News Releases - 2003

Green Chemistry Workshops For Schools Start This Week

Springfield, Ill. -- The first of a series of five workshops this month for teachers and administrators on safe alternatives to using hazardous chemicals in schools will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at Rend Lake Resort and Conference Center in Whittington.

“Hazardous chemicals can be found in many areas of schools,” said Renee Cipriano, Director of Illinois EPA. “If these materials are being handled or disposed of improperly, they can pose a risk to students, staff and the environment.”

Director Cipriano noted the workshops were the first of their kind in the state and “help carry out Governor Blagojevich’s commitment to a safe and healthy environment for our children.”

The primary focus of the workshops will be to help teachers and other staff identify and find alternatives to hazardous materials typically used for teaching purposes, such as in science labs, art rooms, and shop classes. These chemicals may be dangerous because of their toxic, flammable or reactive properties.

To help schools deal with leftover or waste chemicals that may still be on their premises, Illinois EPA also earlier launched a program to collect hazardous educational waste and mercury from schools around the state. The first collection took place at the Aspen High School in Robbins and more are planned for later this month.

The Safe Chemicals in Schools Workshops are being co-sponsored by the Great Lakes Regional Pollution Prevention Roundtable and Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools.

Staff from Illinois EPA, Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Waste Management Research Center will make presentations.

The other workshops are Feb. 11 at the Waste Management and Research Center in Champaign; Feb. 20 at Deer Valley Country Club in Deer Grove; Feb. 26 at the Adams Mark Hotel in Northbrook; and Feb. 27 at the Hilton Hotel in Oak Lawn.

Additional information is available on the Illinois EPA web site (www.epa.state.il.us) under “Green Illinois” and then “Green Schools.”