Wash Cycle Laundry (WCL) is a “bicycle-powered” sustainable commercial laundry and linen service which is expanding in the District. The Philadelphia-based startup has signed a deal with George Washington University through its janitorial services provider Aramark, to pick up, deliver and launder cleaning linens. WCL will be washing an estimated 10,000 lbs of University laundry and as a result, will hire three additional full-time laundry staff and two full-time cyclists — effectively doubling their current D.C. staff.
“Our company has proven delivery on bicycles and paying above the minimum wage to employees is not only good practice, but can handle the scale of our country’s largest institutions … We’re proud to work with Aramark and the George Washington University who have committed to using environmentally-friendly laundry services in the nation’s capital,” said WCL Founder & CEO Gabriel Mandujano in a statement.
Founded in 2010, WCL has delivered over 3 million pounds of laundry on trailer-equipped bicycles over the past 5 years. The company has saved an approximate 1.5 million gallons of water through use of high-efficiency machines and its commitment to sustainable practices remain a fundamental aspect of their expansion within D.C. With a current staff of 50 employees, nationally, and a bicycle/tricycle fleet capable of hauling 600 pounds at a time, WCL is known for its decentralized operations model enables quick and efficient scaling.
"Starting this partnership with Aramark and the George Washington University is another milestone in Wash Cycle Laundry's history proving that bikes do work for hauling cargo. We will process over half a million pounds of laundry each year on GWU's campus, serving over 100 delivery points, and bikes simply work better for this need. We often find that people use disposable supplies because it's easier to not think about cleaning supplies. We're now eliminating this headache and showing how our service can enable a greener culture. We commend the George Washington University for using money they were already spending to advance their environmental mission and social objectives," Gabriel Mandujano, Founder and CEO, told DC Inno.
By increasing their staff in D.C., WCL will remain dedicated to hiring from the vulnerable adult populations — individuals who have for example, collected food stamps, experienced jail time and/or are homeless — in collaboration with government and non-profit partners. WCL originally expanded to the nation's capital last May.
Ronda Chapman, Sustainability Project Facilitator at the George Washington University said in a statement, “One of the best ways to ensure our success as a sustainable campus is to have partnerships that support our goals. Aramark continues to work closely with us to do just that. We are very excited that they were so willing to take this step!”
