Non-Toxic Dry Cleaning Incentive Program (AB998)

This page last reviewed March 12, 2013


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:

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.

Additional Financial Assistance Programs

The following list of companies offer financing options for small businesses through grants, small business loans, credit lines, and cash advances.  This list is not meant to imply ARB endorsement or recommendation of any kind. Companies not listed here may email us and request to be added. This list is not screened or ranked in any way. Users of this list are warned to use due diligence in evaluating offerings from companies on this list.

  • Revolving Loan Funds (RLF): Contact your local city and county government offices for more information. RLFs are handled by your local Dept of Economic Development, Department of Commerce, or similar agency.

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


The University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Sustainable Technology & Policy Program (STPP) is the only AB 998 demonstration program being conducted throughout the State.  A list of upcoming demonstration workshops and post workshops are listed below.


Upcoming Demonstration Workshops


Date*RegionLocation
March 23, 2013 newSacramento Metro AQMDFolsom
April 7, 2013 newBay Area AQMDNovato
May 5, 2013 newSouth Cost AQMDMission Viejo
May 19, 2013 newBay Area AQMDSan Francisco
July 14, 2013 newBay Area AQMDSan Jose

*Note: You can download a copy of the workshop flyer below. 


Demonstration Sites
Location Technology Event
2013
San JoseWater-Based CleaningJuly 14, 2013 [flyer] new
San FranciscoWater-Based CleaningMay 19, 2013 [flyer] new
Mission ViejoWater-Based CleaningMay 5, 2013 [flyer] new
NovatoWater-Based CleaningApril 7, 2013 [flyer] new
FolsomWater-Based CleaningMarch 23, 2013 [flyer] new
CarsonWater-Based CleaningMarch 03, 2013 [flyer] 
PetalumaWater-Based CleaningFebruary 24, 2013 [flyer] 
MalibuWater-Based CleaningJanuary 27, 2013 [flyer] 
Location TechnologyEvent
2012
San MateoWater-Based CleaningDecember 9, 2012 [flyer] 
CarsonWater-Based CleaningJune 17, 2012 [flyer] 
FresnoWater-Based CleaningApril 22, 2012 [flyer] 
San JoseWater-Based CleaningMarch 11, 2012 [flyer] 
MalibuWater-Based CleaningMarch 25, 2012 [flyer] 
LocationTechnologyEvent
2011
Placentia Water-Based CleaningJune 26, 2011 [flyer] 
NovatoWater-Based CleaningJune 19, 2011 [flyer] 
Stockton
 Water-Based Cleaning
 May 22, 2011 [flyer] 
San Francisco
 Water-Based Cleaning
 May 1, 2011 [flyer] 
Sacramento
 Water-Based Cleaning April 16, 2011 [flyer] 



LocationTechnologyEvent
2010
San Francisco Water-Based Cleaning December 12, 2010 [flyer-$15K] [flyer-$20K] [Chinese flyer] 
San Francisco Water-Based Cleaning November 14, 2010 [flyer-$15K] [flyer-$20K] [Chinese flyer] 
San Francisco Water-Based CleaningJune 27, 2010 [flyer]
Los Angeles Water-Based Cleaning June 19, 2010 [flyer]
San FranciscoWater-Based CleaningJune 6, 2010 [flyer] 
AlhambraWater-Based CleaningMay 23, 2010[flyer] 
San DiegoWater-BasedCleaningMay 16, 2010 [flyer] 
San FranciscoWater-BasedCleaningMay 2, 2010 [flyer]
SacramentoWater-Based CleaningApril 18, 2010 [flyer]
San Francisco Water-Based Cleaning April 11, 2010 [flyer]
San DiegoWater-Based CleaningMarch 28, 2010 [flyer] 
Pletaluma Water-Based Cleaning March 21, 2010 [flyer]
PlacentiaWater-Based CleaningMarch 14, 2010 [flyer]
San Jose
Water-Based Cleaning February 7, 2010 [flyer]
San DiegoWater-Based Cleaning January 31, 2010 [flyer]
AlhambraWater-Based Cleaning January 24, 2010 [flyer]
SacramentoWater-Based Cleaning January 17, 2010 [flyer]
PetalumaWater-Based Cleaning January 10, 2010 [flyer]



LocationTechnologyEvent
2009
Santa BarbaraWater-Based Cleaning December 13, 2009 [flyer]
San JoseWater-Based Cleaning December 6, 2009 [flyer] 
Beverly HillsCO2 Cleaning November 22, 2009 [flyer]
San MateoWater-Based CleaningNovember 22, 2009 [flyer]
SacramentoWater-Based Cleaning November 8, 2009 [flyer]
PlacentiaWater-Based Cleaning November 1, 2009 [flyer] 
San DiegoWater-Based Cleaning October 25, 2009 [flyer] 
OaklandWater-Based Cleaning October 18, 2009 Evening [flyer] 
OaklandWater-Based Cleaning October 18, 2009 Morning [flyer]
Los AltosCO2 Cleaning March 29, 2009 [flyer]
IrwindaleWater-Based Cleaning March 29, 2009 [flyer]
Sacramento Water-Based Cleaning  March 22, 2009 [flyer]
Sunnyvale Water-Based Cleaning March 15, 2009 [flyer]
Oakland Water-Based Cleaning  February 15, 2009 [flyer]



Location TechnologyEvent
2008
IrwindaleWater-Based Cleaning November 2 [flyer]
Oakland Water-Based Cleaning  November 2 [flyer]
Los AltosCO2 Cleaning  October 26 [flyer]
Fullerton CO2 Cleaning   October 26 [flyer]
Alpine Water-Based Cleaning October 19 [flyer]
Sacramento Water-Based Cleaning October 19 [flyer]
Placentia Water-Based Cleaning September 28 [flyer]
Sacramento Water-Based Cleaning  September 21 [flyer]
Sacramento Water-Based Cleaning  August 16 [flyer]
Oakland Water-Based Cleaning June 8 [flyer]
SausalitoWater-Based Cleaning May 18 [flyer]
Irwindale EXPO - Water-Based & CO2 Cleaning May 18 [flyer]
AlpineWater-Based Cleaning May 17 [flyer]
FullertonCO2 Cleaning May 3 [flyer]
Los AltosWater-Based & CO2 Cleaning April 27 [flyer]
MalibuWater-Based Cleaning April 26 [flyer]
PlacentiaWater-Based Cleaning April 13 [flyer]
IrwindaleWater-Based Cleaning March 9 [flyer]
La JollaWater-Based Cleaning February 16 [flyer]
SunnyvaleWater-Based Cleaning February 3 [flyer]
TustinWater-Based Cleaning January 26 [flyer]



Location TechnologyEvent
2007
Santa MonicaCO2 Cleaning October 7 [flyer]
San DiegoCO2 Cleaning September 23 [flyer]
RichmondWater-Based Cleaning August 19 [flyer]
FresnoWater-Based Cleaning  August 19 [flyer]

Where can I get more information?


To get more information about AB 998, please contact Sonia Villalobos at (916) 327-5983.
If you would like to be notified of news related to AB 998, please subscribe to the dry cleaning email list server.


preload