The Green Clean Schools Act, effective May 9, 2008 in Illinois, requires schools to use cleaning products that protect health without harming the environment. It requires that certain cleaning products meet third-party certifications, and offers overall guidance for an effective green cleaning program.

Green cleaning reduces children’s exposure to irritants and toxic chemicals while protecting the health of custodial staff who work closely with the supplies. It also offers significant benefits for the environment. Recent studies show that green cleaning is cost-comparable and equally effective and as traditional, more toxic cleaning.

The distributors and manufacturers who provide cleaning products to schools play a key role in protecting the health of children, teachers and staff by working with schools to design effective green cleaning programs. The organizations who have joined the Green Clean Illinois team have either attended a Green Clean Illinois workshop provided by Healthy School Campaign, ISSA and the Office of the Lt. Governor of Illinois or have provided information ensuring that they sell products and services that comply with requirements and/or recommendations of the Green Clean Guidelines for the State of Illinois.

Listing fees provided by companies are used to promote training, education and awareness of green cleaning programs by the Healthy School Campaign, ISSA and the Lt. Governor’s Office. Listing on this web site does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the aforementioned groups.

Green Government Coordinating Council / Office of the Lt. Governor
www.StandingUpForIllinois.org

Lt. Governor Pat Quinn serves as Chairman of the Illinois Green Governments Coordinating Council, which includes representatives from 14 other state agencies. The Council was established under Illinois law to help state agencies, local governments, and educational institutions reduce pollution, promote conservation, and improve the sustainability of their operations and policies. As directed by the Green Cleaning Schools Act, the Council worked in consultation with state agencies and a panel of interested stakeholders to develop the green cleaning guidelines and specifications. Documents and resources related to the Green Cleaning Schools Act are available on the Council’s web site, www.standingupforillinois.org/green/.

Healthy Schools Campaign
www.healthyschoolscampaign.org / www.greencleanschools.org

ISSA
www.issa.com

ISSA is the worldwide cleaning industry association, representing over 5,500 distributor, manufacturer, building service contractor, and in-house service provider companies.  ISSA supports green cleaning programs and served as co-chair of the Products Policy Subcommittee that developed the product guidelines and specifications that implement the Illinois Green Cleaning for Schools Act.  In addition, ISSA promotes the safety and health of workers in the cleaning industry through its Safety and Health Portal located at www.issa.com/osha.