On July 14th, the Council unanimously passed the CLEAN Act (I. 697) in response to last year’s report detail alarming lack of cleanliness standards at industrial laundry plants handling linens that New York City restaurants, hotels, and hospitals use.
The CLEAN Act builds on and expands the laundry licensing DCA does for retail laundromats and dry cleaners. DCA would issue licenses to industrial laundries and delivery trucks that service hotels, restaurants, and hospitals that don’t have a facility on their premise. For a facility to maintain their license, they must submit written statements and plans of compliance with cleanliness and hygiene standards. If cleanliness standards and codes are violated, industrial laundries and delivery trucks would lose their licenses and not be allowed to keep operating.
WHAT PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS MEMBERS SAY
“This bill closes a gaping loophole,” said Council Member Ritchie Torres, the sponsor. “There are millions of people who eat at our restaurants, stay at our hotels, seek care at our hospitals who come into contact with fabrics laundered by industrial laundries, and those industrial laundries have not been regulated for years.”
“This bill is going to bring our City’s outdated regulation of this industry into the 21st Century,” said Council Member Corey Johnson, Chair of the Committee on Health. “Countless individuals in our City use products that are laundered at these industrial facilities on an everyday basis, so we need to make sure that they are safe and clean. This bill closes a big loophole and is going to do a lot of public good. I thank Council Member Ritchie Torres for his leadership on an issue that affects us all.”
“The Clean Act will ensure that New York City’s thriving hotel and restaurant industries maintain their good hygienic reputation while protecting consumers from bad actors in the industrial laundry business who cut corners and put the public at risk,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “With this legislation, New York City sends a message to those taking advantage of loopholes that we are serious about keeping the public safe.”
IN THE NEWS
NY Daily News, Industrial laundries must now obtain licenses and comply with NYC regulations
El Diario, Cleaning up Dirty Laundries Will Protect Consumers in New York City
ABC News, City Councilman Calls for Regulation of Industrial Laundries
American Laundry News, NYC Council Passes CLEAN Act
El Diario de Mexico, Hispanos celebran la aprobación de Clean Act