Custodial ServicesThe information below details Portland State University's policies regarding mandatory and desirable characteristics of chemical cleaning products used by the University's Custodial Services. Chemical Cleaning Products Mandatory CharacteristicsThe user must demonstrate that cleaning products meet the following four (4) criteria: (1) Demonstrate that the product meets or exceeds the relevant Green Seal standards in whole. Product does not have to have actually obtained Green Seal certification, if sufficient proof can be provided that it would meet the relevant Green Seal requirement. However, actual Green Seal certification is preferred. PSU is committed to protection of the environment and, consistent with this, wishes to eliminate the 17 chemicals targeted for elimination by EPA’s Voluntary Environmental Protection Partnership. The Partnership is also referred to as the “33/50 Program.” The EPA 33/50 Program Target Chemicals are:
A complete MSDS and/or manufacturer product information for each product may provide sufficient data to enable assessment under this criterion. Additional supporting product information may be requested of a user. (2) No Sealed Aerosol Spray Cans: No products shall be used on-site that are contained in pressurized, sealed aerosol spray cans. PSU chooses to eliminate on-site use of products so delivered because these containers require additional handling to fully discharge product and propellant and are not reusable or recyclable. All chemical cleaning products must be available in a liquid form or manual pump action sprays and/or concentrates that can be dispensed into pump bottles for use. Acceptable supporting data here may include a picture of the commercially available product delivery system (as in commercial literature) and/or description of the user’s intended delivery system. (3) Carcinogens: PSU wishes entirely to eliminate the use of products containing known and probable carcinogens. Accordingly, no chemical cleaning product shall contain constituent compounds that are classified by EPA as known or probable carcinogens. A complete MSDS for each product may provide sufficient data to enable assessment under this criterion. This information typically would be found under the “Health Hazard Data” section (Sec. VI) of the MSDS under “Carcinogenicity.” Additional supporting product information may be requested from users. (4) Not a Hazardous Waste: Products must not constitute hazardous wastes, as defined at 40 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 261, when offered for disposal. A complete MSDS for each product may provide sufficient data to enable assessment under this criterion. This information typically would be found under Section VII, “Precautions for Safe Handling and Use,” under the “Waste Disposal Method” portion of MSDS. Additional supporting product information may be requested from users. Chemical Cleaning Products Desirable CharacteristicsThe following six (6) characteristics if present to some verifiable or demonstrable degree in an offered product (e.g., as indicated by manufacturer’s literature and/or an MSDS for that product) are preferred. (1) Demonstrate that the product meets or exceeds the relevant The Cleaning Products Pilot Project, where the user may review products for “Environmental Attributes” that EPA has considered including, Skin Irritation, Air Pollution Potential, Fragrances, Dyes, and Minimization of Exposure to Concentrates. Furthermore, it is desirable for certain chemical cleaning products to be used in liquid form rather than through a delivery system that “atomizes” or delivers the product as a fine mist. Eliminating such delivery minimizes the likelihood of inhalation by the user. (2) Biodegradability: Products which exhibit partial or complete biodegradability are preferred. With respect to cleaners, solvents or any other non-paper product, “biodegradability” shall mean the definition set forth at subparagraph 4.2.2 of Green Seal Standard GS-8 for General Purpose Household Cleaners. Further, sufficient proof of biodegradability may be shown not only by conducting product testing as set forth in the referenced standard, but by peer-reviewed literature or databases or other proof that product biodegradability has been verified. Green Seal is an independent certifying organization that has developed environmental preferability standards through an open process. (3) Dyes and Fragrances: It is a basic principle of pollution prevention to avoid unnecessary additives. PSU recognizes that some cleaning products may have a natural odor associated with the cleaning agent (e.g. a lemon odor in a citrus-based cleaner). If a dye or fragrance has been added, only those deemed to be of “food grade” in accordance with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines will be preferred. (4) Recyclable Containers/Minimization of Non-Recyclable Waste: To minimize the generation of solid waste, PSU desires that newly delivered chemical cleaning products, cleaning equipment and machinery, be packaged in recyclable or reusable containers and that users examine ways of otherwise minimizing non-recyclable waste. Such means may include use of refillable product distribution devices and/or concentrates. Users are asked to identify for each product offered (a) whether the container can be sent back to the product distributor or manufacturer for reuse and/or (b) whether the container is made of readily recyclable material (e.g., glass, aluminum, steel, or PETE-1 or HDPE-2 plastics). Furthermore, users are actively encouraged to ensure that products use no, or only a minimal amount of, polypropylene and/or polystyrene (“Styrofoam”) packaging or similar non-recyclable, non-biodegradable packaging. Manufacturer literature clearly depicting the product packaging may be helpful. (5) Bulk Supply: To minimize the generation of solid waste, PSU desires that newly delivered chemical cleaning products be packaged in bulk containers and that users examine ways of otherwise minimizing waste. Such means may include use of refillable product distribution devices and/or concentrates. Users are asked to identify for each product offered whether the product is available in a bulk dispenser. Manufacturer literature clearly depicting the product packaging may be helpful. (6) Other: Users are invited to submit any other information not specifically covered by the enumerated Mandatory or Desirable characteristics that has a bearing on the environmental preferability of offered products. |
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