LAUREL, Md. — Legislation introduced in a City Council meeting in Laurel, Md., last month would ban new drycleaners within city limits from using perchloroethylene in their plants, and mandate an alternative solvent technology when installing any new equipment.
Laurel is also home to the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI), whose training facility and garment-testing labs would not be affected by the ordinance. DLI relocated to an unincorporated area outside Laurel from Silver Spring, Md., in 2004.
Citing a “causal” association between perc use and certain cancers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), city officials say the proposal is part of an effort to encourage environmentally friendly business practices.
“Perc is a toxin and it’s important that perc not get in the streams,” Karl Brendle, director of the city's Community Planning & Business Services Department told the Laurel Leader. “We want to promote other alternatives.”
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