Covered Services
The professional cleaning of garments owned by, or under the cleaning responsibility of, an affected entity.
Definitions
Garments – Items made of textile fibers. Garments include, but are not limited to, apparel and clothing, bedding, drapes and uniforms.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Approved Alternative Solvent – A solvent that is used to professionally clean garments and is on the NYS List of Approved Alternative Solvents.
Perchloroethylene (PERC) – A chemical that can be used in the dry cleaning process that is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Group 2A probable carcinogen for humans.
Professional Cleaning – The cleaning of a garment by a facility that specializes in garment cleaning.
Professional CO2 Cleaning – A method of professionally cleaning a garment that uses liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) instead of other chemicals or solvents.
Professional Wet Cleaning – A method of professionally cleaning a garment that is labeled as “dry clean only” by using water, detergent, and sophisticated computer-controlled washers and dryers.
Specifications
Avoid Perchloroethylene
All affected entities shall, to the maximum extent practicable:
- Clean their garments that require professional cleaning with a method that does not use perchloroethylene (PERC).
Follow the Hierarchy of Alternative Cleaning Methods
All affected entities are encouraged, to the maximum extent practicable, to utilize the following hierarchy for choosing how to have their garments professionally cleaned:
- Professional wet cleaning
- Professional CO2 cleaning
- Cleaned using a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation approved alternative solvent
Reduce Waste
All affected entities shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that all recyclable waste generated from garment cleaning, such as thin-film plastic garment covers, is recycled.
All affected entities are encouraged, to the maximum extent practical, to identify ways to reduce the amount of waste created in the process, including through methods such as hanger recycling and reuse and the use of reusable garment bags.