Project Results

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.

Read a brief summary (HTML)

Download a copy of the Final Report (PDF)

Download the Appendices

• Part A (PDF)
• Part B (PDF)

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.

Download a copy of the Final Report (PDF)