by Brianna Crandall — May 4, 2016 — The City of Austin, Texas, recently raised the bar for other municipal governments by being the first in the United States to have its custodial program recognized under the Green Seal Standard for Commercial and Institutional Cleaning Services (GS-42). The move highlights the city’s commitment to responsible stewardship of the environment and its goal to be “the best-managed city in the country.”
The Building Services Department staff for custodial services manages the city’s cleaning program for 78 city buildings in Austin. The Custodial Services team achieved Green Seal certification for its leadership in sustainable cleaning. Green Seal is a nationally recognized organization that provides stringent standards and certification to protect human health and the environment.
Green Seal’s thorough review and on-site audit verified that Austin’s cleaning program helps protect human and environmental health, operates efficiently, and communicates with staff and visitors about their activities. Specifically, the city uses nontoxic, biodegradable products and limits exposure to chemicals and contaminants. It has implemented a building-specific green cleaning plan, trains staff on effective cleaning and green purchasing, and has waste minimization policies in place.
The full list of criteria and details for the GS-42 standard and certification can be downloaded from the Green Seal Web site.
