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ARTICLE · 29 MARCH 2016

First Imprisonment Under CEPA For Dry Cleaner

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At the end of February, Environment and Climate Change Canada posted a notice about its "first-ever imprisonment" of a dry cleaner under the tetrachloroethylene regulations.

CanadaEnvironment
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At the end of February, Environment and Climate Change Canada posted a notice about its "first-ever imprisonment" of a dry cleaner under the tetrachloroethylene regulations. For improper storage and handling practices, the dry-cleaner will face a four-month conditional sentence in the form of 75 days house arrest followed by a curfew and an additional 60 hours of community service.

We've noticed a trend of higher enforcement activity against dry cleaners in recent years. In October 2013, we reported that Ashford Cleaners was the first to pay the new, higher fines for offences under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), which came into effect on June 22, 2012.

Tetrachloroethylene, also known as PERC, is a dry-cleaning solvent and is listed as a toxic substance under CEPA. As reported on the Environmental Protection Agency's website

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