Illinois Green Cleaning Legislative Overview

1. Illinois Green Cleaning Legislative Overview Claris Olson Environmental Health Associate February 20, 2008

2. Program Description • What is Green Cleaning and why it’s 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.

6. Helps students stay healthy and learn Protects the health of custodial staff Increases thelifespan of facilities Preserves theenvironment Why is Green Cleaning Important?

7. Healthy Environment Healthy Children Quality Education Why is Green Cleaning Important? Helps Students Stay Healthy and Learn Healthy environments boost staff and student performance—teachers teach well and students learn well.

8. 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. Why is Green Cleaning Important?Indoor Air Quality

9. Why is Green Cleaning Important? Children’s Health • Proportionally, children breathe, drink and eat more than adults • Children’s behavior increases their potential exposure • Their bodies are still developing

10. 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 can’t learn

11. 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

12. Why is Green Cleaning ImportantLow-income andMinority Worker Health Research shows that people from low-income and minority communities have more exposure to environmental hazards than the general population.

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. 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) What are the purchasing requirements

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

21. 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

22. 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.

23. 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

24. 5 Steps Green Cleaning in Schools

25. Healthy Schools Campaign Claris Olson claris@healthyschoolscampaign.org Cell: 312.480.1924 Office: 312.419.1810 205 West Monroe, Fourth Floor Chicago, IL 60606 www.healthyschoolscampaign.org