Claris Olson

1
Illinois Green Cleaning Legislative Overview

• Claris Olson
• Environmental Health Associate
• February 20, 2008

2
Program Description

• What is Green Cleaning and why its important
• Green Cleaning Legislative Overview
• Tools to help you implement a Green Cleaning
  program.

3
About Us Program Focus

• Environmental Health
• Wellness/Food and Fitness
• Building Strong Stakeholder Support

4
About Us Green Cleaning

• HSC major program focus
• CPS Programs
• State Policy
• National Program

5
What is Green Cleaning?

• Cleaning
• to
• Protect Health
• without
• Harming the
• Environment.

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Why is Green Cleaning Important?

• Helps students stay healthy and learn
• Protects the health of custodial staff
• Increases thelifespan of facilities
• Preserves theenvironment

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Why is Green Cleaning Important? Helps Students
Stay Healthy and Learn
Healthy environments boost staff and student
performanceteachers teach well and students
learn well.
8
Why is Green Cleaning Important?Indoor Air
Quality

• Indoor air is typically 2 to 5 times worse than
  outdoor air and can be up to 100 times more
  polluted.
• Many traditional cleaning products contain
  harmful chemicals that contribute to poor indoor
  air quality.
• 50 of schools have an indoor air quality
  problem.

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Why is Green Cleaning Important? Childrens
Health

• Proportionally, children breathe, drink and eat
  more than adults
• Childrens behavior increases their potential
  exposure
• Their bodies are still developing

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Why is Green Cleaning Important? Asthma

• Leading cause of student absenteeism due to a
  chronic disease
• 14 million school days are lost annually
• If kids are not in school, they cant learn

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Why is Green Cleaning Important? Protects the
Health of Custodial Staff

• Custodial staff using traditional cleaning
  products may be exposed to chemicals that can
  cause
• skin and eye irritation
• respiratory problems
• reproductive disorders especially for women in
  their child bearing years.
• cancer

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Why is Green Cleaning ImportantLow-income and
Minority Worker Health

• Research shows that people from low-income and
  minority communities have more exposure to
  environmental hazards than the general population.

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Why is Green Cleaning Important? Preserves the
Environment

• Production cycle is less harmful
• Cleaning industry uses 6 billion pounds of
  chemicals annually
• Packaging reduces waste
• 4.5 billion pounds of paper, 35 million trees
• Products and waste streams are not hazardous to
  water supplies

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Legislative Overview

• New York Law became effective September 1, 2006
• Illinois law passed August 18, 2007
• Other states are developing similar legislation

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Key Provisions of Illinois Law

• Applies to all elementary and secondary schools
• Guidelines developed by the IL Green Government
  Council Feb 08
• Opportunity for public input in the process
• Schools will be allowed to use existing stocks of
  cleaning products.
• Exemptions allowed if not economically feasible

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What are the purchasing requirements

• Product Categories
• Bathroom Cleaners
• Carpet Cleaner
• General Purpose Cleaners
• Glass, Window Mirror Cleaners
• Hand Cleaners Hand Soaps
• Paper

• Certifications
• Green Seal
• Environmental Choice EcoLogo
• U.S. EPA Design for the Environment
• U.S. EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines
  for Commercial and Industrial Sanitary Tissue
  (Paper Only)

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What are non-pre-qualified qualifications?

• Products that are not third party certified may
  be qualified if they meet the certification
  requirements.
• Requires Manufacturers submit 3rd party
  laboratory test data to IGGCC

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What other recommendations are provided?

• Environmentally preferable recommendations for
  cleaning products that are not covered by the
  certification programs such as air fresheners,
  chrome cleaners, degreasers etc.
• Equipment recommendations for vacuums,
  extractors, etc.
• Best practices

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What about Exemptions

• Exemptions by product category
• Use form on the Council's website -
  http//www.standingupforillinois.org/green/school_
  cleaning.php
• Each school must apply, although multiple schools
  in a district may apply together
• The school must provide cost comparison data
  including dilution information
• Must be post marked by June 30 and good for the
  following fiscal year July-June
• Must be renewed annually

20
What about disinfectants

• The Guidelines give recommendations on
• environmentally preferable disinfectants
• best practices on the use of disinfectants
• Does not supersede any existing public health
  laws

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What is the timeline for implementation?

• Public Act 095-0084 was passed into law on August
  13, 2007
• February 1 - Illinois Register
• Comment period (45 days)
• Second comment period (45 days)
• Guidelines become finalized May 9, 2008
• After May 9 schools must comply with requirements
  or seek exemption
• Qualified products
• standingupforillinois.org/green/school_cleaning.ph

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Do I need to dump my existing supplies?

• No, Schools may deplete existing cleaning and
  maintenance supply stocks and implement the new
  requirements in the procurement cycle for the
  following school year.

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How can HSC help?

• The Quick Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in
  Schools
• Guide Structure
• Why Green Cleaning
• Five Easy Steps
• Institutionalize Your Program
• Products
• Other Features
• FAQ
• Real Life Examples
• Tools

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5 Steps Green Cleaning in Schools
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Healthy Schools Campaign

• Claris Olson
• claris_at_healthyschoolscampaign.org
• Cell 312.480.1924
• Office 312.419.1810
• 205 West Monroe, Fourth Floor
• Chicago, IL 60606
• www.healthyschoolscampaign.org