Safer Disinfectants

Industry manufacturers answer common questions asked by building service contractors.

Why are disinfectants classified as pesticides by the EPA? Why does this prevent them from being certified as green?

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) law, called FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act) gives EPA the authority to regulate products that kill other things. Whether a crop application pesticide, a spray for termites, or a disinfectant for hard surfaces, all these products are regulated by EPA under the same act. The general grouping for these products is to call them pesticides, since what they kill are referred to as pests and since the regulation chose this term to classify the products.

The EPA issued a position several years ago that disinfectants and sanitizers could not be promoted as being green. This has nothing to do with the products being pesticides, but rather EPA does not want manufacturers claiming their products are safer/better/etc. based on the green certification, which would be outside the EPA registration process. EPA has developed their own program, called Design for the Environment (DfE) to allow for environmental claim based on meeting certain standards.

— Peter Teska, Americas portfolio lead for infection prevention, Diversey, Sturtevant, Wis.

See more questions and answers on safer disinfectants.

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Step Two

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Step Three

Review and tweak our proposal for customized cleaning and maintenance.

Step Four

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We use TFC at multiple locations of ours and they have been amazing. It is refreshing to finally work with a a company in this industry that is not only competent, stable and reliable, but who raises the bar on the entire profession.

Pete and his staff are diligent to our needs and do a great job. I do not have to worry about security with them. Top notch service.

Pete and his team did a great job on our carpets. Musty looking one day, and like new the next! Scheduled their service after hours so that our business did not miss a beat.

The owners of this company, Pete and Linda, are the most caring, ethical, and family oriented people I've ever worked for. When you are hired here, you are truly part of the family. Opportunities abound for those willing to work for it, and the sky's the limit! I love TFC!!