Municipal building to be cleaned the ‘green’ way

BRICK — The township municipal building has decided to use a new cleaning product.

Last week, the township launched a program to begin using cleaning products that have no toxins or harmful chemicals in them. The pilot program is one of two in the area and was organized with the New Jersey Environmental Federation.

The goal is to replace the bulk of cleaning products with environmentally safe alternatives, said Peggi Sturmfels, of the New Jersey Environmental Federation. According to a press release from the federation, the products that are chosen are just as effective, but without the potentially harmful elements.

The Sylvia Rosenauer Elementary School in Jackson will also begin using different cleaning products under this program. Products that will be introduced into the two sites are nontoxic, nonhazardous solvents that are safe to breathe with no toxic fumes or vapors. They are also noncorrosive and not harmful to the eyes or skin. All the products are biodegradable and environmentally safe.

The federation has partnered with the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology at the Hackensack University Medical Center for institutional “green” cleaning needs.

The Brick pilot is the first in a series of sites that Mayor Joseph Scarpelli has identified in Brick for “green cleaning,” according to the press release.

“We can’t undo the degradation to our environment from past industrial and societal practices, but we can reduce the hazards we now face by using the most current tools available to lessen harmful effects on our children and our citizens,” Scarpelli said. “By engaging in this pilot project, hopefully we can set the tone for other businesses and organizations in Brick to create environmentally friendly and healthy places of work and pleasure.”

The press release states that the township will follow up with a future town meeting of other concerned groups for evaluation and implementation planning.

Use of new nontoxic, nonhazardous

solvents introduced