4/16/2007 4:01 PM EST
MagicalMountain.net
The Virginia based Center for Health, Environment and Justice are asking Walt Disney World to discontinue the use of toxic cleaning chemicals throughout their resorts. They feel if the already environmentally conscious company uses such products in Animal Kingdom, that they could switch to using all eco-friendly products throughout the entire resort. "They already are using green cleaners in Animal Kingdom so they know it is important," said Stacey Gonzalez, chairman of the center's Child Proofing and Communities Campaign. "Disney is the leader in the tourism industry. We know they can make this transition, and we know they can be a leader in this industry."
Disney spokesperson, Jacquee Polak, says that they don't necessarily use certain products specifically in Animal Kingdom. "We believe all our products are safe for our guests and for our employees," Polak said. Polak also said that Disney is currently pursuing a stronger eco-friendly status, including having its hotels declared "green lodging" in the Florida Green Lodging Certification Program. There are currently six of them that have been certified so far. "It's a process", Polak says.
Gonzalez says that while Disney does have green status in some hotels, that they continue to use cleaners and detergents that can have harmful side effects in other hotels. There are "green" alternatives for all of them, she says.
For more Disney news be sure to listen to the Magical Definition Disney Podcast.