IRTA continues showcase series
at wetclean/Green-Jet shop
at wetclean/Green-Jet shop
The Institute for Research and Technical Assistance (IRTA) will continue its series of alternative cleaning showcases this month at Legacy Cleaners in Tustin, CA, a shop that uses wetcleaning and a
Green-Jet machine for all of its garment processing.
IRTA and Legacy have scheduled the showcase for Saturday, January 26 from 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m. at 2306 Park Ave. in Tustin. Food and drink will be provided.
The Orange County business is owned by David and Jeeni Yoo who decided to use
water-based cleaning technologies at their new facility which opened in
November, 2007. The Yoos and their employees will demonstrate the equipment and
discuss their spotting, finishing and cleaning practices with cleaners.
A Green Jet representative will be present to answer questions. Representatives
of regulatory agencies including CARB, DTSC, U.S. EPA and the South Coast Air
Quality Management District will also attend to answer questions.
Information on the the California Air Resources Board grant program will also be
provided to interested cleaners. CARB is providing grants to cleaners in
California to replace perc machines with non-toxic, non-smog forming
alternatives under AB 998, a state law that also charges CARB with developing a
demonstration program to make cleaners aware of certain eligible alternative
technologies which include carbon dioxide cleaning and various water-based
cleaning processes.
CARB has adopted a regulation that phases out perc in California by 2023, so
cleaners will have to adopt alternatives over the next few years. As of January
1 this year, no new perc machines can be installed in California. Between now
and 2023, existing perc machines will have to be removed when they become 15
years old. Any perc machine that is already 15 years old must be removed by
July, 2010.
IRTA, a technical nonprofit organization that demonstrates new and emerging
technologies, is working with cleaners who have converted to carbon dioxide and
water-based technologies to serve as showcase facilities to feature the
alternatives under a grant from CARB.
Katy Wolf, IRTA’s director, has been involved in the textile cleaning industry for 30 years.
IRTA recently completed a project sponsored by Cal/EPA’s Department of Toxic Substances Control and U.S. EPA to identify, develop and
test alternative low-VOC, low toxicity POG spotting agents. IRTA has developed
a fact sheet on safer alternative spotting agents and it will also be available
at the showcase. Legacy Cleaners is using two of the spotting agents tested by
IRTA during the project.
Previous showcases featured wetcleaning plants in Santa Monica and San Diego and
another wetcleaning/Green-Jet shop located in Fresno. IRTA plans one more
showcase with a cleaner located in the Bay Area. Also planned is an exposition
for cleaners to find out more about carbon dioxide and water-based cleaning
technologies. It will be held in April, 2008.
For more information on the showcase, the Legacy Cleaners case study, the
spotting chemical fact sheet and the exposition, contact Wolf at IRTA, (818)
244-0300. The Legacy Cleaners mailout, including the case study, is available
on IRTA’s website at www.irta.us.
