STATE OF CONNECTICUT
BY HER EXCELLENCY
M. JODI RELL
GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 14
WHEREAS, cleaning and sanitizing products are necessary for creating and maintaining clean, healthy and sanitary conditions in State facilities and workplaces;
WHEREAS, exposure to harmful chemicals contained in cleaning and sanitizing products may result in potential impacts to human health;
Whereas, harmful chemicals, byproducts and waste contained in certain cleaning and sanitizing products may can be released into the environment during the routine cleaning and sanitization of State facilities normal use;
WHEREAS, choosing less harmful cleaning and sanitizing products for use in State facilities and workplaces and taking steps to reduce exposure by by office and custodial workers, will minimize potential impacts on human health, will improve environmental quality and will reduce pollution;
WHEREAS, the procurement and the proper use and application of cleaning and sanitizing products that perform well and that have positive environmental attributes such as biodegradability, low toxicity, low volatile organic compound content, reduced packaging, and low life cycle energy use will reduce the environmental impacts of routine cleaning and sanitizing activities while also ensuring clean and sanitary State facilities; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, M. Jodi Rell, Governor of the State of Connecticut, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
All state agencies in the executive branch shall procure and use, whenever practicable, cleaning and/or sanitizing products having properties that minimize potential impacts to human health and the environment, consistent with maintaining clean and sanitary State facilities.
All state agencies in the executive branch and all higher education agencies and institutions, shall, when procuring or contracting for cleaning and/or sanitizing services provide in such contracts or procurement agreements, require contractors of the State or persons or entities providing cleaning and/or sanitizing services to the State use cleaning and/or sanitizing products having properties that minimize potential impacts to human health and the environment, consistent with maintaining clean and sanitary facilities.
All state agencies in the executive branch shall include in new contracts for the procurement of cleaning products or cleaning services, an appropriate requirement consistent with this Executive Order and the standards and guidelines established by the Department of Administrative Services under Paragraph 3 of this Executive Order.
The Department of Administrative Services, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, the Department of Public Works and the Department of Environmental Protection, shall not later than January 1, 2007, establish and publish written standards and guidelines to provide direction to all state agencies in the executive branch in connection with the implementation of this Executive Order.
The Department of Administrative Services shall provide the Office of the Governor with a report assessing the effectiveness of this Executive Order within one year of the effective date of this Executive Order.
Municipal governments, political subdivisions and school districts that are not expressly subject to the requirements of this Order are encouraged to review their purchasing and use of cleaning products and/or sanitizing products and are hereby urged to comply with the provisions of this Executive Order where deemed appropriate.
Municipal governments, political subdivisions and school districts that are not expressly subject to the requirements of this Executive Order are hereby requested and encouraged to review their procurement and use of cleaning and/or sanitizing products and are urged to comply with the provisions of this Executive Order. Such entities may to the extent they deem appropriate, in order to minimize potential impacts to human health and the environment, and consistent with maintaining clean and sanitary facilities seek guidance and assistance consistent with the provisions of Paragraph 3 of this Executive Order from the Departments of Administrative Services, Public Works, Public Health and Environmental Protection.
All state agencies in the executive branch covered by this Executive Order shall, wherever feasible, in a manner that is financially feasible, commercially reasonable and practicable, immediately transition to environmentally and health-friendly cleaning and/or sanitizing products. Such transition shall be accomplished as soon as possible and in a manner that avoids the waste of existing inventories, accommodates establishment of supply chains for new products, enables the training of personnel in appropriate work practices, and allows the phase-out of products and practices inconsistent with this Executive Order.
This Order shall take effect immediately.
Dated at Hartford this 17th day of April, 2006
