Concentrated Cleaning Chemicals
Green purchasing guidance for concentrated cleaning chemicals, including:
- Carpet
- Floor
- General purpose
- Cleaners
- Glass
- Non-disinfecting restroom and toilet bowl cleaners
- Degreasers
Required specifications
Purchasers must include these specifications, unless not possible:
- Per RCW 70A.350: the Pollution Prevention for Health People and Puget Sound Act, all concentrated cleaning chemicals must have one of the following multi-attribute third-party low-toxicity certifications:
- Green Seal
- Safer Choice
- UL ECOLOGO
- Cradle to Cradle Certified or Material Health Certificate: v3.1 at the Gold level or higher OR v4.0 at the Silver level or higher
- Bidders are required to offer at least one product line in closed-loop containers that work with automatic dilution systems to prevent exposure to the concentrated chemicals
Preferred specifications
Purchasers should include these specifications, unless not possible:
- Free of fragrances, such as Safer Choice Fragrance Free
- Free of dyes
- Certified low emitting (SCS Indoor Advantage Gold or UL GREENGUARD Gold)
- USDA Certified Biobased products by the USDA BioPreferred Program
Things to avoid
Purchasers should avoid these specifications whenever possible:
- Fragrances
- Dyes
Laws, rules, and executive orders
These laws, rules, and executive orders must be included in the contract language:
Find these products on statewide contracts
Find products that meet Washington’s green purchasing specifications:
- Contract 25723: Green Janitorial Products and Supplies
End of life
Surplus goods that still can be used
- Use surplus disposal to get rid of items you no longer need. Keep materials out of landfills and make funds for your agency.
Recycling and disposal
Hazardous waste disposal guidelines and options:
- Department of Ecology: Dispose, recycle, or treat dangerous waste
- Washington Recycles
Contact us
Leatta Dahlhoff
Environmental Technical Analyst
Phone 360-407-8108