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What's the best way to manage dry cleaning waste?

21 May 2015


EPA’s HazWaste Fund continues to succeed in reducing hazardous waste, with the completion of a Best Practice Manual for Dry Cleaners by funding recipient Hyder Consulting.

The manual supports dry cleaners to understand and comply with relevant EPA regulations. 

All drycleaners produce waste. Many of the chemicals and solvents used by dry-cleaners have characteristics that are potentially harmful to people and the environment. For instance, some are toxic, combustible and contain solvent, meaning many dry-cleaning wastes are hazardous. 

The Best Practice Manual for Dry Cleaners is available on Dry cleaning Institute of Australia’s website and has been sent out to members of the dry cleaning industry. The manual has been translated in to four other languages commonly spoken in the industry – Chinese, Thai, Cambodian and Vietnamese. 

This manual was developed with input from EPA, the Dry Cleaning Institute Australia and industry. It enables the industry to do the right thing in meeting their environmental obligations in order to avoid future contamination. 

With Hazwaste funding, industry undertook projects like this to accelerate reductions in the volume and risk of hazardous waste (or prescribed industrial waste) generated in Victoria, and to increase remediation of contaminated soils.  

Funding opportunities are now closed. Case studies on other HazWaste fund recipients can be seen here.

Page last updated on 26 May 2015