Overview

Assembly Bill 998 (AB 998) established the Non-Toxic Dry Cleaning Incentive Program to provide financial assistance to the dry cleaning industry to switch from systems using perchloroethylene (Perc), an identified toxic air contaminant and potential human carcinogen, to non-toxic and non-smog forming alternatives. The legislation also requires the Air Resources Board (ARB) to establish a demonstration program to showcase these technologies statewide. AB 998 requires ARB to impose a three-dollar ($3) per gallon fee on the importers of Perc for dry cleaning operations commencing January 1, 2004. This fee will increase one-dollar ($1) per gallon per year from 2005 through 2013. As required by the legislation, the majority of the funds collected by the fee will be used to provide $10,000 grants to assist dry cleaners in switching to non-toxic and non-smog forming cleaning technologies such as wet cleaning and carbon dioxide (CO2) cleaning. The balance of funds will be used to establish the demonstration program.

Additional information can be downloaded below:

• Assembly Bill 998
• April 2004 AB 998 Fact Sheet [English] [Korean]
• Non-Toxic Dry Cleaning Incentive Program Brochure [English] [Korean]

Grant Program

The grant program for the dry cleaning industry began in August 2004. The program provides $10,000 grants to any eligible dry cleaners in the state that is willing to transition from the use of Perc machines to alternative non-toxic and non-smog forming technologies such as water-based and CO2 cleaning systems.
To apply for a grant, please read the grant guidelines and complete the grant application below. ARB has also included a list of vendors and suppliers of these non-toxic and non-smog forming technologies, and a list of past grant award recipients.

• Grant Guidelines [English] [Korean]
• Grant Application [English] [Korean]
• Grant Recipients List [English]
• Complimentary Vendors and Suppliers List (This list is provided as a courtesy and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. This list may not include all the vendors for Water-Based and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Cleaning Technologies)

Demonstration Program

The objective of the demonstration program is to provide dry cleaners an opportunity to view the operations at various demonstration sites, provide technical assistance and training, and educate them on the benefits, costs, and overall effectiveness of the technologies. Demonstration sites ultimately will, in turn, create the regional and statewide infrastructure necessary for the long-term diffusion of these technologies.

If you are interested in conducting a demonstration program, please read the demonstration program guidelines to determine if you meet the requirements.

• Demonstration Guidelines [English]

Current Status

In 2007, ARB approved two organizations to establish demonstration sites throughout the State to showcase water-based cleaning and CO2 cleaning technologies. These two organizations are the Pollution Prevention Center at Occidental College in Los Angeles and the Institute for Research and Technical Assistance in Glendale.

These organizations have the expertise to work with wet cleaning and CO2 dry cleaning technologies. They will showcase these technologies in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, and other locations throughout the State. The current demonstration sites and their associated showcase are posted below.

Demonstration Sites

• Fresno: Water-Based Cleaning Technology - Event on August 19 [flyer]
• Richmond: Water-Based Cleaning Technology - Event on August 19 [flyer]
• San Diego: CO2 Cleaning Technology - Event on September 23 [flyer]
• Santa Monica: CO2 Cleaning Technology - Event on October 7 [flyer]
• Tustin: Water-Based Cleaning Technology - Event on January 26 [flyer]
• Sunnyvale: Water-Based Cleaning Technology - Event on February 3 [flyer]
• La Jolla: Water-Based Cleaning Technology - Event on February 16 [flyer]
• Irwindale: Water-Based Cleaning Technology - Event on March 9 [flyer]
• Placentia: Water-Based Cleaning Technology - Event on April 13 [flyer]
• Malibu: Water-Based Cleaning Technology - Event on April 26 [flyer]
• Los Altos: Water-Based & CO2 Cleaning Technology - Event on April 27 [flyer]
• Fullerton: CO2 Cleaning Technology - Event on May 3 [flyer]
• Alpine: Water-Based Cleaning Technology - Event on May 17 [flyer]
• Irwindale: EXPO - Water-Based & CO2 Cleaning Technology - Event on May 18 [flyer]
• Sausalito: Water-Based Cleaning Technology - Event on May 18 [flyer]
• Oakland: Water-Based Cleaning Technology - Event on June 8 [flyer]
  

Where can I get more information?

To get more information about AB 998, please contact Hafizur Chowdhury at (916) 322-2275.

If you would like to be notified of news related to AB 998, please subscribe to the dry cleaning email list server.