Dry Cleaners and the Environment

Yesterday’s Denver Post ran lengthy front-page story on the environmental hazards of dry cleaning. The story focuses on the carcinogenic chemical PCE, used in dry cleaning, which can contaminate soil and water. The Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment has produced several publications with information on PCE and dry cleaning, most notably Pressing Concerns: A Complete Guide to Environmental Compliance for Dry Cleaners. For quick facts on dry cleaning and PCE, see the department’s Fact Sheet. Other resources include Dry Cleaner Remediation Document; A Self Audit Checklist for Dry Cleaners; and Pollution Prevention for Dry Cleaning.