WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updated its guidance on how to properly clean up a broken compact fluorescent lamp (CFL). Included with the guidance is a new consumer brochure with CFL recycling and cleanup tips. EPA encourages Americans to use CFLs for residential lighting to save energy and prevent greenhouse gas emissions that lead to global climate change. CFLs contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. When a CFL breaks, some of the mercury is released as vapor and may pose potential health risks. The guidance and brochure will provide simple, user friendly...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.—Don Ascione, president and CEO of Continental Chemical USA, recently announced the launch of a new, all-natural product formulated to kill and control beg bug infestations. To facilitate distribution of Mattress Fresh Bed Bug Killer, an exclusive sales representation agreement was signed between CCUSA and Cutting Edge Formulations. The agreement charges CCUSA with complete responsibility for the national launch of Mattress Fresh, an all-natural, non-pesticide product manufactured in Buford, Ga., by Cutting Edge Formulations for the eradication of bed bugs. According to Ascione, Mattress Fresh was specifically formulated by Cutting Edge Formulations in response to the bed bug...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Advance has introduced a line of automatic floor scrubbers with EcoFlex System technology. The system provides flexibility to switch between chemical-free, water-only cleaning or different cleaning intensities at the touch of a button as floor conditions dictate. The line includes a total of seven scrubber models. New machines with the EcoFlex option include the Adfinity, 34RST, Warrior and Condor XL scrubbers, with additional models scheduled to launch in early 2011. EcoFlex technology gives cleaning professionals the flexibility to clean hard floors without compromising any of today’s competing demands: improving environmental sustainability, maintaining high levels of cleanliness and keeping cleaning...

LOS ANGELES—With the holiday season upon us, millions of people across the United States will be on the move, either returning home, visiting friends and family, or enjoying a well-earned vacation. They may also be bringing unwanted travel companions with them, in the form of bed bugs. Media interest in the current bed bug epidemic may have diminished a bit in recent months, but the problem continues to grow and holiday season travelers are likely to help the pests spread farther and wider. “Travel is one of the easiest ways for bed bugs to spread,” says Holly Walker, vice president...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—To help find solutions to the nation’s bed bug problem, the Federal Bed Bug Workgroup is convening a second national summit set for February 1 to 2, 2011, in Washington, D.C. The summit is open to the public and will focus on ways the federal government and others can continue to work together on management and control of these pests. The first federal bed bug summit was held by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in April 2009. Since then, EPA has helped organize the Federal Bed Bug Workgroup, which consists of EPA, the Department of Housing and Urban...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab Inc. and the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) announced the launch of www.bedbugtoolkit.com, a free online resource to help hotel owners and operators stop bed bugs before they spread. The toolkit features downloadable information and materials on how to train staff to detect bed bugs early, as well as actions to take when they suspect a guestroom is infested. The toolkit debuted at the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show in New York City. “In the last decade, bed bugs have rebounded because of increased international travel, pesticide resistance and a lack of awareness—but hoteliers can...

MIAMI—Environmental Services and Products LLC (ES&P) has launched a national campaign to bring its Grout Armor treatment to North America to restore and protect floor and wall grout for the hotel, restaurant, retail, health care, corporate and institutional industries. ES&P’s Grout Armor process is provided by a network of service providers. Rick Greenlaw of ES&P reports that grout treatments have traditionally required toxic, harsh chemicals that leave the manufacturer’s original surface damaged and porous. Grout Armor uses no dangerous materials and restores the grout to its original condition. “If people knew how much bacteria and very nasty things were in that...

MIAMI—Premier Hospitality Management, a Durant, Okla.-based owner and operator of 17 hotels in the central United States, has partnered with MTech to implement its PMWorks preventive maintenance solution across all its properties. MTech is a developer of Software as a Service (SaaS) products aimed at improving service and efficiency for the hospitality industry. With PMWorks now in place, Premier Hospitality Management has made an investment in the future by better maintaining and extending the effective life of each physical asset and the furnishings, fixtures and equipment within. “When I joined Premier almost a year ago, I immediately began looking for...

PLYMOUTH, MINN.—Advance now offers ergonomically designed floor-cleaning equipment that can help contribute points to LEED-EBOM certification. Advance’s Advenger rider-scrubber with EcoFlex System and the ProTerra rider-sweeper meet requirements for sustainable cleaning equipment specified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance Rating System (LEED-EBOM). The Advenger and Proterra offer ergonomic design features that minimize physical stress on the user and maximize operator safety, both of which are requirements under the LEED-EBOM program. The use of ergonomic cleaning equipment is a prerequisite to Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Credit 3.4: Green Cleaning—Sustainable Cleaning Equipment of the LEED-EBOM...

SAN FRANCISCO—The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) ruling on mercury labeling will require all compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) manufacturers to provide information on proper handling and cleanup when a CFL breaks. CFLs have gained in market share in recent years because of their energy efficiency. Amy Galland, research director of As You Sow, said, “Consumers have learned that CFLs use less electricity than incandescent bulbs, which is good for the environment. But as more CFLs entered the market we have been concerned that consumers do not fully appreciate the potential dangers if a CFL is broken. There is mercury...