UMASS institute funds adoption of non-carcinogenic dry-cleaner alternative
UMASS Lowell’s Toxic Use Reduction Institute (TURI) is seeking proposals for Boston dry- cleaners to switch from using perchloroethylene (Perc) to more environmentally friendly wet-cleaning technologies. Perc is listed as a Group 2A carcinogen by the International Agency on Research for Cancer (probably carnogenic to humans)
The $17,000 grant funds approximately half the cost of the replacement technology which allows the clothes to be cleaned using a non-carcinogenic wet detergent process driven by computer controlled machines. An added bonus of the newer technology is reduced natural gas and electrical use.
The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to reduce the use of perc in dry-cleaning facilities co-located within residential buildings by 2020, while Massachusetts will carry out this restriction and prohibit the use of perc in facilities located near day-care centers, health-care institutions, schools, and youth and senior centers.
This grant will fund a facility – a traditional dry-cleaning shop or in-house hotel operation – to convert to dedicated wet cleaning. The deadline for proposals is Feb. 14, 2011 and equipment must be purchased and installed by June 30, 2011.
To learn more or to apply for the grant, visit the TURI web site at www.turi.org/community/wet_cleaning or contact Joy Onasch at 978-934-4343 or joy@turi.org.
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