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Press Release
New regulation for dry cleaning machines in force tomorrow
The Air Pollution Control (Dry-Cleaning Machines) (Vapour Recovery) Regulation will come into force tomorrow (November 1).
A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department reminded operators of dry-cleaning laundry facilities that starting from tomorrow, only dry-cleaning machines of an approved type or modified machines that were certified to conform to the approved standard were allowed to be used.
He said that full implementation of the regulation from tomorrow would eliminate the older type machines which had significant perchloroethylene (PCE) emissions. The new generation of dry-cleaning machines should now be equipped with a PCE vapour recovery system to help control its emissions.
To ensure a smooth transition, the laundry shops were given grace periods of five years to phase out or modify the older vented-type machines and seven years for non-vented machines and their respective deadlines were October 31, 2006, and October 31, 2008.
“After today (October 31), it will be an offence to sell, lease or operate an existing machine that does not meet the requirements, or not to display the certificate of a modified machine. A failure to comply could result in a maximum fine of $100,000,” the spokesman added.
Under the control scheme, all new dry-cleaning machines to be sold in Hong Kong will be required to be of an approved type with a suitable vapour recovery system to reduce the residual PCE concentration to below 300 parts per million by volume (ppmv).
The "Approved Machine Model List" is open to the public for inspection. Interested parties are welcome to visit the EPD website on: http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/guide_ref/dc_applist.html
End/Friday, October 31, 2008
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