Green Clean Updates

Green Team Newsletters
June 2008
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4.10.08 | Green Clean Schools Act Updates

The Green Clean Schools Act will go into effect in Illinois on May 9, 2008, requiring all schools to adopt green cleaning programs. In this context, green cleaning is defined as cleaning for health without harming the environment. Specific guidelines are outlined below:

For Schools

The Green Government Coordinating Council (staffed by the office of the Lt. Governor of Illinois) is responsible for developing specific green cleaning guidelines. To develop these guidelines, the council brought together a broad range of experts and invited the public to share input. The result is a set of guidelines that are comprehensive, health-based and cost-effective for schools to implement.

The rules identify six categories of cleaning products which school will be required to purchase "green." These include:
• Bathroom Cleaners
• Carpet Cleaners
• General Purpose and Hard Floor Surface Cleaners
• Glass, Window and Mirror Cleaners
• Hand Cleaners and Hand Soaps
• Paper Products

Products in the chemical categories are required to be certified by Green Seal, Environmental Choice, or USEPA Design for the Environment. Paper products are required to be certified by Green Seal, Environmental Choice or the USEPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines. Schools can also choose products certified by parties that meet or exceed the standards of those listed certifications.

Schools are not required to throw away products currently in stock – the law allows for schools to use existing inventory and to begin purchasing green when the existing inventory is depleted. Schools may request exemption from the rules if green cleaning is not economically feasible.

We’ve received a number of inquiries about how the Illinois standards compare to standards used in New York, the only other state in the nation to require green cleaning in schools. To learn more and see a comparison of the standards, click here.

To view the full Guidelines and Specifications document, click here [pdf].

For cleaning product distributors

To help green clean distributors in Illinois prepare for the new rules, HSC is partnering with ISSA to provide a series of workshops and develop a directory of suppliers that schools can contact as they seek green products. To learn more, visit www.GreenCleanIllinois.org.

3.12.08 | Green Clean Schools Standards for Illinois and New York

Green cleaning leaders around the country are interested in how the state of Illinois is implementing the Green Clean Schools Act, which requires schools to adopt green cleaning programs by May 9, 2008.

In particular, we’ve received many questions about how the Illinois standards compare to standards used in New York, the only other state which currently requires green cleaning in schools. The chart below gives an overview of the standards used in both states.

1.18.08 | Congratulations to the Green Cleaning Award winners!

HSC extends our most enthusiastic congratulations to the winners of the first annual Green Cleaning in Schools Awards!

We co-sponsored the awards program with American School & University magazine and the Green Cleaning Network, and we couldn’t be more proud of the award recipients and the excellent programs they represent.

The winning schools are featured in a special issue of American School & University. Check out the special Green Cleaning Award section [pdf] »

HSC Founding Executive Director Rochelle Davis and Environmental Health Specialist Claris Olson served on the judging panel for the competition, along with Steve Ashkin, author of HSC’s Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools.

The criteria for judging the competition were based on the "five simple steps to a healthy school environment " outlined in the Quick & Easy Guide.

As Claris discussed in her recent blog, the winning programs did more than use green products: they implemented systems that include thorough staff training and feedback from people who use the building:

At Mayfield County School District in Ohio, the district is using vacuums certified by Green Label and has furnished the schools with high quality floor mats.  They also use Green Seal certified paper products.  I was really impressed with the training program for their custodial staff.  The staff attend a two-day training program accredited through their local community college.  The vendor provides a follow-up one-day in-service training that covers the importance of green cleaning and its impact on the districts’ staff, students and buildings.

At Hernando County Schools in Florida, the district also uses Green Label certified vacuums as well as color-coded microfiber cloths dedicated to specific areas. Hands down what won me over with this first place award winner was their constant evaluation and feedback program.  They have systems in place for daily and weekly feedback from teachers and the administrator, and even have self-assessments for the custodial staff. The maintenance/custodial supervisor conducts inspections at the school through out the day and evening and provides reports to the head custodian, principal and executive director of maintenance.  The reports allow everyone to see the achievements as well as areas for improvement. 

Since releasing the Quick & Easy Guide in Oct. 2006, HSC has distributed more than 50,000 guides with the support of 30 sponsors and 14 participating organizations. The guide has been cited as a resource in a diverse range of publications, including the book Green Cleaning for Dummies, and was instrumental in passing legislation requiring green cleaning in Illinois schools.

HSC is now developing Version II of the Quick & Easy Guide and is accepting sponsors for this new, expanded edition. To learn more about how your organization can join the team that’s greening America’s schools, click here or contact Rochelle Davis.

We’re delighted to have the opportunity to honor schools at the forefront of green cleaning, and we hope their impressive work will inspire others to clean the green way!

12.17.07 | Public Comment Period Opens for Illinois School Green Cleaning Guidelines

In Aug. 2007, Illinois became the second state in the nation to recognize the health and learning benefits of green cleaning by passing the Green Clean Schools Act, which requires green cleaning in Illinois schools. Now the Draft Guidelines for Green Cleaning in Schools, required by the law, are available for public comment.

The Illinois Green Government Coordinating Council (IGCC) led the development of the guidelines through a collaborative process in coordination with the Illinois Department of Health, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Regional Office of Education, Illinois State Board of Education and a broad panel of interested stakeholders including union representatives, facilities managers, industry representatives, Healthy Schools Campaign and others.

Similar to The Quick and Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools, the draft guidelines include specifications and recommendations for cleaning supply products, equipment, paper and procedures (best management practices). The guidelines will not replace other laws with specific cleaning requirements such as those that address food service areas, child care centers, health facilities (such as those for nursing and physical therapy) and swimming pools. The Act allows individual schools to forego green cleaning if is not “economically feasible” for a specified product category.

Now, the IGCC is seeking input on the proposed standards. You can share a general comment in support of green cleaning or can download the full draft and comment on specific aspects of it. The comment period is from December 8, 2007 to January 8, 2008. Comments can be submitted in writing on the IGCC website or in person at any of the three scheduled public meetings.

The IGCC will consider the comments and post the final document on Feb. 11, 2008. At that time schools will have 90 days to adopt green cleaning practices, however they will be allowed to use their existing stocks of cleaning chemicals until they are depleted. To learn more about green cleaning, be sure to order your free copy of The Quick and Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools.

11.28.07 | MRSA Outbreaks Highlight Importance of Green Cleaning in Schools

Several highly-publicized recent outbreaks of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in schools have ignited a rush for systems and products that will protect children from this "superbug" infection. As school cleaning supply companies are flooded with orders for huge quantities of harsh disinfectants, it is important to remember that basic hygiene and green cleaning practices designed to protect health without harming the environment remain the most effective — and least dangerous — way to prevent the spread of MRSA.

"MRSA outbreaks show how absolutely important it is for schools to clean consistently with health as a priority which, when coupled with reducing the environmental impact, is essentially the definition of green cleaning," said Claris Olson, environmental health specialist for the Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC). "Extreme measures may actually backfire when you’re addressing this type of infection. The good news is that schools can protect children with basic steps such as hand washing and a thorough, consistent cleaning program."

Green cleaning procedures, such as those outlined in HSC’s Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools and echoed in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines for controlling MRSA in schools, suggest thorough cleaning of a school and disinfecting touch points such as doorknobs and light switches. Extra attention should be paid to locker rooms and athletic areas. For a disinfectant to be effective, it needs to be used on surfaces that have already been cleaned to remove surface soil that can harbor bacteria.

This cleaning procedure prevents the spread of infection without exposing children to unnecessary levels of harsh chemicals that can reduce indoor air quality, burden the immune system and aggravate respiratory problems such as asthma.

Excessive use of disinfectants is also suspected as a contributor to the development of resistant strains of bacteria similar to the way that overuse of antibiotics led to the development of MRSA.

Green cleaning procedures for disinfection offer benefits for the environment and reduce expenses for schools by avoiding futile attempts to disinfect an entire school. Of course, they also protect the health of students and staff by focusing the disinfection on surfaces where cross contamination can occur.

MRSA is transferred through skin contact with the bacteria, either directly from one individual to another or on shared surfaces such as doorknobs, tables or towels. MRSA usually enters the body through a cut on the skin and causes mild skin infections such as pimples and boils. These infections can be easily treated by a health professional, often without the use of antibiotics. (If necessary, certain antibiotics to which MRSA is not resistant may be used.) MRSA can also cause more serious infections of the bloodstream or lungs, but these infections are extremely rare in healthy people.

HSC’s guidelines for green cleaning — defined as cleaning to protect health without harming the environment — offer a safe, effective approach for preventing MRSA that is consistent with the recommendations of major health organizations such as the CDC and EPA. In preventing MRSA, schools should:

• Educate students, teachers, coaches and all school staff about the importance of hygiene and frequent, thorough hand-washing. Make sure that students and school employees have access to appropriate hand-washing facilities as well as time for hand washing.
• Be sure that any skin infections or open wounds are appropriately cleaned and covered with dry bandages at all times. Consult with the school nurse or other medical professional for specific guidance on caring for skin infections and wounds.
• Clean buildings thoroughly and regularly, then disinfect touch points where harmful bacteria – including MRSA – may be transferred. Cleaning with environmentally preferable products further protects children’s health by reducing dangerous chemical exposures.
• Use disinfectants registered by the EPA for addressing MRSA, and be sure that cleaning procedures and work flow allow the disinfectant to stay on surfaces for the full amount of time recommended by the product instructions. (Leaving the product on a surface for longer than recommended does not increase its effectiveness but can lead to dangerous and unnecessary chemical exposures. Leaving it on for less time than recommended can inhibit its effectiveness.) Remember that disinfectants and other chemicals are registered by the EPA for a variety of uses and not all of them are appropriate for addressing MRSA. The EPA requires that all disinfectants be registered; this registration should not imply a sense of safety. An official list of EPA registered disinfectants appropriate for preventing the spread of MRSA is available for download at http://epa.gov/oppad001/list_h_mrsa_vre.pdf.

Since MRSA outbreaks have hit the news, school leaders report that they have been approached by vendors offering an array of "miracle" products to protect students from MRSA. In reality, schools can prevent and address MRSA with simple hygiene and cleaning procedures that protect the health of everyone in the building.

"MRSA is a serious threat, but one that schools can address with common sense best practices," Olson said. "School leaders need to think carefully about their response to the threat and not succumb to panic – any product that targets a mass disinfection or magic cure should be viewed with skepticism. This is a teachable moment that highlights the importance of setting up a program for consistent, environmentally sound cleaning for health."

6.26.07 | State, Local Policies Require Green Cleaning in Schools

Children, teachers, and school staff in Illinois will soon breathe a little easier during the school day—and the rest of the nation may not be far behind.

With a 52-5 vote in the Senate in May 2007, Illinois became the second state in the nation to enact legislation requiring green cleaning in schools.

"Illinois is becoming a national leader in providing healthy learning environments for our children,” said Mark Bishop, HSC's deputy director. "This simple step goes miles in protecting the health of everyone in the school building. It's an important milestone for Illinois, and it's simply the right thing to do."

Similar legislation was enacted in New York in 2006, and stakeholders report that the transition to mandatory green cleaning has been a smooth one. (See our recent article for more information on the transition to green cleaning in N.Y.)

Legislators in other states – including Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Washington – are considering bills that would require green cleaning in schools.

The movement toward green cleaning is also gaining steam at a local level.

In Pittsburgh Public Schools, for example, the plant operations department established a policy to use only environmentally preferable cleaning products in schools.

The Milton Public Schools in Milton, MA began using Green Seal products almost exclusively as a way to protect health while preserving facilities.

"I’ve seen the negative health effects of traditional cleaning chemicals first-hand, and I can tell you there's a better way," said Bill Thompson, director of facilities at Lockport Township High School in Illinois. Thompson began implementing a green cleaning program three years ago to protect the health of cleaning staff, and now sees benefits in student attendance as well as cost savings for his school. "Green cleaning is the right thing to do, not only for children but for the custodial staff who work with the chemicals."

6.22.07 | Green Cleaning Award Program Launched with American School & University Magazine

Healthy Schools Campaign is pleased to announce an award program designed to recognize the outstanding efforts of schools around the nation to move forward with green cleaning.

American School & University's Green Cleaning Award, created in conjunction with HSC and the Green Cleaning Network, honors schools and their partners that embrace green principles and practices in their maintenance operations.

Awards will be presented to exemplary programs and winners will be profiled in a special supplement in the December issue of American School & University.

Learn more or submit information about your school's green cleaning program at the American School & University award page.

4.18.07 | Smooth Transition to Mandatory Green Cleaning in New York

Green cleaning advocates have had their eye on New York since September 2006, when a law requiring green cleaning in schools went into effect throughout the state. The big story now may simply be ease of the transition. School officials and state leaders said the change has been smooth and feedback so far has been positive.

"It's been a non-issue, really," said Sue Rau, chair of health and environment for the NY State PTA. "I haven't heard any complaints from anyone. Schools are doing what the law says, and it looks like their vendors are making it easy for them."

Fred Koelbel, superintendent of buildings and grounds for the West Islip school district and president of the New York State Association for Superintendents of School Buildings and Grounds, agreed.

"From what we see, things are progressing well," he said.

A comprehensive survey of school districts' response to the green cleaning legislation is set to be released in June 2007. Until then, the most notable observation of those close to the law may be the absence of a dramatic response.

"It wasn't a big movement for us," Koelbel said. "In my district, for example, we were already moving in that direction."

Kurt Larson of the State Office of General Services Environmental Services Unit (OGS), the group responsible for state purchasing, said that his organization has focused on providing the tools and information that make it easier for school systems to meet the law's requirements for purchasing environmentally preferable cleaning products.

School leaders can access an automatic cost calculator, for example, which assists them in comparing the unit cost of products at different levels of dilution.

Larson's unit at OGS conducts workshops for those responsible for purchasing cleaning products, and provides detailed listings of vendors for green cleaning products, floor finish products, floor finish stripper products, hand soaps and vacuum cleaners. In response to public feedback, he recently added the option of purchasing green products from smaller vendors that had not been included in initial listings.

"This is a living, breathing, changing document," Larson said.

Koelbel explained that this flexibility is one of the law's strengths that will keep it relevant for years to come. In working with the office of then-Gov. George Pataki to write the legislation, Koelbel and his colleagues in the Association for Superintendents of School Buildings and Grounds emphasized the importance of a law that would remain relevant as new green cleaning products were developed.

For that reason, the law does not include specific product listings or technical specifications; instead, it charges a coalition of organizations with the work of developing and maintaining the technical definitions of "green" and the listings of products that fit within the definition.

"What was state of the art two years ago isn't state of the art today," he said. "And what's state of the art today won't be two years from now."

With the technical and purchasing aspects of implementation proceeding smoothly, Koelbel said that for him, "the biggest adjustments were more cultural."

"The thing people have to understand is that janitorial staff members, especially in school buildings, are very concerned with making things right for the customer – with doing the job in a way that satisfies the teachers, the principal, the parents. If they're already doing a good job and making these customers happy, you have to explain why we're replacing one product with another. You have to explain that it's better for them, better for kids, better for the customers. Then it's no problem."

Wendell Chu, superintendent of Fire Island Union Free School District, said that green cleaning has been a sensible transition and the health benefits have been noticeable. Information about green cleaning had come across his desk before the law took effect, he said, but his work was so busy that he hadn't been able to make it a priority.

"It made so much sense, there was no reason to not do it before," said Chu, "but it took the legislation to make us start thinking about it and implementing our program."

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Stay posted for updates from New York, including the green cleaning survey scheduled to be released in June 2007

1.24.07 | Green Seal Initiates Revision of GS-37 Standard for Cleaners

Green Seal, a national non-profit organization, announces the beginning of a comprehensive review and revision of GS-37, its environmental standard for institutional and industrial cleaning products, and invites all interested stakeholders to actively participate. The revision is expected to take about a year and will include a formal public review of the proposed revisions about half-way through the process.

Since GS-37 was first developed in 2000, technology has improved and new information has arisen about issues such as emissions, endocrine disruptors and asthmagens. Since major entities such as New York State have adopted GS-37 for schools, issues have been raised about its adequacy in protecting the health of sensitive and vulnerable populations such as school-age children and custodial workers.

"The primary goal of revising GS-37," stated Arthur Weissman, Ph.D., president and CEO of Green Seal, Inc., "is to ensure that it continues to represent an environmental leadership standard in the marketplace and to incorporate criteria that fully protect human health, including that of children and custodial workers."

All stakeholders or interested parties who want to be more actively involved in the review process of GS-37 should send an e-mail to Green Seal with their full contact information, including their organization or occupation, by Feb. 15, 2007, at GS37@utk.edu.

More information: GreenSeal's press release on revision of GS-37 »

12.1.06 | Green Seal Finalizes Environmental Standard for Cleaning Services

Hiring a green cleaning service just got easier thanks to the GS-42 Green Seal’s Environmental Standard for Cleaning Services (PDF).

The standard, which was finalized in September 2006, establishes requirements for both in-house and external cleaning service providers to create a green cleaning program that protects human health and the environment. It encompasses all indoor activities required to clean commercial, public and industrial buildings. The standard specifies green chemicals, supplies and equipment as well as cleaning procedures, and it mandates employee training and communication with building owners and occupants. It also requires the implemenatation of a building-specific green cleaning plan.

To verify compliance, Green Seal will conduct on-site audits that may include the cleaning service provider's own facilities, as well as a sample of the facilities cleaned by the service. GS-42 certification provides a market incentive to service providers to offer environmentally responsible cleaning services and a clear, reliable tool for purchasers to determine which services are environmentally responsible.

9.1.06 | New York Schools Go Green!

This fall all of New York turned a little greener. As of Sept. 1, 2006,all elementary and secondary schools throughout the state  were required to use environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products. The law applies to both public and private schools.

The mandate also required the Office of General Services to develop guidelines and specifications for green cleaning products. Visit the OGS website for details on these guidelines and other developments.