IV 

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; 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 803 IH 

(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 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 803 IH 

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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives com2 mends LaundryESP and the textile services industry for 

3 their voluntary industry wide commitments to use less 

4 water and energy, use more environmentally friendly wash 

5 formulas, and significantly reduce pollutants, producing 

6 an excellent example of a conservation and environmental 

7 protection program that fosters innovation, corporate 

8 stewardship, cooperation with regulatory authorities, and 

9 a willingness to change. 

Æ 


jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS