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Classic Cleaners earns Green Cleaners certification

Russ Baich recalls a time when dry cleaning businesses consumed hundreds of litres of toxic solvents every month.

Russ Baich recalls a time when dry cleaning businesses consumed hundreds of litres of toxic solvents every month.

Times change.

Baich, who has operated Red Deer’s Classic Cleaners & Tailors for the past 30 years, said many of today’s dry cleaners run environmentally friendly businesses.

There’s even a Green Cleaners Council that certifies those with particularly clean shops.

Classic Cleaners recently became the fourth dry cleaning business in Canada to earn the council’s approval. The others are all in Ontario.

Baich said the council awards “eco-points” on the basis of a variety of factors, including energy and water conservation, and recycling of hangers and bags.

“There are a whole raft of things they look at, besides just the solvents used.”

However, the use of solvents is a big determinant of whether a cleaner is green or not.

In the case of Classic Cleaners, its implementation of a biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning system last December marked a significant step forward.

Baich explained that he’d been looking for a new cleaning machine, and when he found one with halogen-free solvent that posed no risk to air, water, soil or people, it seemed the right choice.

“Once we saw that this was finally out and working good, that’s when we pulled the trigger,” he said, adding that the health and safety of his staff was a key consideration.

Classic Cleaners also has a “wet cleaning” system that safely uses water on materials that require dry cleaning.

He pointed out that many other dry cleaners haven’t sought Green Cleaners Council certification, but have still adopted environmentally sustainable practices.

hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com