Facilities


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Our Goal: Eliminate Toxic Exposures in Our Schools

We seek schools & civic organizations who wish to couple environmental stewardship in 2 areas where children spend most of their time; in their homes & at school. Our institutional portion of LEEF (Leading Environmental Education for Facilities) involves working with the school custodial department to utilize low impact, non-toxic Green Seal certified, environmentally preferred cleaning , carpet care & floor care products. This program brings positive change to heighten awareness of children's vulnerability to toxic exposures at school, including cleaning products in the classroom, pesticides on the playing fields and diesel fumes from idling school buses. Here is what we know regarding environmental health concerns at our nations schools:

  1. A link exists between the rise of environmentally mediated illness, including asthma, allergies, learning and behavioral disorders, chemical sensitivity, certain cancers and kidney or liver damage, and exposure to the toxic agents in many cleaning and maintenance products used in schools.
  2. If there is a fragrance in a cleaning product, it is probably the one thing that is going to cause an allergic or asthmatic reaction. When you smell a fragrance you are smelling a collection of chemicals.
  3. Our children breathe in more air and drink more water and eat more food, pound for pound, than adults. Because smaller children play on the floor, they receive proportionately greater exposure to chemical residues and dust. These exposures are not just limited to effects on breathing and lung function,they also can have significant impact on the ability for a child to learn and do well in school. Students who attend schools with environmental hazards that impact indoor air quality are more likely to miss class, and therefore lose learning opportunities . Lead, mercury, pesticides and several volatile organic chemicals frequently found in cleaning products are known to affect brain development. The fact is, simultaneously with the increasing exposure of children to a wide array of environmental chemicals, rates of development disabilities and other neurodevelopmental problems are on the rise.

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LEEF Facilities Program Implementation

If you are concerned about the environment and the health of your facility, FOLEY Distributing offers our LEEF Facilities Program which is a customizable, green cleaning program Whether you’ve become an expert on cleaning green or are just wondering where to begin, we can help.

Want to start small? We can begin with basic green cleaning options, such as switching to Green Seal or Environmental Choice certified cleaning products. Green Solutions can also take a broader approach to cleaning green and include things like using microfiber cloths & mops to reduce cleaning chemical use, recycling and purchasing products made with recycled content, touch-free washroom towel, tissue & hand soap systems designed to reduce consumption & waste and touchless water conservation faucets & auto flush units to conserve water Whatever route you choose, there are simple steps you can take to decrease pollutants spread throughout your facility and to promote indoor air quality. Green cleaning provides benefits to businesses, buildings, occupants, visitors, and the environment.

Depending on your needs, Foley Distributing stands ready to implement proven cleaning greenmethods at your facility, including the following.

Use of the LEEF Facilities brand of Green Cleaners, Carpet Care & Floor Care Products

The LEEF branded products meet Green Seal’s Standard for Industrial and Institutional Cleaners (GS-37) & Floor Care certified products (GS-40) for general purpose, washroom, glass, floor care and carpet cleaning.

Hand soaps that do not contain antimicrobial agents (e.g., Triclosan) or except where required by law or regulations (i.e., healthcare or food preparation). Foaming hand soaps reduce usage by as much as 50%.

Microfiber dusting cloths and flat mops to collect dust and dirt. These out-perform traditional dusting and mopping materials and can often be used to remove soils without the need for chemical compounds. Also can be reused and laundered over 300 times.

Use of Effective Janitorial Equipment

  • Carpet & Rug Institute’s Green Label Program for vacuums (www.carpet-rug.com).
  • High-speed burnishers (floor polishers) with active vacuum attachments that capture fine particles & dust.
  • Carpet extractors and automatic floor scrubbers that reduce water & chemical consumption and save labor $$$.

Use of “Green” Bleach-free, 100% Recycled Fiber Content Paper Products

  • EPA’s Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines for recycled content in janitorial paper products bleached without the use of chlorine or its derivatives.
  • Manufacturers must use Good Manufacturing Practices & have a sludge waste management program in place
  • Products dispensed from large rolls to minimize packaging and waste. Folded paper towels are discouraged.
  • “Hands-free” paper towel dispensers that reduce the potential for cross-contamination.
  • High-capacity dispensers that promote waste-reduction by controlling towel usage.

Paper and Other Consumable Products

  • Are the paper towels used in the bathrooms made with at least 40 percent or more postconsumer recovered fiber? Are the paper towels deinked and bleached without the use of chlorine or chlorine derivatives?
  • Is the bathroom tissue made with at least 20 percent or more postconsumer recovered fiber? Is the bathroom tissue deinked and bleached without the use of chlorine or chlorine derivatives?
  • Are the industrial wipers made with at least 40 percent or more postconsumer recovered fiber? Are wipers deinked and bleached without the use of chlorine or chlorine derivatives? Could reusable cloth wipers be used instead through a laundry service?
  • Are the plastic trash bags made with at least 10 percent or more postconsumer plastic?
  • Are there other products used in the building that are or could be made with recycled content?

For our customers working toward LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, the LEEF Facilities program from Foley Distributing will include use of the green cleaning products and procedures required to earn points toward certification. By being able to speak intelligently to our customers about this emerging trend as it relates to janitorial, we truly become a partner in achieving your green goals.

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What Does Cleaning Green Entail?

First, a definition: Green Cleaning is cleaning to protect health without harming the environment.

In recommending a green cleaning program for you, Foley Distributing takes a holistic view of your facility. We consider the purpose of the facility and the activities that take place in and around it. We study each aspect of “green” building operations and maintenance in the context of your goals and the benefits you expect to attain.

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Basic principles of Cleaning Green

Focus on entryways inside and out. An important goal in cleaning green is to trap and remove dirt and pollutants before they enter the building and to frequently clean the entrances and entryway mats.

Minimize particles and chemicals in the air by mechanically capturing dust and dirt, using a damp wipe method for chemicals and applying the cleaner to the cloth rather than spraying the surface to be cleaned.

Use chemical management systems for accurate product dilution. We train our customers to use chemicals properly to minimize waste and maximize cleaning efficiency, an important element of cleaning green.

Empty vacuum bags at the end of shifts or when half full for cleaner and more efficient operating.

Ensure proper vacuuming, extraction, rinsing and drying. Carpets can be a host for moisture problems and mold growth. Green cleaning carpeted areas require low moisture systems.

Focus on preventative measures. We promote using personal protective equipment such as gloves & eye wear as well as frequent hand washing & sanitizing. Keeping your equipment clean and well maintained also prolongs machine life.

Focus on touch-points.These are door handles, flush handles, light switches, toilet bowls, urinals and bathroom fixtures in which people come in frequent contact Focusing here makes cleaning green easier as these are areas requiring the use of an EPA registered disinfectant cleaner which use should be limited to only these critical-care areas.

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Other projects relating to Environmental Stewardship

We can help you:

  • Implement an effective recycling program, including proper source separation of recycled containers.
  • Create a green communication program so that building occupants understand they are part of the process. Proper notification of spills, minimizing eating at work stations and reducing clutter will help to ensure a healthy facility.
  • Implement and communicate an indoor plant policy. Improper care and placement of plants can generate contaminants and require application of harsher chemicals that defeat the goals of a green program.
  • Install touchless water conservation equipment, touch-free restroom dispensers & fixtures.

We also offer other preventative maintenance services for hard floorcare & carpetcare cleaning equipment that go beyondcleaning green.Just ask us for a customized program!

Through our LEEF Facilities program, Foley Distributing becomes yourcleaning expert and business partner, always keeping you informed with the latest trends and processes. That way, you can be sure your green cleaning program contributes to the success of your business or facility. Call today for a no obligation building survey of your facility to witness how easy our program can be implemented. Call 800-950-3738 ext. 230.

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