National Clothesline

Anticipating tougher regulations for drycleaners, the state of New Jersey is offering cash to cleaners who agree to scrap their existing perc machines in favor of newer models.

The state has dedicated more than $4 million to the program. The reimbursements will be based on the age and type of machine and its cleaning capacity. For example, a cleaner who replaces a third-generation, 40-lb. capacity perc machine that would be six years old next year could receive $28,000 toward a new machine. A fourth-generation machine of the same size and age would be eligible for $30,667.

Newer machines would qualify for a greater reimbursement, older machines for less. Machines more than 15 years old are not eligible. The replacement machines must be a fourth-generation perc unit or a system that does not use perc.

The program provides an extra incentive for wetcleaning, which is in line with another state-sponsored program that encourages cleaners to adopt 100 percent wetcleaning. The New Jersey Small Business Development Center is sponsoring workshops and providing information and support to cleaners who transition to wetcleaning. Several machinery companies have agreed to offer discounts of up to 30 percent on equipment to cleaners as part of the NJSBDC program.

The reimbursement program provides a cold-cash incentive to convert to wetcleaning. Cleaners who substitute wetcleaning equipment for perc equipment will receive the scheduled reimbursement plus an extra $15,000.

Edward Choromanski, administrator for air compliance of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, said the money for the program comes from a settlement in an environmental lawsuit over coal-burning in the Midwest. Parties to the settlement have agreed to use more than $4 million for removal of older perc drycleaning systems, especially those in co-residential locations or co-located with day-care centers.

Choromanski said that new regulations governing drycleaning operations should be coming from the department early next year. The guidelines for the reimbursement program hint at what those regulations might be: Third-generation equipment would have to be replaced; fourth-generation perc equipment would still be allowed but not in co-residential locations or within 50 feet of a childcare center.

The reimbursements would cover removal of systems from co-residential locations even if new equipment is not installed. Cleaners who want to continue to operate in those locations would have to use a non-perc alternative solvent or wetcleaning.

The reimbursement schedule has tables running through 2013, thus it appears all necessary equipment replacements would have to be made by the beginning of 2014.

Choromanski said the $4 million in the fund “should be enough to cover everybody” but that is all the money available for the program.

Cleaners can apply in advance of making an equipment purchase, he said, adding that having a reimbursement approval in hand should make it easier to obtain financing for the balance of the purchase.

Cleaners who made equipment upgrades this year or earlier are not eligible for the program, however.

Details of the program, reimbursement tables and application forms are available on the NJDEP web site, www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/drycleanergrant.html, or by calling the department, (609) 292-3133.