National Clothesline

In California, legislation by the South Coast Air Quality Management District has placed perchloroethylene on the endangered list for the region in the year 2020. Regulators are trying to bring about a drastic reduction in its usage in southern California.

Yet, drycleaners all over the U.S. are continuing a long trend of successfully cutting down on perc use and buying more efficient machinery — on their own accord.

Long before the impending threats of bans, cleaners strived to reduce their perc consumption. Since 1985, demand for the solvent has undergone an impressive 82 percent decline.

According to statistics in the annual survey sponsored by the Textile Care Allied Trades Association, cleaners used 47 million pounds of perc in 2002, a considerable step down from the 52 million pounds reported in 2001.

In the past two years, perc demand has dropped 12 million pounds altogether. However, the most staggering decline occurred in the 1990s when perc use fell from 220 million pounds in 1990 to only 63 million pounds in 1999.

“The large decreases in perc consumption observed in the early to mid-nineties when large portions of the industry converted to 3rd generation equipment are over,” noted David Cotter, CEO of TCATA. “Drycleaners continue to improve their environmental performance through improved operating practices and investment in even more efficient 4th and 5th generation equipment.”

Another contributing factor to the decline of perc usage may be the rise of alternative solvents available in the market place. However, Cotter noted that even though perc’s demand has reduced significantly, it is still unquestionably the primary solvent utilized in the drycleaning industry.

“While some drycleaners are trying new alternative technologies, the data clearly indicates the vast majority continue to use perc,” he explained. “Drycleaners have good reason to be proud of their efforts to improve their environmental performance.”

TCATA, which represents companies who make and distribute equipment and supplies for the textile industry, has sponsored the perc demand survey since 1975.

The 2002 survey was conducted by Industry Insights, Inc. The results were derived from reports submitted by the industry’s four main producers and importers of perc: Dow Chemical Company, ICI (now INEOS Chlor Americas), PPG Industries and Vulcan Chemicals.

The totals for 2002 reflect 46.47 million pounds that were reported to Industry Insights, plus an estimated 384,000 pounds of perc imports from companies that do not participate in the survey. The estimate is based on import data generated by U.S. Customs.