By Norman Gersman
On Monday, April 7th, the Nassau County Legislature will vote on a Green Procurement Bill that will challenge all agencies to adopt a safe and sustainable procurement policy. All indications are that every legislator is in accord with the necessity for this legislation and it will pass unanimously with everyone as a co-sponsor. It is wonderful to see more and more of our political representatives recognizing that the toxic chemicals in our environment end up causing disease.
All Nassau County residents should celebrate the passage of this legislation. There is a growing recognition that many of the products that we commonly use contain toxins that place us and our children in harm's way. Fewer than half of the over 80,000 chemicals used today and released into our environment are tested for their potential harm to the public's health. The Green Procurement Bill will take some huge steps towards protecting the health of all citizens who go near County property, protect our enviroment, and will save money in purchasing costs. It will have a rippling effect on all residents and businesses as an example is set by purchasing products that are safer, healthier and greener.
The legislation will create a committee that will select specifications for the green procurement of three materials or products in the following categories, if possible: 1) paper office supplies 2) non-paper office supplies 3) office equipment 4) cleaning supplies 5) food service products 6) building construction products 7) park and recreational products 8) exterior site work and landscaping products 9) road and transportation products.
As more and more local and state governments purchase green and sustainable products it will encourage all manufacturers comply with safe standards if they wish to stay in business. Similar programs can be found in New Jersey, Washington, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York City, Seattle, and San Francisco.
Of course, getting an important and forward looking piece of legislation passed by the Nassau County Legislature is very difficult job. So all Nassau County resident must stop for a second and thank the people that have been the driving force behind the bill: Laura Weinberg, who is President of the Great Neck Breast Cancer Coalition, and Co-Chair of the Long Island Breast Cancer Network; and Karen Miller, who is Executive Director of Prevention Is The Cure, and President of the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition.
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