New York State adds SENSENE Modified Alcohol to List of Approved Solvents for Dry Cleaners (USA)

The New York State Department of Environmental Protection (NYSDEC) has added SENSENE Modified Alcohol to the list of approved alternative solvents for dry cleaners. Effective March 10th, 2018 new rules have been published for alternative solvents and more stringent regulations on the use of perchloroethylene (Perc).

SENSENE Modified Alcohol has been added to the list of alternative solvents for use in dry cleaning machines in addition to eight previously approved products, well ahead of the September 6th, 2018 deadline when only NYSDEC approved alternative solvents may be used in alternative solvent dry-cleaning equipment in New York State.

The updated regulation has added several new components to improve compliance and program delivery; reduce solvent emissions to the environment; address advancements in technology and changes in the industry.

The more stringent regulations on the use of Perc include the required removal of all perc dry cleaning machines from residential buildings by December 21, 2020 and then replacing them with alternative solvent equipment. To achieve greater perc emission reductions, all third-generation machines will be phased-out by December 31, 2021.