Nanjing to completely phase out 700 open-type dry cleaning machines by November
Release Time:
2015-06-11 19:03
Source:
Xinhua News Network
In the Nanjing Air Pollution Prevention Action Plan confirmed earlier this year, controlling volatile organic compound pollution is one of the tasks. The dry cleaning industry is an important source of volatile organic compound emissions, and recently, our city has launched a special rectification campaign for the dry cleaning industry.
The Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau and the Municipal Commerce Bureau jointly issued a special plan for the control of volatile organic compound pollution in the city's dry cleaning industry, clearly requiring the elimination of existing open-type dry cleaning machines by November 30, 2015. What kind of pollution do open-type dry cleaning machines cause? What is their market share in Nanjing? Our reporter conducted an investigation.
How severe is the pollution? Each use emits 6 liters of VOC.
The environmental protection department explained that open-type dry cleaning machines are major polluters because they use the chemical organic solvent perchloroethylene in large quantities, and organic volatile compounds are emitted during the cooling process.
"The biggest difference between open-type and closed-type dry cleaning machines is the cooling method. Open-type machines use a water-cooled recovery system that expels the mixture of dry cleaning solvent gases inside the machine by drawing in fresh air; closed-type machines use freon cooling and do not emit gases," said an environmental official. The detergents used in dry cleaning machines are all chemical organic detergents, but open-type machines use about five times more detergent than closed-type ones.
Due to high detergent loss, open-type dry cleaning machines emit volatile organic compounds (VOC) into the air each time they are used. For example, an 8-kilogram dry cleaning machine of the most common power emits about 6 liters of VOC per use; closed-type machines have automatic detergent recovery devices that recycle the detergent each time, preventing VOC emissions into the air.
Because of the pollution, open-type dry cleaning machines have been banned in Europe, the United States, and Hong Kong. What is the biggest visual difference between open-type and closed-type dry cleaning machines? The environmental department explained that open-type machines are mostly older models with separate dry cleaning and drying units. Another important way to identify them is by odor: VOCs cause unpleasant smells, and dry cleaning shops using open-type machines will have noticeable unpleasant odors.
How many are on the market? 700 units, accounting for more than half the market share.
Yesterday, the reporter visited some dry cleaning shops on the streets.
Funait is a chain dry cleaning brand with nearly 40 stores in Nanjing. At a Funait store on Hubu Street, the reporter saw that the dry cleaning machine used was a closed-type integrated washing and drying machine. According to the staff, all Funait dry cleaning machines are this type, not open-type.
Large-scale dry cleaning shops usually use advanced closed-type machines, while some small individual dry cleaning shops near residential areas still use open-type machines. Near the old residential area on Changbai Street, the reporter saw several small dry cleaning shops on the first floor of residential buildings using machines with separate washing and drying units, all of which were open-type.
It is reported that currently, there are 700 open-type dry cleaning machines in our city, accounting for more than half of the market. Large-scale chain dry cleaning companies have basically adopted closed-type machines, but some small individual shops still use open-type machines. "The pollution emissions from 700 open-type machines are enormous and must be completely eliminated."
How to eliminate them? Subsidies for voluntary scrapping, penalties for failure to replace on time.
During the interview, the reporter learned from several individual dry cleaning shop owners that they have not yet received notices requiring machine replacement. If replacement is needed, their main concern is whether there will be subsidies.
Cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou have already completed the elimination of open-type dry cleaning machines. These cities provide certain government subsidies to companies that voluntarily scrap open-type machines.
The deadline set by Nanjing is November 30 this year. It is reported that the city will also provide subsidies to companies that voluntarily scrap open-type machines. Those who fail to comply by the deadline will be investigated and dealt with by relevant departments. Additionally, newly registered dry cleaning shops must use closed-type machines; otherwise, they are not allowed to operate.
Industry insiders believe this move can both control volatile organic compound pollution and promote the overall improvement of Nanjing's dry cleaning industry by eliminating unqualified, highly polluting small shops, thereby raising the overall service level. "Some small workshops, to save detergent and other costs, claim to dry clean but actually wash with water, so clothes do not undergo the high-temperature disinfection of dry cleaning and get dirtier with each wash."
It is reported that an old-style open-type dry cleaning machine costs about 30,000 yuan, while a closed-type machine costs about 3 to 5 times as much. This means the entry cost for the dry cleaning industry will increase, and small workshop-style shops will be replaced by larger enterprises.
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