Table 2.

Summary descriptors of dry cleaning shop transitions to safer dry cleaning alternatives in King Country, WA, USA.

Alternative dry cleaning system	Disadvantages of alternative system	Advantages of alternative system	Dates transitioned by King County	Financial incentive from King County	Number of shops transitioned with King County assistance
Solvon K4	• Generates hazardous waste • Potential formaldehyde byproduct • Solvent used occasionally for spot cleaning fabrics • Strong odor • More flammable than PERC (Class IIIA solvent) • Toxicity poorly characterized • Proprietary solvent from a single manufacture • Relatively expensive	• Less toxic than PERC • Safer spotting chemicals • Similar to PERC cleaning process	None	None	None
High-flashpoint hydrocarbon	• Generates hazardous waste • More flammable than PERC (Class IIIA solvent) • Often used with legacy spotting chemicals • Machines inadvertently contaminated with PERC process chemicals	• No odors • Relatively inexpensive solvent • Available from multiple manufacturers • Similar to PERC cleaning process • Toxicity relatively well-characterized	2012–2014	$10,000–15,000	9
PWC	• Skepticism of dry cleaners • Relatively expensive equipment • Modern tensioning equipment needed • New cleaning system—training needed • Customer concerns • Adequate boiler needed	• No hazardous waste • No odors • Reduced resource usage • Lower utility bills • Provided spot cleaners are low toxicity	2012–2014 2018–2020	$10,000–15,000 $20,000	2 27