Green cleaning mandated in Maryland schools

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, on May 7, 2009, signed legislation into law that requires the state’s K-12 public schools to obtain and use green cleaning products, according to a press release.

HB 1363, which officially becomes law October 9, 2009, makes Maryland the fifth state to adopt a green cleaning for schools policy of one form or another, the release stated.

According to the release, HB 1363 allows schools to first use existing cleaning products and supplies before they transition to green cleaning products and allows schools to opt out of implementing a green cleaning program if it is not "economically feasible."

The bill defines "green cleaning products and supplies" as those that have "positive environmental attributes" such as: Biodegradability; low toxicity; low volatile organic compound (VOC) content; reduced packaging; and low life cycle energy use, the release noted.

The County Boards of Education must allow for "multiple avenues" in qualifying cleaning products as environmentally preferable, including at the very least products recognized by the: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Design for the Environment (DfE) Formulator program; Environmental Choice; and Green Seal, the release added.