Cleanlink News May 27 2009
Three Additional States Pass Green Cleaning Bills
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According to ISSA reports, Hawaii, Illinois, and Nevada state legislatures have all passed green cleaning bills that have been sent to the governors of the respective states for their signature, which would transform the measures into law.
This development comes in the wake of the Connecticut legislature passing a green cleaning for schools bill and the enactment of Maryland’s green cleaning for schools law.
Hawaii
Hawaii House Bill HB 1538 was amended significantly before its passage by both the State House and Senate in early May. As passed, the bill would require all public school facilities to “…give first preference, where feasible, to the purchase and use of environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products that have been approved by the Green Seal® program…”
HB 1538 would require the Hawaii Department of Health to maintain for use by the public schools a list of products that have been approved by Green Seal. In addition, in further developing the list of approved green cleaning products, the Department would be required to “…review and evaluate existing research regarding environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products, including any research and guidance issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.”
Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle has until July 15 to sign, veto, or allow the measure to become law. Consistent with past practices, the Governor’s office is reviewing all legislation that passed this session, including HB 1538, and is accepting comments on the bills before acting one way or another.
Illinois
On May 14, both Houses of the Illinois General Assembly passed HB 2437 which would require every state-owned building to establish a green cleaning policy. All such facilities must purchase and use environmentally sensitive cleaning products that are in compliance with the Illinois Guidelines and Specifications for the Green Cleaning for Schools Act.
The Illinois guidelines and specifications rely upon the U.S. EPA Design for the Environment, Green Seal, and Environmental Choice (EcoLogoM) in qualifying as “green” the following cleaning product categories: bathroom cleaners, carpet cleaners, hand cleaners and soaps, general purpose cleaners, and glass cleaners. The guidelines also rely upon Green Seal and Environmental Choice, in addition to the EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines, in qualifying certain jansan paper products as environmentally sensitive.
The Illinois bill would allow state buildings to deplete their existing cleaning and maintenance products prior to transitioning to a green cleaning program. In addition, State buildings can opt out of implementing a green cleaning program if it would not be “economically feasible” for the building.
Nevada
The state of Nevada has taken a decidedly different approach in its green cleaning legislation. As passed by both the Nevada Senate and House, SB 185 would require all public K-12 schools to use environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products in the cleaning of all floor surfaces only. In an apparent compromise to obtain passage, the legislation was amended to mandate green cleaning for floor surfaces only.
However, the legislation does allow the board of trustees of a school district to use environmentally sensitive cleaning products on surfaces other than just flooring.
Under SB 185, the Department of Education, in consultation with other stakeholders, including industry, are required to adopt regulations that set forth the “…standards for environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products for use in the cleaning of all floor surfaces in the public schools.” These regulations shall not preclude the use of disinfectants and sanitizers when necessary to protect the health and welfare of students. In addition, the Department would be required to provide each school district with a list of products that meet those environmental standards.
The bill allows schools to opt out of implementing a green cleaning program for floor surfaces if it would place an undue economic burden on the school.
