Project Results
Project Events:
WSPPN Conference | PABSCO Workshop | Outreach Workshop | Product Samples
This website was visited by 1,891 new people during the six month period ending 1/29/00. First time visitors continue to arrive at a rate of about 10 per day. We receive e-mail or phone calls from about 5% of these visitors.
Santa Clara County Project – This effort focused upon reducing the use of toxic janitorial chemicals at large organizations.
- 47 organizations participated. These sites and large contractors employ 6,800 people, comprising 25% of the custodians and janitors working in Santa Clara County.
- Every year these 6,800 workers use chemical products that contain 400,000 lbs of hazardous materials. That’s about 60 lbs of hazardous materials per person per year.
- Six out of every hundred janitors suffer chemical injuries every year.
- Changing to safer chemicals, using fewer products, diluting with extra water, and similar techniques can reduce the use of hazardous materials by 131,000 lbs per year at the 47 organizations.
- About 15,000 lbs per year of this reduction has already been accomplished in Santa Clara County.
Download a copy of the Final Report (PDF)
Download the Appendices:
Richmond Project – This environmental justice effort focused upon reducing the use of toxic janitorial products at stores, pre-schools, churches, community centers, industrial firms, and other small organizations.
- 32 Organizations participated. These sites and small contractors employ 81 people, or about 10% of the custodians and janitors working in Richmond.
- Every year these 81 workers use chemical products that contain 3,500 lbs of hazardous materials. That’s about 43 lbs of hazardous materials per person per year.
- Changing to safer chemicals can easily reduce use of hazardous materials by 440 pounds per year at the 32 organizations.
- About 130 lbs per year of this amount has already been accomplished in Richmond.
- The most significant barrier to reaching a larger reduction is the lack of alternative products on the shelves of local stores where janitors purchase their supplies.
