloroethylene (perc) in its dry cleaning operations.
By implementing a conversion from perc-based
solvent dry cleaning to innovative professional wet
cleaning technology, the recipient of the grant will
realize cost savings associated with chemical use,
handling and disposal, and energy reductions as well as
worker health and safety benefits.
A grant of up to $15,000 will
be awarded to one
Massachusetts commercial
cleaner to switch from perc
dry cleaning to dedicated
professional wet cleaning
Eligibility
Eligibility criteria for applicants are broad. An eligible recipient of the wet cleaning incentive
grant (the grantee) will need to be a commercial cleaner in Massachusetts who is committed to
converting dry cleaning operations to dedicated professional wet cleaning. Consultants,
researchers and others who may have an expertise in alternatives to dry cleaning but who do not
themselves operate a commercial cleaning facility in Massachusetts are not eligible to participate
in this program.
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Project Requirements
The goal of the Wet Cleaning Demonstration Site Incentive Grant program is to promote the
conversion of commercial cleaning establishments in Massachusetts to safer alternatives such as
wet cleaning. Experience in other states indicates that cost savings are maximized by converting
to dedicated wet cleaning; therefore the grantee for this incentive grant will be committed to
converting to dedicated wet cleaning, with the understanding that the conversion will require a
long-term commitment to achieving sustained use of that technology.
This project will provide the opportunity for the grantee to receive positive media
coverage through case study reports and open house events that may include
presentations by high level environmental officials and legislators.
This grant will help fund the purchase and installation of professional wet cleaning equipment,
and the collection of operations data, including one year of past data based on the use of perc
and then through one full year of operation as a dedicated wet cleaner. The grantee will be
asked to participate in future demonstrations where their successes can be shared with other
cleaners and the public.
Deliverables
Equipment Purchase and Installation Plan
Because of the nature of this project, the grantee will be responsible for providing a written plan
on the criteria it will use to identify the equipment it intends to purchase, the estimated
installation time line, and a plan for gathering operational data. This plan will be due to TURI
no later than one (1) month after the award of the incentive grant. TURI will provide assistance
to the grantee in developing this plan.
Case Study Report
The grantee must provide the information for a case study report explaining the company’s
conversion to dedicated wet cleaning technology. The report should include a summary of the
technologies and techniques used, presentation of the data analysis including any resulting
reduction in toxic chemical usage and hazardous by-product emissions, and a discussion of the
challenges and benefits associated with the conversion that it has experienced or foresees. This
report will be prepared mainly by TURI staff.
As part of the case study development, the grantee will be asked to monitor key data associated
with the conversion to dedicated wet cleaning. Baseline (i.e., before conversion) and postconversion data for parameters such as the following must be gathered:
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Number of claims made by customers
Energy consumption (associated with electrical and natural gas usage as applicable)
Water usage
Chemical purchase, storage and handling costs
Product throughput
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Load capacity
Worker health issues
Ergonomic concerns
Training time requirements
Project Funding and Data Collection
Funding
The incentive grant is for $15,000, and is intended to be used to off-set the purchase and
installation costs of state-of-the-art wet cleaning equipment. TURI will assist the grantee in
identifying other sources of financial assistance, which may include the facility’s electricity
provider. TURI can also provide information on sources for small business loans.
Proposal
Facilities interested in applying for the incentive grant will be asked to complete a brief proposal
that includes a commitment letter from the company owner to implement and utilize dedicated
wet cleaning at its operation. The proposal must also indicate the facility’s financial ability to
provide the remaining amount for the purchase and installation of the equipment, and
demonstrate the facility’s ability to pursue an aggressive schedule for that purchase and
installation.
For more information on the proposal process, contact Joy Onasch, TURI’s Community and
Small Business Program Manager, at 978-934-4343 or by email at joy@turi.org.
Data Collection
Once TURI awards the incentive grant, the grantee will begin immediately capturing appropriate
baseline data for the case study report. The grantee will be asked to coordinate the data
collection with TURI to assure that all appropriate data are collected. Data will also need to be
collected after the installation of the new equipment is complete. The grantee will also collect 12
month’s of data after the equipment is fully operational.
If the grantee is successful in converting to dedicated wet cleaning, TURI will consider
providing additional funding for the grantee to conduct open house events to assure that the
technology, their experience, and the advantages of dedicated wet cleaning are disseminated
widely both within the Commonwealth and nationally.
Project Assistance
TURI has identified national leaders in the promotion of dedicated wet cleaning for commercial
cleaners. We will assist the grantee in identifying appropriate equipment manufacturers and
provide guidance on the selection process through our contacts with these wet cleaning experts.
TURI will also assist the grantee in working with its local utility to identify optimum financial
assistance for the equipment purchase and installation. The utilities will be interested in
providing this resource if the conversion promises to significantly reduce the grantee’s energy
demand as expected.
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TURI will also work with the grantee to prepare the case study report. This report will also be
made publicly available via TURI’s website (www.turi.org/drycleaning ). TURI will work with
the grantee on media and outreach activities.
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