Small Business Assistance
For: Dry Cleaning Businesses
Issued: December 2002
Small Business Technical Assistance Program
Contacts: Roy Krout, Julie Churchill
1-800-789-9802 (toll-free) or 207-287-8550
roy.t.krout@maine.gov
Benefits/Background: The following is a list of some important requirements as well as helpful suggestions for best managing your business to help reduce your costs, reduce waste, keep hazardous substances out of the environment and protect your health. Although all may not be applicable to your specific business, please read through and check how your business is doing.
Hazardous Materials/Hazardous Waste (requires EPA generator's identification number and management/transport requirements in accordance with Maine DEP standards.)
Sources: Spent solvents (four main solvents used, mostly PERC)
PERC (Perchloroethylene)
CFC-113 (Trichlorotrifluoroethane)
TCA (1,1,1-trichloroethane)
Petroleum solvents
Empty solvent containers
Spent filter cartridges
Cooked powder residue
Still residues from solvent distillation
Water contaminated with cleaning solvent
Air Emissions (may require Maine Department of Environmental Protection licensing.)
Potential worker health and chemical exposure issues (see Safetyworks! program below.)
Knowing your business has handled chemicals and wastes properly also reduces concerns for you and let's your clients know your business cares. Careless management of fluids can cause leaks or spills, and lead possibly to groundwater contamination and costly clean ups. Keep up a good track record!
Pollution Prevention
**Sources for pollution prevention information and environmentally preferable purchasing options specific for dry cleaning industry, in addition to other businesses can be found at http://www.p2gems.org.**
Our Small Business Assistance Program at DEP offers free on-site assistance services under our protective Small Business Compliance Incentives Policy. This policy provides protection from regulatory enforcement, in addition to clear time frames for correcting possible violations. On-site business visits are intended to be helpful, low stress, and designed to give good clear and helpful information related directly to the individual small business at their location. A summary letter from the assistance staff, following the visit/consult provides current status and recommendations for your business in an easy to understand format. The program staff is also a contact for pollution prevention and compliance information, if you prefer other than on-site assistance. Call us toll-free at 1-800-789-9802 and find out more.
Other free assistance can be provided by our Maine Dept. of Labor, Safetyworks! program to help with air sampling, noise monitoring, ergonomic assessment, as well as general safety and health consultation. Contact David Wacker, Director of Workplace Health and Safety (phone number: 624-6400), for information regarding a free audit to assist your small business to be in compliance with worker safety issues.
This guide sheet is provided by the Small Business Assistance Program at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for assistance with pollution prevention and regulatory compliance issues. Drafted in December, 2002.
