April 13, 2007—In a national kickoff, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced its Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign to help schools prevent chemical accidents. Under this program, EPA, working with the US Department of Education and industry partners, will help schools safely manage chemicals and avoid the hazards associated with chemical use.
EPA estimates that about 33,000 middle and high schools across the country have laboratory and other chemicals that could cause accidents and injure students. Through the campaign, schools are connected with local chemical management experts and a Web-based toolkit.
EPA’s industry partners offer the schools a broad range of services from conducting chemical inventories to training school personnel in responsible chemical management. The program’s charter partners include the American Chemistry Council, the Synthetic and Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association, and the Cement Kiln Recycling Coalition.
