The Solvent Emissions Directive is now applicable to all drycleaners, whether new or exisitng, and is being enforced by Local Health Authorities in the UK and penalties for not conforming can be severe.
At Renzacci UK Plc, we can help you with all aspects of conforming to the Solvent Emissions Directive, whether it be helping to complete the Permit to Operate application form (required for all drycleaners by the 31st October 2006, or immediately for new installations), advise on whether your existing drycleaning machine will comply with the Directive or for general information. If you have not applied for a Permit to Operate and you are operating a drycleaning machine, then please APPLY NOW!
Please do note the following which is taken directly from the DEFRA July 2006 SED Update:
"The bottom line is that it is the responsibility of individual dry cleaners to make an application, irrespective of whether there is proactive support from the local authority. In law, any dry cleaner who does not apply for a permit by 31st October 2006 will risk prosecution (for information, the maximum penalty a Magistrate can impose for operating a listed activity such as dry cleaning without a permit is £20,000 per offence or imprisonment for up to 6 months). The business must apply whether or not they are reminded or helped by local authorities."
As a note of caution for new start drycleaners, we have become aware of some unscrupulous dealers in drycleaning machines supplying machines that do not conform to the requirements of the SED. Please ensure that your supplier is fully aware of the implications of the SED (the full details can be found by following the link below) and specifically the importance of supplying a second water separator with Active Carbon filtration.
As a brief guide you will require the following (For SCOTLAND CLICK HERE!!):
NEW START DRYCLEANERS (Installed after 19th May 2005):
- Your drycleaning machine will have to meet the requirements of the Solvent Emissions Directive, Guidance Notes 6(46)/04 including having a Second Water separator with active carbon filtration fitted onto the drycleaning machine itself (a separate unit is not acceptable), door opening interlocks etc. See this example of a compliant machine.
- You will have to apply for a Permit to Operate from your Local Council prior to operating the drycleaning machine.
- You will have to store any spare solvent in a solvent proof tray that has a capacity of 110% of the total amount stored.
- You will have to keep records of load weights, solvent consumption and receipts of disposal of the waste produced from the drycleaning machine.
NEW DRYCLEANERS (drycleaning machine installed After 1st April 2000 and before 19th May 2005)
As above, but from recent cases we have knowlege of, DEFRA are slightly more relaxed about the Second Water Separators with Active Carbon filtration and will allow a certain amount of latitude as long as you are displaying Best Available Techniques (BAT).
EXISTING DRYCLEANERS (drycleaning machine installed before 1st April 2000):
- You must ensure that by the 31st October 2006, your drycleaning machine is capable of producing; at least 80kg of work for 1 litre of Perchloroethylene used, or at least 48.5kg of work for every 1 litre of solvent used for Hydrocarbon or Green Earth drycleaning machines.
- You must apply for a Permit to Operate prior to the 31st October 2006 in order to comply with the legislation by 31st October 2007.
- You will have to keep records of load weights, solvent consumption and receipts of disposal of the waste produced from the drycleaning machine.
- Self Service drycleaning machines such as coin operated drycleaning machines installed in launderettes will be banned from operating after the 31st October 2007
MAY 2007 UPDATE: The requirement for the installation of a Perc monitor has been removed, but still is advised to be installed in confined spaces and basements froma Health and Safety point of view as well as BAT (Best Available Technique).
JULY 2006 UPDATE: The main thrust of the SED Update of July 2006 issued by DEFRA is to remind drycleaners to apply for their Permits and also to give indications of how you can obtain training on the SED and its requirements. Another clarification is that coin operated self service drycleaning machines will be banned from operating from the 31st October 2007 but will be allowed to operate until this time without a Permit to Operate being applied for.
MAY 2006 UPDATE: As a consequence of SED Update of May 2006 issued by DEFRA (Department of the Environment and Rural Affairs) it is no longer a requirement for existing drycleaning machines to be retro fitted with a solvent spillage tray or for spare solvent to be stored in a tray, although you will still have to ensure that your drycleaning machine will be able to meet the conditions imposed by the SED Guidance Notes 6(46)/04 and the subsequent guidance notes updates which can be found in our downloads section.
Renzacci UK Plc will not sell any used drycleaning machines (unless it conforms fully to the SED requirements).
The Guidance Notes 6(46)/04 relating to the requirements for drycleaners can be downloaded from this site: Secretary of State's Guidance for Dry Cleaning solvent emissions.
You might also consider joining the TSA (Textile Services Association) who have liased with DEFRA very closely in the drawing up of the SED and also have produced some very useful information for Drycleaners on how to comply with the SED.
