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Basic Information
SC3's Purpose
The purpose of SC3 is to reduce chemical exposures and improve chemical management in K-12 schools.Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3) Efforts
Communities and school districts across the country are recognizing the risk that improperly stored, hazardous, and outdated chemicals pose to students, and are creating programs to help schools responsibly manage their chemicals. SC3 builds on these efforts by developing tools that others can use to conduct chemical cleanouts and implement prevention practices. SC3 aims to protect children by giving schools tools to:
- Remove inappropriate, outdated, unknown, and unnecessary chemicals from K-12 schools;
- Raise awareness of chemical issues in schools and promote sustainable solutions; and
- Prevent future chemical mismanagement through training, curriculum change and long-term management solutions.
Who Can Help?
Everyone from school administrators to chemical suppliers can help. Many successful chemical management programs involve a variety of partners that can include state, tribal, and local environmental and health agencies, school district personnel, industry, waste handlers, and universities. For more information on the potential roles of partners, please visit the partners page. To learn more about existing programs in your area, contact your regional or headquarters SC3 lead or state environmental department.
How is the Federal Government Involved?
EPA is building a network with others who care about this issue to raise national awareness of the potential chemical dangers in K-12 schools, facilitate chemical cleanouts, and prevent future problems. These partners include other federal agencies, state agencies, teachers' associations, school administrator organizations, chemical suppliers, and industry leaders.
Federal agencies partnering with EPA in SC3 include:
- Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry — Children's Health
- Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Healthy Schools, Healthy Youth
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health