GREENWICH DELEGATION SUPPORTS GREEN SCHOOLS BILL

HARTFORD- State Reps. Fred Camillo of Cos Cob, Livvy R. Floren, who represents Greenwich and Stamford, and Lile Gibbons of Old Greenwich voted to bar school systems from using products that contain various toxic substances.

Connecticut already requires “green cleaning” practices for all state-owned buildings, including its universities and vocational-technical schools. Supporters say expanding the rules to public schools would improve indoor air quality and help safeguard the health of students, teachers, and custodians.

Rep. Floren said, “All employees and attendees at CT schools have the right to a healthy environment and to breathe clean air, especially school-aged children. According to experts, toxic chemicals become more heavily concentrated in occupied buildings, specifically schools.”

The bill requires cleaning products used in schools — including general purpose and glass cleaners, floor finishes and strippers, and hand cleansers and soaps — to carry the Green Seal or Eco Logo certifications as being environmentally friendly.

The proposal wouldn’t prohibit schools from using traditional disinfecting products that already are regulated by the federal government. Connecticut school systems would have until July 1, 2011, to adjust to the new standards by switching their contracts and purchasing procedures, if necessary.

Rep. Camillo added, “It’s now possible to obliterate germs and disinfect surfaces by using a growing number of proven products that are safer for people and the environment. This should be done to help alleviate the concerns about the consequences of inhaling or absorbing powerful compounds as they circulate through ventilation systems and radiate from every nook and cranny of a well-scrubbed school. All fiscal costs to this bill were eliminated so there was no monetary component to wrestle with. Thus, a good bill was made easier to find compromise on and support for. ”

At present, Torrington, Middletown, and several other school systems have fully or partially switched to “green cleaning” practices while Greenwich has moved to “green” its town departments and many of the towns private schools are using green products.

“The time has come for us to be more vigilant about the cleaning products we use in our schools and insure they don’t do more harm than good. In delaying the implementation of this bill until July 1, 2011, we have given the school districts time to research and try out the various cleaning products on the market and determine which are the most health and cost effective,” concluded Rep. Gibbons.