First-ever imprisonment for dry cleaner under tetrachloroethylene regulations
February 29, 2016 - Edmonton, Alberta - Environment and Climate Change Canada
Ali Eldin, owner of Edmonton, Alberta, dry-cleaning facilities First Class Cleaners and Todd Cleaners, pleaded guilty on February 23, 2016, in Alberta Provincial Court, to offences in contravention of the Tetrachloroethylene (Use in Dry Cleaning and Reporting Requirements) Regulations of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999).
Tetrachloroethylene, commonly known as PERC, is used as a dry-cleaning solvent, and is listed as a toxic substance under CEPA 1999.
Eldin becomes the first dry cleaner to face imprisonment under these regulations. He will serve a four-month conditional sentence, in the form of 75 days of house arrest followed by a curfew, and an additional 60 hours of community service.
The investigation took place between May 2013 and October 2014. During this period, Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers conducted facility inspections that revealed evidence of improper storage and handling of tetrachloroethylene waste.
As part of his sentence, Eldin was also ordered to pay for and publish an article in a dry-cleaning industry magazine outlining the facts relating to the commission of the offences and the details of the punishment imposed.
Dry-cleaning businesses operated by Eldin have been the subject of two previous convictions for dry-cleaning-related offences.
Quick facts
- CEPA 1999 is an Act that addresses pollution prevention by regulating and managing the use of toxic substances.
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