National Clothesline

Two drycleaners — Norco Cleaners, Inc. and Lansing Cleaners —†were honored in Champagne, IL, on October 18 at the 16th Annual Governor’s Pollution Prevention Awards.

The awards were hosted by the Waste Management and Research Center, a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Altogether, Governor George H. Ryan named 15 companies, three service organizations and a community group as award winners, recognizing their achievements in reducing waste and

Winning awards for pollution prevention in Illinois were John Spomar (left) of Norco Cleaners in Dolton and Sandy and Tom Ustanik of Lansing Cleaners in Lansing.

improving the environment in Illinois. The combined efforts of all the honorees prevented nearly 17,000 tons of waste materials being released into the environment and generated an annual savings of $5.1 million in material and disposal costs

“The companies and organizations being honored know the value of recycling, reusing and reducing waste materials as an important component of their business,” said IDNR Director Brett Manning.

Norco Cleaners received an award under the “Small Industry” category. The company, which won the designation for the first time, is a third generation cleaners out of Dolton, IL, owned by John Spomar. The company’s employees are continuously involved in environmental education and training and are often encouraged to submit suggestions for new environmental solutions.

Some of Norco’s notable projects include: the development of a pre-filter system; installation of a heat exchanger system; eliminating the use of plastic poly bags for commercial customers; and implementing technology to extract unused solvents for reuse.

Norco was also recognized in part for its efforts as the first drycleaner in the nation to become a charter member of the National Environmental Performance Track with the US EPA.

Lansing Cleaners, another third generation cleaners who is a member of the National Environmental Achievement Track, is owned by Tom and Sandy Ustanik. The company was honored under the heading of “Continuous Improvement” for its ongoing efforts to improve pollution prevention.

The plant recently installed three new petroleum machines to reduce perc emissions by 80 percent. They have also installed a CO2 machine that uses 40 percent less energy and decreases hazardous waste generation in the plant by 75 percent.

Lansing has also incorporated several other projects to ensure a cleaner environment, including: implementing “energy smart” power controllers resulting in an energy reduction of 18 to 21 percent; utilizing heat insulated paint; putting reflective materials under lamps; and installing insulation around solvent lines and hot and cold pipes.

Jan and Henry Parker of Safety & Environmental Compliance Consultants, Inc. helped both Norco Cleaners and Lansing Cleaners in their efforts to achieve these distinctions.

Since 1998, the Illinois Drycleaner Star Program has helped many drycleaners throughout the state be recognized for doing more than is lawfully required to protect the environment. Now, the organization is seeking to get the good word out even more.

Recently, the Illinois Star Drycleaner committee proposed a plan to raise funds for an advertising campaign.

Every participating star drycleaner is being asked donate $37.50 per month for the next six to twelve months to a special advertising fund kept on deposit at the Illinois State Fabricare Association’s bank.

ISFA plans to update contributing cleaners on the total monies accrued so that each area of the state can form its own advertising committee and spend the money on appropriate publicity.

For more information, contact ISFA at (815) 729-0137.

Certification and recertification opportunities for drycleaners in the Wisconsin Dry Cleaner Certification Program will be available on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 2:30 p.m.

Tests for all three Wisconsin drycleaning certification designations — Certified Professional Wetcleaner, Certified Environmental Drycleaner and Certified Professional Drycleaner — will take place at a One Hour Martinizing plant located in Waukesha, WI.

The testing is open to all Wisconsin drycleaners and their supervisors or technicians.

The suggested preparation period for each exam is a minimum of three weeks.

Cost for initial certification is $90 for members and $150 for non-members for CPW; $90 for members and $115 for non-members for CED; and $150 for members and $175 for non-members for CPD.

Those who seek re-certification must pay $70 for members and $95 for non-members for either CED or CPD.

For more information, contact WFI at (414) 529-4707.

The Wisconsin's Drycleaner Certification Program was developed by the University of Wisconsin-Extension Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center in conjunction with the Wisconsin Fabricare Institute, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Wisconsin Department of Commerce and the Center for Neighborhood Technology.

At its recent fall conference and golf outing, the Wisconsin Fabricare Institute announced its new line-up of officers.

Former vice president Arlene Tutkowski will take over the association’s presidency, previously held by Dennis Schmitt.

Joining her in office will be Sue Doolin, the newly-elected vice president. She will also maintain the duties of secretary and treasurer for WFI.

Re-elected to the association’s board of directors for a term of three more years are: Art Imig, Ron Kantor, Dan Martino and Kevin Braden. They will be joined by new director Brian Cass.