Tips for Environmentally Responsible Cleaning
In-house and contract cleaners; you can practice environmental responsibility even when undertaking general cleaning tasks. Consider these suggestions for reducing your environmental footprint.
When Purchasing Cleaning Supplies, Look for Source-Reduced Products.
Simply put, source reduction is waste prevention or designing, manufacturing, purchasing or using materials (such as products and packaging) in ways that reduce the amount of toxicity or trash created. Source-reduced products are created to last longer and use more efficient dispensing methods and less packaging in their manufacture – so there is less waste from the start. That means more waste is diverted from landfills. It also leads to more efficient use of raw materials and natural resources, such as energy and water, during the manufacturing process.
Product packaging is one area where source-reduction can play a major part in reducing environmental impact. Packaging is a large component of municipal solid waste landfills and a product’s packaging can account for a significant portion of the product’s contribution to municipal solid waste, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA's recommended approach to managing solid waste from packaging is, first, reduce packaging of products and, second, recycle packaging materials. Try to choose products that use efficient packaging (e.g. light weight, reduced volume). Also look for shipping cartons, container and paper wraps that are both recyclable and made from recycled materials.
Purchase Products that Offer High Performance.
Product performance can also help cut waste. How? Because superior performing products require less source material to handle a desired task and can therefore reduce the amount of waste generated. A wiping product that is strong and durable will offer long-lasting performance that extends usage and reduces waste. A high-quality, concentrated floor cleaner will last longer as less cleaner is needed to do the job. In addition, buying cleaners in concentrates, with appropriate handling safeguards, and reusable, reduced, or recyclable packaging, also reduces packaging waste and transportation energy.
Choose Low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Cleaning Products.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids, according to the EPA. VOCs can be found in a variety of products, including cleaners, disinfectants and degreasers, and some may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are also consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. To reduce exposure to VOCs, the EPA recommends increasing ventilation when using products that emit VOCs, using products according to manufacturer’s directions and disposing of unused or little-used containers safely.
Airborne VOCs are one health hazard associated with cleaning tasks. Another potential health and safety concern is the transfer of contaminants from laundered, textile shop towels. Shop towels are used to wipe away sweat and grime from dirty hands or brows, as well as to wipe up messes. An independent study found that even when “freshly laundered,” textile shop towels from 23 different manufacturing and industrial facilities in 14 states contained oil and grease, and many contained elevated levels of heavy metals, such as lead. The study showed how elevated levels of heavy metals on textile shop towels can get onto hands and then inadvertently into the mouth, where they might be ingested. These towels can also come into contact with the lips when towels are used to wipe the face.
In addition to being a potential health and safety issue for workers, rental shop towels are also responsible for 30 percent more landfilled solid waste per thousand towels than their disposable counterparts. Disposable wipers, on the other hand, contribute only one-tenth of one percent of the nation’s landfilled waste. Some businesses are even adopting a “zero-landfill” option for used disposable wipers, in which used wipers are converted to energy via incineration instead of being sent to a landfill.
In conclusion, when undertaking cleaning tasks, in-house and contract can reduce their impact on the environment by choosing less hazardous products that have positive environmental attributes, such as biodegradability, low toxicity, low VOC content, reduced packaging and low life cycle energy use, according to the EPA. In addition, the EPA adds, taking steps to reduce exposure can minimize harmful impacts to custodial workers and building occupants, improve indoor air quality, and reduce water and ambient air pollution while also ensuring the effectiveness of cleaning in removing biological and other contaminants.
