Green cleaning products offer effective performance while minimizing effects on health, environment, and worker safety. Select environmentally preferable cleaning products for municipal facilities. Communicate the municipality’s desire for these products to vendors and service providers. 

Why is it important? 

“Green” purchasing, or Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP), refers to “products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose.” This comparison applies to raw materials, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, use, reuse, operation, maintenance, and disposal. 

Cleaning supplies often contain toxic materials that harm the health of those using the products and those working in areas where they were used. They also pollute the environment when they are used and often cause significant pollution when they are manufactured. Substituting non-toxic or low impact products protects the environment and human health.