CLEVELAND, OHIO—Green Lodging News has added its ninth case study to its Vendor Case Studies section. The case study focuses on a large seafood restaurant, the plumbing-related backups and odor problems it faced, and how Roebic Laboratories products were used to treat the problems. Despite frequent and expensive manual cleaning of the grease trap and drain lines, backups occurred about twice per month. Additionally, odors released from the trap were very strong and pungent, making unpleasant working conditions. Roebic Main Line Cleaner was used for the first 30 days, and was applied through each floor drain at the rate of 8...

AVON LAKE, OHIO – SporiCLEAN, the green enzyme cleaner used to eliminate mold and mildew, is one of the chief products being used in cleanup efforts throughout Cedar Rapids and other parts of flood-ravaged Iowa. A multi-enzyme formulation, SporiCLEAN is an all-natural plant-based green cleaning product that is safe for the environment and effective in killing organisms. “There are no chemicals in SporiCLEAN, so it’s environmentally safe for hygienically cleaning the home or business,” says Nick Martello, CEO of US Biologics, Inc., exclusive provider of SporiCLEAN. “Unlike toxic bleach, SporiCLEAN is non-toxic, non-caustic and non-harmful to people, pets and...

CINNAMINSON, N.J.—Quickie Manufacturing Corp., the largest maker of cleaning tools in the United States and inventor of the Automatic Sponge Mop, has unveiled “Green and It’s Clean,” a line of eco-friendly cleaning tools. Made from recycled, natural and sustainable materials, these new “green” cleaning tools are designed to enhance cleaning while protecting the environment by reducing landfill and the need for harsh chemicals. The “Green and It’s Clean” line of cleaning tools, which consists of stick goods like mops and brooms, and smallwares such as scrub brushes, utility and dish brushes, etc., is made in two distinct eco-friendly variations. ...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Roebic Laboratories as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Roebic Laboratories manufactures a full line of natural cleaners and treatments for drains, grease traps and plumbing. Roebic products contain patented bacterial cultures that produce powerful enzymes to eliminate fat, grease, oil and soap without using toxic chemicals. Roebic’s products help meet environmental standards. For additional information, call (203) 795-1283, e-mail lgifford@roebic.com, or go to www.roebic.com.

CHICAGO—The Ashkin Group has been recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as an official Educational Provider. It is the first time the USGBC has selected a member of the cleaning industry as an official Education Provider. The Ashkin Group was acknowledged for its half-day program entitled, “Solving the Green Cleaning Puzzle.” The material and interactive activities enable participants to gain a more thorough knowledge of green cleaning in both practice and application. The Education Provider Program (EPP) facilitates access to high quality professional development courses in order to further enrich the knowledge and understanding of green building theory,...

WINCHESTER, VA.—Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP), a leader in innovative, durable facility maintenance solutions, introduces its new line of Metal Housekeeping Carts that offer expanded capacity in a compact footprint. “Rubbermaid’s Metal Housekeeping Carts deliver immediate benefits: they save time, money and help ensure worker well-being,” said Bob Lauer, product manager for Rubbermaid Commercial Products. “With this new line, hospitality professionals have the option to customize carts with accessories that allow for maximum productivity and efficiency while reducing worker fatigue.” The Metal Housekeeping Carts allow for increased productivity with their expanded capacity. Cart accessories include the patent-pending removable, mobile 34-gallon fabric...

LOS ANGELES—The Finer Designer Wastebasket Liner is now available in a recyclable form. The Finer Liner currently sells a recyclable plastic designer wastebasket liner in seven styles. Owner Annette Savio decided to offer the recyclable, biodegradable liners to hotels that typically use plastic wastebasket liners. “Hotels and cruise lines use huge amounts of resources that can be potentially recycled,” Savio says. “My first liners produced are recyclable and highly reusable which will cut down on using thin plastic bags that are difficult to recycle and usually end up in the landfills. But our biodegradable liners will break down in landfills...

VISTA, CALIF.—Nearly 100 commercial, educational, and government building facility managers, who have installed waterless or no-water urinal systems in their facilities, were asked their thoughts on waterless or no-flush urinals. “This is one of the few surveys taken on the subject,” says Klaus Reichardt, founder and managing partner of Waterless Co. LLC, the oldest U.S. manufacturer of waterless urinals. “However, with the growing interest in greening building operations, the systems are becoming quite common and are now found in many locations.” As to overall opinions, when asked if they had a choice between installing conventional or waterless urinals again, 60 percent...

BERKELEY, CALIF.—VASKA, Inc., a Berkeley, Calif.-based manufacturer of botanically-based commercial laundry care products, is pleased to announce it has been awarded the Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment (DfE) certification for four of VASKA’s laundry care products. This certification allows the business community to identify and choose products that protect the environment and are safer for workers. VASKA submitted its product formulas to the EPA which reviewed the chemical background of each ingredient for its effects not just on the environment, but also on workers’ health and safety. Julia Fry, founder of VASKA, has worked to create a trustworthy...

DUNEDIN, FLA.—Mintek Mobile Data Solutions, one of the lodging industry’s leading providers of automated asset management and preventive maintenance (PM) systems, will unveil WinTrack PMnet at HITEC (booth 823). The annual technology event will be held at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas, from June 16 to 19. “WinTrack PMnet is a Web-based system that enables hotel owners and operators to manage five important processes: preventive maintenance, asset management, capital expenditure (CAPEX) planning, work orders, and document and contract management—all from one online tool,” says Lind Hutton, president of Dunedin, Fla.-based Mintek. WinTrack PM, the cornerstone of Mintek’s suite of...