DeKALB – The president of the Illinois Professional Dry Cleaners and Launders Association said a new state law that will regulate a chemical used in dry cleaning will have little effect on existing operations.

That’s because dry cleaners have been compliant with the law since they have machines with improved containment systems, said Tom Bartnett, owner of Greenacre Cleaners, 1334 E. Lincoln Highway.

“This is a validation of what the industry is doing, and it’s raising the bar from third-generation machines to fourth-generation machines,” Bartnett said.