BILL REQ. #:  H-3983.2 

Read first time 01/14/10.   Referred to Committee on Environmental Health.

     AN ACT Relating to reducing the environmental health impact of cleaning in state facilities; and adding a new chapter to Title 70 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that cleaning products are necessary for creating and maintaining sanitary conditions in state facilities and workplaces. However, chemicals contained in cleaning products can be released to the environment during normal use by evaporation of volatile components or by leaving residue on cleaned surfaces. Choosing less hazardous cleaning products for use in our workplaces and our facilities and taking steps to reduce exposure can minimize harmful impacts to office and custodial workers, improve indoor air quality, and reduce water and ambient air pollution. Purchasing and appropriate use of products that perform well and that have positive environmental attributes such as biodegradability, low toxicity, low volatile organic compound content, reduced packaging, and low life cycle energy use can reduce the environmental impact of routine cleaning activities while also ensuring cleaning effectiveness. Therefore, the legislature finds that the adoption of practices to select, procure, and use environmentally preferred products will benefit the environment and the health and safety of workers and visitors to state facilities.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Department" means the department of general administration.
     (2) "Environmentally preferred cleaning product" means a cleaning product that minimizes potential impacts to human health and the environment consistent with maintenance of the effectiveness of these products for the protection of public health and safety.
     (3) "State agency" means any office, department, division, bureau, board, commission, institution of higher education, K-12 school district, and includes offices and departments of statewide separately elected officials.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) All state agencies must purchase environmentally preferred cleaning products or services. State agencies may comply with this section by purchasing cleaning products identified as environmentally preferred products under subsection (2) of this section.
     (2) The department of general administration, in consultation with the department of health and the department of ecology, shall identify and recommend environmentally preferred cleaning products for use by state agencies. In identifying these products, the departments shall consider nationally recognized accrediting information from multiple sources.
     (3) The department of general administration, upon renewal of a lease and for all new leases, must require lessors and building managers who provide leased space to state agencies to use environmentally preferred products and practices.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   When there is a need to control the spread of germs, infection, and disease in areas where high levels of bacteria are present or in areas where mandated by law, the use of germicidals, disinfectants, and antimicrobiological products to disinfect surfaces may be used. The use of these products must be in accordance with responsible cleaning procedure requirements, including:
     (1) Controlled and efficient use;
     (2) Proper dilution, mixing, and handling;
     (3) Following label instructions;
     (4) Monitoring of chemical quantities used; and
     (5) Compliance with chemical hazard communication and personal protective equipment use requirements under chapter 296-800 WAC.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   Local governments are encouraged to review their purchasing and use of cleaning products and select environmentally preferred cleaning products. The department shall encourage local governments that are members of the department's state purchasing cooperative to achieve the goals of this chapter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   State agencies shall transition to environmentally preferred cleaning products within six months of publication in the Washington State Register of the list of environmentally preferred cleaning products developed under section 3 of this act. The transition must take place in a manner that avoids waste of existing inventories, accommodates establishment of supply chains for new products, enables the training of personnel in appropriate work practices, and allows the phase-out of products and practices inconsistent with this chapter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   Sections 1 through 6 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 70 RCW.