Green Cleaning

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER RECOMMENDS

That the Chicago Board of Education (“the Board) amend Board Report 08-0827-PO6 Green Cleaning Policy as part of the Board’s biennial policy review process. This policy was posted for public comment from January 26, 2024 until February 26, 2024.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to comply with the Illinois Green Cleaning Schools Act (105 ILCS 140), which requires schools to exclusively purchase and use environmentally-sensitive cleaning supplies in accordance with the State of Illinois Guidelines and Specifications for the Green Cleaning Schools Act (“State Guidelines”) and related provisions of the Illinois Administrative Code.

POLICY TEXT

• Introduction: It shall be the policy of Chicago Public Schools (“CPS”) to maintain clean, safe, healthy schools and Board facilities and eliminate contaminants that affect children and adult health, performance and attendance. CPS is committed to the implementation of cleaning processes and use of environmentally sensitive products that protect the health of children and adults. Environmentally sensitive cleaning products are cleaning and maintenance products that minimize adverse impacts on human health and the environment, while cleaning effectively.
• Categories of Cleaning Supply Products: For cleaning products in the following categories, schools, area offices, central offices and Board facilities shall purchase and utilize environmentally sensitive cleaning products:
  1. Bathroom Cleaners – products used to clean hard surfaces in a bathroom such as counters, walls, floors, fixtures, basins, tubs or tile.
  2. Carpet Cleaners – products used to eliminate dirt and stains on rugs and carpeting.
  3. General Purpose and Hard floor Surface Cleaners – products used for routine cleaning of hard surfaces, including impervious flooring such as concrete or tile. This category does not include products intended primarily to strip, polish or wax floors and it does not include disinfectants nor cleaners intended primarily for cleaning toilet bowls, dishes, laundry, upholstery or wood.
  4. Glass, Window and Mirror Cleaners – products used to clean glass, windows, mirrors or metallic or polished surfaces.
  5. Hand Cleaners and Hand Soaps – products used for routine, non-specialized hand cleaning.
  6. Paper Products – paper towels or other paper used for cleaning and do not include toilet paper, facial tissue or paper towels used for drying hands.
  7. Such other categories as may be identified in the State Guidelines
• Product Designations: A school, area offices, central office or Board facility shall be deemed to be in compliance with the requirement to use environmentally sensitive cleaning products if the school solely uses products carrying one of the following designations:
  1. Certified by Green Seal
  2. Certified by Environmental Choice EcoLogo Program
  3. For chemicals: Recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency Design for the Environment Formulator Program, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
  4. For Paper Products: In compliance with the IS Environmental Protection Agency Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines for Commercial and Industrial Sanitary Tissue.
• Implementation: This policy mandates the use of green cleaning supplies by schools, area offices central offices, and other Board owned facilities. Facilities, shall incorporate Green Cleaning requirements into their school’s maintenance and cleaning program. The Department of Procurement and Contracts shall establish a district-wide purchasing contract(s) that enables Facilities and schools to purchase green cleaning products that comply with the requirements of this policy.