Custodial Services Sustainable Practices: Green Cleaning

What is Green Cleaning? Why Green Cleaning? What standard is UCPS using? What is Custodial Services currently doing? What’s next at UCPS Custodial Services?

What is Green Cleaning? Green Cleaning is part of an initiative for Sustainable Practices by using environmentally responsible products. Simply put, Green Cleaning is a method of cleaning that uses environmentally friendly products which are packaged in recyclable containers, reduces indoor air-pollution, minimizes waste, and reduces health & safety risks.

Why Green Cleaning? Helps Students Stay Healthy and Learn Research shows a clear link between poor indoor air quality, sick students and teachers, and poor academic and occupational performance. Furthermore, children miss more than 14 million school days each year due to asthma exacerbated by poor indoor air quality, which disproportionately affects low-income and minority students. Green Cleaning can help reduce the environmental hazards that negatively affect children's growing, developing bodies.

Why Green Cleaning? Protects the Health of Custodial Staff Members of the custodial staff, especially women of child-bearing age, are particularly susceptible to health problems caused by their frequent and close interaction with cleaning chemicals and equipment. Choosing safer products and training staff in proper usage can help reduce the number of injuries, decrease Workers' Compensation claims, and lower insurance costs.

Why Green Cleaning? Improved Indoor Air Quality Each school day, some 53 million students and five million staff members attend our nation's schools, representing some 20% of the American population. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), half this population may be exposed to polluted indoor air, lead, asbestos, chemical fumes, pesticides, molds and other toxins, along with overcrowding and poor sanitation. A well- designed Green Cleaning program can help reduce these harmful exposures and yield many other positive benefits for students, custodial staff, administrators and the environment.

Why Green Cleaning? Increases Lifespan of the Facility Proper maintenance extends the longevity and performance of school building materials and furnishings by preventing damage and premature aging, which in turn reduces waste and unnecessary spending. For example, school districts allocate a significant amount of money to carpeting, which is expected to have a useful life of 10 to 15 years. Dirt and sand can wear out carpet long before its useful lifespan and before the district has budgeted to replace it.

Why Green Cleaning? Preserves the Environment Traditional cleaning products can contain harmful ingredients that can cause cancer, reproductive disorders, major organ damage, and permanent eye damage. These ingredients find their way into drinking water, lakes and streams, adversely affecting plant and animal life, threatening public health and adding to pollution. Switching to green products can help conserve precious natural resources for future generations. It’s the right thing to do.

What Standards are UCPS Using? UCPS uses the Green Seal Environmental Standards as the guideline for our Green Cleaning Program. Green Seal Environmental Standard for Cleaning Services (GS-42) Green Seal Environmental Standard for Industrial and Institutional Cleaners (GS-37) Green Seal Environmental Standard for Paper Towels and Paper Napkins (GS-09)

What Standards are UCPS Using? Green Seal Environmental Standard for Floor Care Products: Finishes and Compatible Strippers (GS-40) Green Seal Environmental Standard for Hand Cleaners and Hand Soaps (GS-41) Green Seal Environmental Standard for Tissue Paper (GS-01) UCPS uses Healthy Schools Campaign as a Guide

What is Custodial Services currently doing? Custodial Services introduced green cleaning practices in April 2006 with the implementation of the Green Seal Certified. Ready-To-Dispense Cleaners and most environmentally friendly Disinfectants. We are implementing the use of Microfiber Cloths, Dust Mops and Wet Mopping systems. Did you know ? A water dampened Microfiber cloth removes up to 99% bacteria from surfaces without the use of chemicals? Microfiber reduces our usage of paper-products, thus reducing our waste stream? Microfiber is reusable and is proving itself to be very durable?

What is Custodial Services currently doing? We have eliminated aerosol products. We have eliminated the use of “household” cleaning products such as bleach & Pine Cleaners. We have eliminated most products in Ready-To- Use bottles. We are replacing worn out equipment with equipment that meets GS-42 Standards.

What’s next at UCPS Custodial Services? Team Cleaning Staff Training and Education Documented Standard Cleaning Procedures Building Specific Green Cleaning Plans Continued Reduction of Solid Waste