Updates from the Leading Association for the Cleaning Industry Worldwide

“The growing number of state and local governments that are greening their purchasing practices is helping to fuel the growth for environmentally preferable cleaning products and services,” said ISSA Director of Legislative Affairs Bill Balek at the ISSA Legislative and Regulatory Forum held in April in Arlington, VA.

According to Balek, “The growth in green cleaning product procurement policies has been most pronounced in the public sector.” ISSA has identified 14 states and 16 municipalities, counties and school districts that have adopted some type of policy that either mandates or encourages the purchase of green cleaning products.

In the past year alone, New York State, New Jersey, Oregon, Connecticut and Minneapolis have all adopted green cleaning procurement policies. Most recently, Racine County, WI, announced that it has launched an environmentally friendly cleaning campaign called Green Racine.

At the time of this writing, another three states (Illinois, Florida and Washington) are considering legislation that would mandate green cleaning procurement policies be put in place. The North American Green Purchasing Initiative (NAGPI) is also expected to finalize its green cleaning guidance in the coming weeks. NAGPI is an advisory body whose goal is to harmonize environmentally preferable purchasing policies across NAFTA countries.

In terms of trends in green cleaning procurement, Balek noted in his presentation that recently adopted policies tend to define green cleaning chemical-based products more broadly. For example, New Jersey’s recently issued RFP referenced not only Green Seal®, but also the U.S. EPA Design for the Environment Formulator Program and the Environmental Choice EcoLogoM program in defining green cleaners. In addition, recent green cleaning procurement policies tend to be more comprehensive, addressing not only chemical-based products, but cleaning equipment and cleaning services as well.

More information on state, local and federal government green cleaning procurement policies are available in ISSA’s Green Cleaning Product Procurement Policies, Initiatives, and Requirements in the U.S.

ISSA has just published Green Cleaning for Dummies, a special, industry-specific edition written by industry experts Steve Ashkin and David Holly to demystify — and simplify — the green cleaning process.

The book provides important information for building owners and facility managers as well as cleaning product manufacturers, product distributors and service providers. It includes chapters on selecting green chemicals, green equipment, green paper and other green cleaning tools and supplies. It provides specific coverage on several types of organizations, including schools and universities, health care facilities and office buildings. Readers will also discover how to measure the impact of going green, communicate with clients about their new processes and implement a green training program.

To order your copy of Green Cleaning for Dummies from ISSA, contact info@issa.com; phone, 800-225-4772 (North America) or 847-982-0800.

Visit www.issa.com/floorsafety to view ISSA’s free online educational video clip on floor safety guidelines from State Farm Insurance’s Steve Spencer. In the clip, you’ll learn the importance of floor safety in relation to the alarming statistics regarding the numerous slips, trips and falls that occur every day. Spencer leads viewers through the essential guidelines of floor safety to prevent these costly accidents from occurring.

The ISSA Educational Quick Clips series offers brief videos on a wide range of relevant topics. Two new clips debut each month throughout 2007.

87 Improvements, LLC
COVINGTON, LA

ABM Janitorial Services
KENILWORTH, NJ

Action Facilities Management, Inc.
MORGANTOWN, WV

Alley Companies, Inc.
ST. MICHAEL, MN

American Maintenance
BABYLON, NY

Arizona Window Care
TUCSON, AZ

Automated Maintenance Services, Inc.
FARGO, ND

Avalon Window Cleaning
EUGENE, OR

Barrow County Schools
WINDER, GA

Beacon Group
TUCSON, AZ

Best Western Country Cupboard
MIFFLINBURG, PA

Better Cleaning Service, Inc.
BAYAMON, PR

Brad's Window Cleaning
ALLENDALE, MI

Buena Vista Solutions
ANAHEIM, CA

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
CINCINNATI, OH

Cleaner Living Services, Inc.
LISLE, IL

Clear View of Eastlake
CHULA VISTA, CA

Corner to Corner Maintenance Ltd.
ETOBICOKE, ON, CANADA

Do It All Cleaning & Consultants
WAILUKI, HI

Eastern Building Services Corp.
LOWELL, MA

Ellis Enterprises
LOS ALAMITOS, CA

Ervin Brothers Janitorial Service
ZANESVILLE, OH

Estate Building Services, LLC
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL

Frost Industries, A Div. of The Arc of Caddo-Bossier
SHREVEPORT, LA

Genesis Building Services
SAN MATEO, CA

Goodwill Industries of Colorado Springs
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

Goodwill Industries of Greater Washington
WASHINGTON, DCGoodwill Industries, Inc. (Omaha)
OMAHA, NE

Goodwill Industries, Inc. (Omaha)
OMAHA, NE

Independent Plus Cleaning Services Ltd.
SURREY, BC, CANADA

Janitorial Services, Inc.
VALLEY VIEW, OH

LCS Janitorial Service & Supply, Inc.
ROME, NY

Maintenance Experts of Hampton Roads, t/a United Maintenance Services
PORTSMOUTH, VA

Maximum Cleaning & Maintenance
RICHMOND HILL, ON, CANADA

Mercy Hospital
PORTLAND, ME

Mr. Meticulous Cleaning Service, Inc.
SALISBURY, MD

North West Services
LAKEWOOD, WA

Ontario ARC
CANANDAIGUA, NY

Pinnacle Services
RUNNEMEDE, NJ

Portland Habilitation Center
PORTLAND, OR

Quality Building Maintenance
INDIANAPOLIS, IN

Raytheon
BILLERICA, MA

Ron Simons Co., Inc.
BATESVILLE, IN

Roses, Inc.
LAS VEGAS, NV

S & B Custodial Solutions, Inc.
TWIN LAKES, WI

Sanders Services, LLC
McCLELLANDTOWN, PA

Sarah Lee's Home Maid Services
CANTON, GA

Shiny Window Wash, Inc.
SCOTIA, NY

Sparkleen Window Cleaning
ONTARIO, NY

SPI Janitorial
OMAHA, NE

Squeegee Squad of Kent County MI
BELMONT, MI

Squeeky Clean, LLC
DANBURY, CT

St. Frances Hospital & Health Center
INDIANAPOLIS, IN

Swedish Medical Center
SEATTLE, WA

Tasks Unlimited Building Services
MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Team Clean, Inc.
HONOLULU, HI