Montgomery College First 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 may be found here.