State Senator Bob Duff
March 10, 2009
Duff, Advocates: Phased-In Approach Would Bring Green Cleaning to State’s Public Schools
Proposal offers potential cost savings for Connecticut school districts
Norwalk — Implementing a school cleaning plan that uses only certified “green” products not only prevents harmful exposure to chemicals, but also could save school districts money, says state Senator Bob Duff (D-Norwalk).
Joined by advocates and educators at Brookside School in Norwalk this morning, Senator Duff detailed his support of proposed legislation that would require the state’s school districts to implement a “green cleaning program” — a program that would be either cost-neutral or offer cost-saving for districts around Connecticut.
“Switching from traditional cleaning products makes sense for health and environmental reasons, but it also makes sense for financial reasons,” Senator Duff said. “Several states — including Georgia, Florida, Pennsylvania and Vermont — have instituted plans that use green products and are cost-neutral or have saved districts thousands of dollars. Santa Monica, California, for example, actually documented a five percent savings after switching to green products and eliminated the use of 3,200 pounds of hazardous materials. This is something we’re already implementing in our state buildings, so it makes a lot of sense to start phasing-in these same policies in our public schools.”
Under House Bill 6496, An Act Concerning Green Cleaning Products in Schools, each local or regional board of education in the state would be required to phase-in a green cleaning program for all school buildings and facilities in its district by October 1, 2011.
All green cleaning programs would be required to use products that are certified by one of two independent third parties, Green Seal or EcoLogo. Products that must be certified include general purpose cleaners, bathroom cleaners, carpet cleaners, glass cleaners, floor strippers and finishes, hand cleaners and soaps.
“This proposed legislation is cost-neutral for several reasons,” said JoEllen Lawson, founder of the Connecticut Foundation for Environmentally Safe Schools. “First, it allows school districts to phase-in the use of safer, effective and affordable cleaning products over a two-year period. This provides them with ample time to use up their existing supply before purchasing environmentally preferable products. Second, government procurement agencies at all levels of government — federal, state and local — have already demonstrated that the transition from toxic cleaners to safer alternatives certified by Green Seal can be done at no additional cost and, in some cases, with cost savings.”
The legislation does not apply to disinfectants, disinfecting cleaners, sanitizers or any other antimicrobial product that is regulated by the federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.
Exposure to conventional cleaners affects children, teachers and administrators, custodial staff and other building occupants. One out of every 13 school-age children has asthma, a leading cause of school absenteeism with 14.7 million school days missed each year; janitorial workers experience one of the highest rates of occupational asthma. Additionally, school districts experience the costs of lost work time and productivity, additional expenses for substitute teachers and potential liability issues from workers’ compensation and disability claims.
“As an educator, I want all children to be in a safe environment while in school,” said Brookside School Principal David Hay. “This bill will contribute to a healthy school environment by eliminating products that can be harmful to children and adults.”
The legislation has support from a large number of advocates, including the State Child Advocate, the American Lung Association, the Connecticut Federation of School Administrators, the Association of School Nurses in Connecticut, the Connecticut Public Health Association, Connecticut Clean Water Action, the Ecological Health Organization, and the Connecticut Sierra Club
“Connecticut has gradually instituted requirements to provide healthy, safe and productive environments for our children and school staff,” said Martin Mador of the Connecticut Sierra Club. “Children spend one-third of their early lives in school buildings, which have four times the occupant density of commercial offices. Their growing bodies are far more susceptible to toxins and contaminants than adults. Protecting the health of our students, and thereby enabling them to excel academically, must be one of our highest priorities.”
The legislation is currently under the consideration of the General Assembly’s Education Committee. The 2009 regular legislative session adjourns on June 3.
For more information about third-party certified products, visit www.greenseal.org or www.ecologo.org.
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