Commends LaundryESP (the Laundry Environmental Stewardship Program) and the textile services industry for their voluntary industry wide commitments to use less water and energy, use more environmentally friendly wash formulas, and significantly reduce pollutants.
[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 803 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 803
Expressing the support of the House of Representatives regarding the
merits and benefits of the Laundry Environmental Stewardship Program
(ESP) program, which improves the environment through textile services
industry wide conservation of water and energy, reducing pollutants,
and using safer surfactants.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 6, 2009
Mr. Space (for himself and Mr. Terry) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing the support of the House of Representatives regarding the
merits and benefits of the Laundry Environmental Stewardship Program
(ESP) program, which improves the environment through textile services
industry wide conservation of water and energy, reducing pollutants,
and using safer surfactants.
Whereas LaundryESP is a voluntary pollution-prevention and resource-conservation
program where members are encouraged to participate through a variety of
initiatives, including--
(1) the establishment of recycling, reuse, and recovery programs in
each plant;
(2) implementation of best-management practices to conserve resources
and reduce pollution;
(3) self-assessments of operations and environmental compliance;
(4) use of environmentally beneficial chemicals;
(5) installation of more efficient equipment; and
(6) education of and partnerships with customers to reduce pollutants;
Whereas LaundryESP encompasses 170 textile service companies and 750 laundry
plants which account for the majority of the industry's production
serving light, heavy, and high-technology manufacturing, hospitals,
medical clinics, hotels, transportation industries, retail businesses,
and restaurant services;
Whereas LaundryESP is a cost-effective and flexible program in which textile
services industry companies can improve their environmental performance;
Whereas LaundryESP is designed to arrive at more efficient use of resources
including water, energy, and wash chemicals through innovative, new
approaches;
Whereas the primary goal of LaundryESP is to facilitate the textile services
industry's continued commitment to environmental protection, built on a
foundation of strengths in recycling and reuse;
Whereas LaundryESP over the past decade has resulted in--
(1) 41 percent increase in textile service production (12.16 billion
pounds of textiles processed today vs. 8.62 billion a decade ago);
(2) 43 percent pollutant reduction (17,500 lbs. of pollutants, as
measured by pollutant equivalents, did not have to be treated at the local
wastewater treatment facility);
(3) 28 percent reduction in water use (translates to a savings of 26
billion gallons which would serve the water needs of 700,000 people per
year);
(4) 15 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (the equivalent of taking
220,000 cars off the road every year over the decade); and
(5) 14 percent decrease in total energy use (the equivalent of the
total amount of electricity used annually by 450,000 United States homes);
and
Whereas the textile services industry has been working actively with the
Environmental Protection Agency to promote ``green'' environmentally
friendly business practices industry wide, and the Environmental
Protection Agency has reviewed LaundryESP and found significant progress
in water and energy conservation, pollutant wash chemical reductions,
and greater use of environmentally friendly wash chemicals: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives commends LaundryESP and
the textile services industry for their voluntary industry wide
commitments to use less water and energy, use more environmentally
friendly wash formulas, and significantly reduce pollutants, producing
an excellent example of a conservation and environmental protection
program that fosters innovation, corporate stewardship, cooperation
with regulatory authorities, and a willingness to change.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
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