Addressing Industry-Specific Compliance
TRSA serves as the textile services industry’s unified voice to core constituencies for balanced, fair regulation by communicating the industry’s role in improving the economy and environment
Member support allows TRSA to proactively address and respond to aggressive efforts by agencies such as EPA, OSHA and IRS to institute new rules that harm the industry and thereby negatively affect the economy or environment. We educate key audiences in Washington and across the nation about the need to efficiently and effectively resolve key issues in rulemaking to preserve our viability as employers so we can act in the best interest of the country and our customers.
Shop Towels
TRSA supports EPA’s plan to perpetuate the exemption for these reusable cloth towels from regulation as solid or hazardous waste. Currently, paper wipers do not receive a legal exclusion. This distinction is seen as providing a critical market advantage to reusables needed to preserve this textile rental product’s market appeal and therefore its pro-environment benefits. Cloth shop towels can be used for five to 10 tasks before washing and they generate 10 times less solid waste than paper disposable towels. But paper wiper manufacturers have persuaded EPA to conduct research on the handling and laundry processing of shop towels and the agency has yet to confirm its plan to maintain the exclusion and still may place shop towels in the hazardous/solid waste regulatory loop.
Safe Wash Chemistry
EPA has recognized TRSA members’ commitment to the ongoing voluntary phase-out of nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE) from all liquid detergent formulations by December 31, 2013 and all powders one year later. The agency has decided not to ban NPE use immediately. But EPA could still require textile services operators to install costly equipment to monitor plant workers’ exposure to detergent vapors. This is a near certainty for companies that do not eliminate NPE by the deadlines. Complete removal of NPE may be difficult initially, but by that time, it is anticipated that NPE substitutes will be readily available for removing all common soils. We are working to ensure monitoring is not required prior to then.
Tax Status of Rental Textiles
When textile rental services companies buy textile items they intend to rent to a customer, they can deduct 100 percent of such a purchase’s value on their tax returns for the year of the buy. The IRS has continually sought to change this. The IRS has contended that because some products last more than a year, such write-offs should be spread over more than a year (amortized). Recently, the agency toughened its stance, planning not to allow any deductions unless every single item’s lifecycle is accounted for, creating an onerous if not impossible inventory-tracking challenge for the industry. Should such a rule pass, TRSA has asked for an exemption for items that cost laundries less than $100 apiece.
Promoting Our Track Record
Ahead of anticipated regulatory proposals that may unfairly and unnecessarily burden the industry, our customers and the economy, TRSA is communicating with agencies to seek alternatives.
- Ergonomics: TRSA is actively participating in several coalitions that oppose unfair new reporting requirements tracking a wide range of repetitive motions.
- Greenhouse Gas Registry: EPA could place textile rental companies on a “watch list” that could lead to fines, fees, or other compliance costs. The larger the company’s fleet, the more vulnerable to such a new rule.
- Workplace Safety: Citing the successes of the SafeTRSA program to improve employee safety, TRSA is reporting to OSHA and offering to provide the agency with more information to prove that workers’ health is better protected by voluntary compliance programs as opposed to increased regulation. This effort also extends to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Learn More >
- EPA: TRSA promotes to EPA the industry’s efforts to protect the environment including the reporting and resources developed through TRSA’s LaundryESP Program and the “good business and operations” benefits of conserving and recycling water, recapturing heat and minimizing energy usage. Learn More >
