Another state passes green school cleaning bill

DES MOINES, IA — The Iowa House of Representatives has passed a controversial bill requiring state buildings and schools to use green cleaning products, according to the Globe Gazette.

According to the story, local school boards, community colleges and regents universities would be able to apply to opt out of the requirement.

The bill had faced opposition from lawmakers and school districts who claimed the measure was unnecessary and would result in a financial burden for schools, the story stated.

Supporters, however, argued that green cleaning can actually save schools money and provides a healthy environment for students and custodial workers, the story noted.

Representative Nathan Reichert said: "It's about the environment [in] which our kids learn, [in] which our teachers teach, and how we can reduce their exposure to chemicals used typically in cleaning, but also to those folks that do the cleaning for us in our state government buildings and our classrooms."