A Chicago-style perc ban
Not to be outdone by West Coast
regulators, a Chicago alderman has proposed a perc ban that is even tougher. Alderman Edward M.
Burke said last month he is introducing an ordinance that would
ban perc in drycleaning as of June of next year.
In a statement announcing his proposal,
Burke said “While the drycleaning industry can be
expected to aggressively resist this effort to ban the use of
perc in Chicago, I believe that recent scientific studies give
us little choice but to heed their warnings. Drycleaning
establishment will simply have to update their methods and move
into the 21st century.”
As Burke predicted, the industry moved
quickly to put the brakes on his plan.
IFI reports in its November Fabricare that
industry leaders who met with Burke on Oct. 16 came away
optimistic.
“As he heard the presentations
from various people, Alderman Burke told the group that he now
did see some different perspectives, and that he definitely was
not going to rush this along quickly, and that he would work
with the industry to find a solution,” IFI CEO Bill
Fisher said.
In addition to Fisher, the meeting with
Burke included representatives of the Halogenated Solvents
Industry Alliance, the Illinois State Fabricare Association,
Korean-American Dry Cleaners Association, the Illinois state
cleanup fund, and various allied trades companies.
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