Memphis-based ServiceMaster Co. prides itself on being an environmental steward. Several years ago, the company, which owns Merry Maids, and TruGreen ChemLawn, began offering non-toxic “green” cleaning services for its Earth-conscious customers.
But that’s not enough for some environmentalist groups. Last Wednesday, protesters gathered outside a ServiceMaster shareholder’s meeting in Chicago for a prayer vigil. They hoped to convince company officials to switch all lawncare products used by TruGreen ChemLawn to a 100 percent all-natural, organic formula.
“A couple of years ago, we began getting complaints from people that their dogs and kids were getting sick after rolling around on the grass [serviced by TruGreen ChemLawn],” says Paul Schramski with Pesticide Watch, one of the groups leading the protest/prayer vigil outside Chicago’s South Side Chase Tower. “This was safely after the applications had been dissolved.”
Schramski says his group discovered that 41 percent of the products used by TruGreen are banned or restricted in other countries. He believes TruGreen’s products contain possible carcinogens.
But Lynn Snyder, a spokesperson for ServiceMaster, says the company stays away from carcinogenic products. She says organic chemicals are offered to customers upon request, but says the company has no immediate plans to switch all their products to a more natural formula.
ServiceMaster uses guidelines established by the United States Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other such organizations to determine which products are safe for use.
“We would like to see the company conduct an analysis of the feasibility of going all organic,” says Schramski.
The vigil was held outside a meeting in which ServiceMaster stakeholders voted to approve a $5.5 million buy-out by private equity giant Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.
— Bianca Phillips