Web Based Green Child Care Resources—October, 2011

(Alameda County Child Care Planning Council staff compiled these resources for informational
purposes and does NOT endorse any of them!)

Overview of California Green Child Care Laws

The Child Care Planning Council has created a summary of federal and state laws related to
environmentally safe renovations, toys, and integrated pest management.
http://acgov.org/childcare/documents/greenlaws.pdf

Green Child Care Checklists and Certification Systems

GreenCare for Children has a checklist and local recognition program:
http://www.greencareforchildren.org or www.greenchildcare.org

Go Green Rating Scale for Early Childhood Settings, and the Go Green Rating Scale Handbook
(Redleaf Press) is the most comprehensive self-assessment for child care providers, and also
offers a Certificate of Commendation: http://www.gogreenratingscale.org

The Oregon Environmental Council has a checklist for green child care programs:
http://www.oeconline.org/our-work/kidshealth/ehcc

Local child care resource and referral agencies may have staff who have additional resources or
assistance. North County--BANANAS: 510-658-7353
South County-4Cs: 510-582-2182
East County-Child Care Links: 925-417-8733

Green Cleaning
4Cs of Alameda County has staff with green cleaning expertise: http://www.4c-alameda.org

California Child Care Health Program

This website provides green cleaning information, and various green cleaning fact sheets.
http://ucsfchildcarehealth.org/

Bleach Alternatives and Green Cleaning

The San Francisco asthma coalition has just produced a guide on bleach alternatives that are
safe and child care licensing compliant. It includes safe cleaning products that are available
locally.http://www.rampasthma.org/2011/03/9258/

Healthy Schools Network: http://www.healthyschools.org

Healthy School Campaign: Green Clean Schools

This site provides access to a useful green cleaning guide titled “The Quick and Easy Guide to
Green Cleaning in Schools.”http://www.healthyschoolscampaign.org/programs/gcs/

1
 Environmentally Healthy Practices (Pest Management, Air Quality)
Background/General Information
The California Child Care Health program offers numerous online written resources on a range
of topics including:
• indoor air quality, and
• integrated pest management at:
http://www.ucsfchildcarehealth.org/html/pandr/pandrmain.htm
Some materials are available in Spanish as well as English.

Integrated Pest Management

The Child Care Health Program has created an integrated pest management toolkit which is
available at: http://www.ucsfchildcarehealth.org/html/pandr/trainingcurrmain.htm
Publications order form on the website:
http://www.ucsfchildcarehealth.org/pdfs/forms/pubform.pdf
Order forms can be faxed to the number on the form, and an invoice is sent with the toolkit.

The State Department of Pesticide Regulation has a comprehensive overview of the Healthy
Schools Act for child day care facilities at: www.schooolipm.info, click on “Child Day Care.”

Toys
The Oakland based Center for Environmental Health can test toys for toxic substances:
http://www.ceh.org/

This webpage outlines basic information about how to choose nontoxic plastic toys.
http://www.greenyour.com/lifestyle/baby/toys/tips

This site offers access to a green buying guide for plastic containers.
Www.thegreenguide.com/buying –guide/plastic-containers.

This site has information about toy safety, including the latest recalls and strategies for keeping
kids safe. http://safetoys.com

Green Buildings
Lead Abatement Assistance and Resources
Alameda County’s lead poisoning prevention program offers online information, classes, and
services to help support healthy living and working environments, including asthma reduction
and cleaning resources: http://www.aclppp.org/alameda.htm

Green Child Care Buildings

Project FROG manufactures non-toxic modulars which can house child care programs:
http://www.projectfrog.com/index.html

The United States Green Building Council

USGBC leads a national building industry coalition to promote buildings that are environmentally
responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. USGBC has developed the LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System, as a
voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable
buildings. USGBC offers trainings and certifications based on the LEED program and hosts the
annual green building conference Green Build http://is.gd/oCTO
2
 The Coalition for High Performance Schools
This collaborative offers building certification programs and other school related resources that
are adaptable for child care facilities http://www.chps.net/.

Energy Systems
The California Preschool Energy Efficiency Program provides grants to non-profit and for profit
child care programs to exchange light bulbs which can result in significant annual cost savings
for programs. http://www.liifund.org/products/grants/grants-for-green-facilities

Gardens/Outdoor Spaces
Alameda County Master Gardeners offer seminars and an extensive website of resources with a
special section on resources for School Gardens, including composting
http://acmg.ucdavis.edu/School_and_Community_Gardening/:

Bay Friendly Landscaping

Resources to create outdoor spaces that are in harmony with the Bay Area environment with
suggestions in areas such as drought tolerant and low water landscapes.
http://stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=8

Natural Playspaces
This website offers resources on how to create natural outdoor environments for children.
http://earthplay.net/

Articles about reusing tires for playground surfaces and other uses
Scrap Tire News Online Playground-related articles: 1, 2, 3

Green Buying Guides/Art Supplies

This buying guide developed for “green schools” lists resources for purchasing non toxic or
recycled products such as art supplies, office supplies and pest control.
http://www.greenschools.net/article.php?id=41

Art and Creative Materials Institute, Inc.

This site acts as a leading authority on available safe, non-toxic art and creative materials.
http://www.acminet.org/

A Northern California child care center researched office supplies available at Staples that have
high recycled content:
http://www.oneworldmontessori.org/GreenSchoolResources/Recycled%20Office%20Supplies%2
0from%20Staples.pdf

Sustainable Use of Resources/RRRR

Recycling
StopWaste.org is Alameda County’s major local resource on RRRR information. Stopwaste.org
has resources, including grants, to support with recycling as well as a green business
certification program.

3
Nexcycle Schools may provide child care programs with reimbursement for recycled cans and
bottles.http://nexcollect.com/schools.php

East County
Eek works with schools and has numerous free recycling related resources online.
Eeknews.com.

“Rotting” or Composting

How To Compost in the Preschool Classroom

http://www.ehow.com/how_5625961_compost-preschool-classroom.html

http://www.gardenguides.com/126540-compost-preschool-classroom.html

Worms for Composting

http://science.preschoolrock.com/index.php/Preschool_Entomology/preschool_insect_activities--
building_a_worm_farm

"Do the Rot Thing" is a video outlining the steps for setting up a home composting system:
http://schools.stopwaste.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=85:do-the-rot-
thing&catid=93&Itemid=97

Resource Title Description Location

Rot Web Online "how to" information about many types of National,
composting. Website also includes information for USA
teachers.

Wastes: Teacher A collection of waste-related resources and tools for National,

Resources and teachers. USA
Tools
Environmental
Protection Agency

Compost School, Extensive composting resource list, including online Orono,

University of links. Maine,
Maine, Cooperative USA
Extension

WormWoman.com Mary Appelhof's website for worm composting Kalamazoo,

resources. Online resources from one of the leading Michigan,
experts in the field of vermiculture. USA

Cornell Website includes a detailed section specifically about

Composting, composting in schools, composting case studies in New
Cornell Waste York, and resources for composting.
Management
Institute

4
 Food and Serving
Regional Food Service Vendors
Revolution foods—organic http://products.revfoods.com/

Chefables: reusable, recyclable or compostable containers http://chefables.com/index.php

Compostable Serving Supplies

CostCo Online
• Eco Green Wares 6’: 1000 for $44.99 (less than one cent/plate)
• Eco Green Wares 9’: 500 for $49.99 (.10/plate)

Zero Waste Lunches

CA Recycle website with Zero Waste lunch poster, sample letter to parents, and other
resources:http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/ReduceWaste/Schools/food/ZeroWaste.htm

This website has a flyer on why and how to encourage zero waste lunches, the costs of zero
waste vs. disposable lunches, other website links, etc..http://www.wastefreelunches.org/

Sample letter to parents on zero waste lunches:

http://www.acgov.org/childcare/green_childcare.htm

Sample Letters to Parents

The GoGreen Website has a variety of modifiable letters to parents on green child care, green
team, green cleaning, air, plastics and other issues.
http://www.gogreenratingscale.org/pdfs/Family_Letters.rtf

General RRRR Curricula Ideas

A Santa Clara County Montessori school offers power point slides and other materials with
preschool appropriate lessons such as “Where Does Trash Go,” “What Happens in a
Landfill,””Recycling: Let’s Get Organized, ”Diverting Toxic Waste,” and “Composting.”
http://www.oneworldmontessori.org/home/GreenSchoolResources.html

Two page overview of RRRR related activities for preschoolers.

http://www.acgov.org/childcare/green_childcare.htm

Recycling Signs
The Stop Waste website has downloadable versions include Recycling, Composting, and Mixed
Paper signs. http://www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=108

For More Information: Ellen Dektar, Ellen.dektar@acgov.org or 510-208-9578