Takoma Park/Silver Spring Becomes First Community College Campus in the Nation to Earn "Green Seal" Certification
Montgomery College's Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus has been awarded Green Seal certification for cleaning services, becoming the first community college in the country to ever earn certification under the GS-42 standard for Commercial and Institutional Cleaning Services. Green Seal is the nation's premier environmental organization and the original "Green Seal of Approval."
"We are so proud to have received this certification because it aligns our cleaning operations with one of our College values, sustainability," said Terrence Evelyn, director of facilities on the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus.
Green Seal's certification process involves an in-depth review of the cleaning service's processes, procedures, and purchasing records. It also includes an on-site audit of facilities cleaned by the service. Periodic monitoring is required to maintain certification.
"We now recognize the significant role each custodian plays in protecting the health and well-being of the students, faculty and staff," Evelyn said. "There has been a positive change in the overall motivation and outlook of each custodian as training, environmental and procedural changes are implemented."
Certification means that a cleaning service has been evaluated according to Green Seal's science-based standard, without bias or conflict of interest. Cleaning services qualifying for certification must meet environmental and health requirements for cleaning operations, cleaning techniques, waste reduction and environmentally responsible procurement, as well as requirements for communications and training.
More information on the GS-42 standard can be found at this link.
About Green Seal
The original "Green Seal of Approval" was founded in 1989 to help safeguard the health of people and the planet. As an independent, science-based standards developer and certification body, Green Seal identifies products and services that are environmentally responsible, and provide public education for creating a more sustainable world. Call 202-872-6400 for more information, or visit www.GreenSeal.org for links to all Green Seal standards and certified products and services.
About Montgomery College
Montgomery College is a public, open admissions community college with campuses in Germantown, Rockville, and Takoma Park/Silver Spring, plus workforce development/continuing education centers and off-site programs throughout Montgomery County, Md. The College serves nearly 60,000 students a year, through both credit and noncredit programs, in more than 130 areas of study.
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