1 April 2006 64LCB#15 Green Cleaners
Sponsored By: Cayla Chavez-Murphy, ASSG Co-Executive
Authored By: Carrie Gibadlo, Department of Facilities Management
Ed von Bleichert, Department of Facilities Management
A Bill
Bill History
Over the years, The University of Colorado,
Bill Summary
This Bill will preclude the UCSU from purchasing any cleaners which do not successfully demonstrate certification by Green Seal or compliance with the established criterion in appendix A.
WHEREAS: Green Seal is a third party, non-profit organization that identifies and promotes products that are less toxic, conserve resources, and minimize overall environmental and health impacts. Green Seal evaluates and promotes these products through a certification process which utilizes internationally recognizes methods and procedures to negate any potential bias. The following certification categories are subject to this legislation: Household Cleaners (GS-08), Cleaning/ Degreasing Agents (GS-34), Industrial and Institutional Cleaners (GS-37), Floor Care (GS-40); and
WHEREAS: Green cleaners are defined as products that have attained Green Seal certification or have proven compliance with the University of Colorado’s Manufacturers Product Assessment Tool and are subject to the following categories; general purpose cleaners (GS-37), bathroom cleaners (GS-37), glass cleaners (GS-37), carpet care (GS-37), disinfectants (GS-08/GS-37) , lime & scale removers (GS-37), degreasers (GS-34), solvent spotters (GS-37), and floor care (GS-40); and
WHEREAS: Risks
associated with the use of cleaners include both acute and long term effects. These risks can be difficult to identify as
chemical exposures often manifest themselves in the form of cold- or flu-like symptoms which can also make it
difficult to identify where/when exposures are occurring; and
WHEREAS: Risks can include, but are not limited to, acute effects such as: blindness, skin damage (dermatitis) and lung damage (asthma); and
WHEREAS: Long term effects can include, but are not limited to: damage to the fetus, hormone disruption, cancer, organ damage, effects to the Central Nervous System (CNS), and chemical sensitivities; and
WHEREAS: According to a report published by the Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance (U.S Department of Interior) an average of 58.2 lbs of chemical cleaning products are used per custodian per year; and
WHEREAS: Potential effects are not confined to front line staff such as custodians, housekeepers, or food service staff but rather through the degradation of indoor air quality can affect almost anyone; and
WHEREAS: According
to the City of
WHEREAS: According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, of chemicals commonly found in homes, 150 have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer, and psychological abnormalities; and
WHEREAS: The University departments, including UCSU cost centers, Facilities Management, and Housing and Dining Services, have participated in the product testing of over 100 cleaners to demonstrate the abundant amount of green cleaners available; and
WHEREAS: Over 200 products have been certified by Green Seal.
THEREFORE, BE IT
ENACTED by the Legislative Council of the
Section 1: All
cleaners purchased by a UCSU cost centers are to be considered “green cleaners”
as defined in appendix A and able to demonstrate compliance with Green Seal
certification or the Manufacturers Product Assessment Tool (MPAT) effective August
14, 2006.
Section 2: The Manufacturers Product Assessment Tool
(MPAT) must be completed in its entirety by the vendor/manufacturer in order
for the product to be considered for purchase and reviewed by the University
purchasing agent in order to verify standards compliance.
Section 3: Contracts existing between UCSU and chemical
cleaning representatives shall be honored beyond
implementation of this bill until the contractual termination date. No existing contracts shall be extended
without demonstrating compliance with this bill, once implemented.
Section 4: In the time period prior to the termination
of existing contracts and implementation of this bill no extra cleaning
products shall be purchased for the purpose of stockpiling supplies.
Section 5: No contracts shall be renewed /entered that
hinder the UCSU cost centers ability to purchase “green cleaners”, products
approved by Green Seal or the University’s Manufacturers’ Product Assessment
Tool, in all determined categories as specified in the category description of
the MPAT (appendix A).
Section 6: Previously purchased cleaning products shall
be used in completion or properly disposed of by one calendar year after
initial implementation of this bill.
Section 7: A comprehensive list of all products approved by means of the Manufacturer Product Assessment Tool (MPAT) shall be circulated to all affected purchasing agents annually by the UCSU Environmental Director.
Section 8: This bill takes effect upon passage by the Legislative Council in two
readings and upon obtaining the signatures of the Legislative Council President
and Tri-executive.
4/13/06 0-0-0
_____________________________ __________________________
Ashley Moore, Legislative Council President Jeremy Jimenez, Tri-executive
_________________________________ _____________________________
Brad Long, Tri-executive Mebraht
Gebre-Michael, Tri-executive