Green Cleaning in Schools:
Developments in State Policy

Iowa

Citation: Iowa Code Annotated § 8A.318 (2010 Iowa House File 823)

Effective: April 2010

Available: HERE

Summary: This law requires public schools (and other state institutions) to purchase only environmentally preferable cleaning products or to opt out of this requirement through a vote of the school board. The law directs the state to provide information on environmentally preferable cleaning and maintenance products.

Key Provisions:

• Requirements for Using Green Cleaning Products. The law directs all public school districts (as well as other state institutions) to conduct an evaluation and assessment regarding implementation of an environmentally preferable cleaning policy. Following the assessment, by July 2012, school districts are required to purchase only cleaning and maintenance products identified by the state Department of Administrative Services or products that meet nationally recognized standards. A school district may opt out of compliance with this requirement, upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the board of directors of the school district. Districts that opt out must notify the state Department of Education. Districts may deplete existing cleaning supplies and implement the new purchasing policy in the following year.

• Guidelines and Specifications. The law’s requirement to purchase environmentally preferable cleaning products directs schools to purchase products identified by the state Department of Administrative Services or products that meet nationally recognized standards. The department is directed to provide information on its web site regarding environmentally preferable cleaning and maintenance products used by the department. The department is also authorized to provide information regarding other nationally recognized standards for cleaning and maintenance products. The department has posted on its web site information about green cleaning and about third-party product certification programs, including links to organizations such as EcoLogo, Green Seal, the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment (DfE) Formulator Initiative, and the Responsible Purchasing Network.