Pollution Prevention Saves!
Volatile Organic Compounds

Chemical Substitution/Pollution Prevention

There are several ways to save money and minimize permitting paperwork depending on whether your business can substitute a process or chemical to a more environmentally friendly alternative. If your business has any of the following operations or uses any of the following materials, please read on!

Dry Cleaning

Links to information on currently available alternatives for cleaning fabrics which are normally dry cleaned include:

• COOL Clean Technologies Inc. [exit DNR] (liquid carbon dioxide)
• GreenEarth Cleaning LLC [exit DNR] (liquid silicone)
• Rynex Cleaning Solutions [exit DNR] (propylene glycol ethers)
• Exxon Mobil DF-2000 Fluid [exit DNR] (synthetic hydrocarbon)

For more information:

• Center for Neighborhhood Technology report on Alternative Clothes Cleaning Projects 1995-2000: a resource guide [exit DNR]
• Professional Wetcleaning Network, 708-447-0879, is an association of cleaners with wetcleaning skills

Electroplating

• National Metal Finishing Resource Center [exit DNR]
• EPA's web site on Metal Finishing Pollution Prevention [exit DNR]

Printing and Graphic Arts

• Printers' National Environmental Assistance Center [exit DNR] contains various resources including fact sheets and case studies, training and educational resources, and archived listserv discussions (select from links on the left side). Printers can also post specific questions to the Ask PNEAC section of the web site.
• Pollution Prevention [PDF 62KB exit DNR], Chapter 8 of the Wisconsin Printers Environmental Compliance Assistance Workbook; all Workbook materials are available from the Small Business Clean Air Assistance Program Wisconsin Printers' Environmental Results Program web site [exit DNR]
• Printing Industries of America [exit DNR] offers a booklet called "Hot Topics: Green and Sustainable Printing [PDF exit DNR]" (item no. 18112), which contains a compilation of articles and resources for green printing. Click on the Bookstore link to purchase the booklet.