If your plant uses tetrachloroethylene (PERC), you are covered by the federal Tetrachloroethylene (Use in Dry Cleaning and Reporting Requirements) Regulations. This PERC compliance checklist turns the main requirements into a simple list you can walk through with your team before an inspection.
It is based on Environment and Climate Change Canada’s guidance for owners and operators. It is a summary, not legal advice, so always check the current Regulations and any provincial rules that apply to you.
1. Dry cleaning machine requirements
- Washing, extraction, drying and aeration happen in the same drum.
- The machine has an integral refrigerated condenser and does not vent to the atmosphere during those cycles.
- The machine has an integral PERC-water separator.
- PERC is delivered through a closed, direct-coupled delivery system.
- You do not use spotting agents that contain PERC. Choose PERC-free spotting agents instead.
2. PERC compliance checklist for storage
- PERC, waste water and residue are kept in closed containers with lids.
- Containers, the button trap, lint trap and still stay closed at all times, except for temporary access during operation or maintenance.
3. Secondary containment and drains
- Secondary containment is PERC-impermeable and covers the whole area under each machine, tank and container.
- It can hold at least 110% of the largest tank or container in the containment system.
- PERC-resistant drain plugs are ready to seal every floor drain that PERC, waste water or residue could reach in a spill.
4. PERC waste disposal
- Waste water that is not treated on site, and all residue, goes to a waste management facility at least once every 12 months.
- Each shipment includes all waste water and residue created since the last one. Residue includes lint, muck or sludge, used solvent filters and still bottoms.
- On-site treatment of waste water uses only the equipment allowed by the Regulations.
- Your transporter and receiving facility are authorized by your province or territory.
Extox is permitted by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment to handle regulated waste. See our PERC waste disposal service to book a pickup.
5. Records and annual reporting
- Books, records, shipping documents and copies of reports are kept for at least five years.
- Your annual report is submitted to Environment and Climate Change Canada by April 30 each year.
Common mistakes we see during PERC inspections
Most compliance problems are simple housekeeping issues that are easy to fix once you know where to look.
- Open containers. A lid left off a waste drum or a still door left open between batches is one of the most common findings.
- Missing drain plugs. Plugs are bought but stored away instead of being kept ready beside the floor drains.
- Undersized containment. A new tank or larger drum is added, but the secondary containment is not checked against the 110% rule.
- Waste left too long. Muck, filters and still bottoms pile up for more than 12 months between pickups.
- Lost paperwork. Shipping documents and copies of annual reports are not kept for the full five years.
How to prepare for an inspection
Print this PERC compliance checklist and walk through your plant once a month with the person who runs your machine. Check every container, the containment area and the drain plugs, and note the date of your last waste pickup.
Keep one binder or digital folder with your shipping documents, annual reports and maintenance records, sorted by year. When an inspector visits, you can show everything in minutes.
Finally, set two reminders in your calendar: one for your next waste pickup, well before the 12-month limit, and one in early April for your annual report. If you would like a second pair of eyes, our Audit Package reviews your plant and paperwork before the inspector does.
Make your PERC compliance checklist easier
Extox offers a Certificate of Approval (COA) service, a full Audit Package and liability insurance options for regulated waste producers. Thinking about leaving PERC altogether? Read our dry cleaning solvent comparison.
Questions about your plant? Contact our compliance team or call 1-800-501-8601.