Many cleaning products that are commonly used in public facilities contain dangerous chemicals that may cause illness in those who are exposed to them. These problems may be avoided by replacing the offending agents with harmless cleaning alternatives.

In an effort to communicate this important message and to empower organizations with ways they can rid the environment of these hazards, The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology® at Hackensack University Medical Center developed its Greening the Cleaning® program. Through Greening the Cleaning®, experts provide environmentally sound cleaning alternatives and extensive guidance to allow participating facilities to enjoy a seamless transition to a safer, more effective cleaning system. The program has been highly successful in all of the institutions that have participated. All Greening the Cleaning® products are tested for safety by the manufacturer and exceed OSHA’s requirements and recommendations.

The six major goals and objectives of the Greening the Cleaning® program are:

1. TOXICITY REDUCTION
   
   The majority of the hazardous cleaning products that produce odors and emit chemicals that contribute to poor indoor air quality and/or that can be harmful to the individuals exposed to them are replaced. The program reduces emissions and provides a cleaner, less toxic environment. This improved setting is particularly important in healthcare facilities that have patients who are already in a compromised state of health, and need a contaminant-free environment to promote healing. There is no reason to use toxic cleaning agents in schools, homes, or businesses either because non-toxic environmentally safe ones exist.
   
   
2. QUANTITY REDUCTION
   
   Fewer cleaning products are being ordered, and replaced with multipurpose products, while maintaining the highest quality of safety.
   
   
3. WASTE MINIMIZATION
   
   The new Greening the Cleaning® chemicals are ordered from an environment-conscious manufacturer. A dispensing system is also installed to ensure no waste, accidents, or misuse.
   
   
4. COST REDUCTION/BUDGET NEUTRAL
   
   Institutions using the Greening the Cleaning® program may enjoy cost savings for a variety of reasons. Buying bulk quantities of concentrated cleaning products cuts down on packaging and shipping costs. Education of housekeeping staff enables them to use the products more efficiently, which reduces waste. Also, staff members are no longer subjected to irritating chemicals, which may reduce employee sick time and worker’s compensation. Hackensack University Medical Center, which converted to the Greening the Cleaning® program in 2001, has yielded a 15% cost savings.
   
   
5. SPACE REDUCTION
   
   The Greening the Cleaning® program encourages facilities to consolidate their supplies in one centralized location to aid in the management of inventory. This practice minimizes the possibility of duplicating supplies. It also eliminates the need to find space to store items that are not needed. Although creating a central storage area may not be feasible in all cases, every effort is made to create one. Smaller containers and spray bottles are kept in the janitorial closets and carts.
   
   
6. EDUCATION OF PERSONNEL
   
   A toxin-free cleaning program can only be implemented if those who actually clean the facility understand the importance of their actions and know how to use the new products. For this reason, The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology® educates all personnel in the participating facility, from the housekeeping staff to supervisors and top-level management so they can work together to preserve their environment at no additional cost.

   
   Published 11-8-06