The Nassau County Legislature [1] is considering a bill that would require the county government to purchase products that are the least damaging to the environment. According to Newsday [2], the legislation would also ban the purchase of products made of polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam.

Local governments are taking similar strides around the country. Nassau County already uses nontoxic cleaning products in public buildings, while Suffolk enacted a law in 2007 that bans products that might cause health problems.

Tom Maher, Nassau County's environmental coordinator, said County Executive Tom Suozzi [3] had worked closely with legislators on the green purchasing bill and supports it.