By RYAN J. FOLEY
Associated Press Writer
More states are requiring schools and government buildings to use environmentally friendly cleaning products, raising some debate about their costs and benefits.
After a burst of legislation last year, 10 states including Connecticut, Illinois and New York require or encourage "green" floor waxes, window cleaners and other products in schools, according to Green Seal Inc., a nonprofit that certifies the products. Similar bills are expected to be debated this year in at least five states.
Critics say that while the measures are laudable, states should not mandate which products schools and agencies must buy, especially if they increase costs for governments that are struggling financially.
But supporters say the laws protect the environment and reduce the use of harsh chemicals that can harm workers' and children's health.
"The goal of the bill is to make schools and other public space less toxic and healthier for kids and the general public," said Democratic Rep. Cory Mason, sponsor of a bill in Wisconsin.
Quincy Public School Maintenance Director Dennis Peters said while the district wasn't mandated to use green cleaning products until a year ago, it started a year early.
"We'll do anything we can to help out the environment," he said.
The cost is about the same, Peters said, although the district hasn't switched all its paper products to recyclables yet.
"I don't know that they do the same job that products used to, but maybe those were a little harsh," Peters said. "We may have to use a little more elbow grease, but the end result is the same."
The state is encouraging schools to use "green" floor wax, and Peters said he is just now experimenting. "We're moving in that direction," he said.
Nevada lawmakers watered down a bill last year that would have required green cleaning products in schools after school officials raised concerns about the cost and their lack of expertise in such cleaning.
The bill signed by Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons only requires schools to use environmentally sensitive floor cleaners.
In Hawaii, Republican Gov. Linda Lingle last year vetoed a bill that would have required the Department of Education to give preference to products approved by Green Seal.
She said it was inappropriate for the state to rely on certifications from "a single private organization." The Democratic-controlled Legislature overrode the veto.
Toilet paper, trash bags and paper towels made from recycled materials can still cost up to 20 percent more than traditional products, said Stephen Ashkin, executive director of the Green Cleaning Network in Bloomington, Ind.
In New York, schools that responded to a state survey said their costs went up 10 percent, on average, in the first year they complied with a 2005 cleaning law.
But New York's Office of General Services said successful programs reduce levels of cleaning chemicals, mold and dust that cause asthma attacks, a top reason students miss school.
Herald-Whig Staff Writer Holly Wagner contributed to this story.
