Example Recycled-Content Purchasing Policy or Directive

Example #1: Recycled-Content Purchasing Policy

Purpose

The city/county provides that all departments shall, whenever possible, use recycled products and recycled materials to meet their needs. This policy is enacted to demonstrate compliance with the Waste Management Reduction Act and foster market development for recycled products.

General Policies

1. All city/county departments shall use recycled products whenever practicable. Special emphasis shall be placed on the purchase of products manufactured with post-consumer recycled materials.
2. All departments may, at their option and with purchasing concurrence, require procurement of designated recycled products or recycled products above the levels required by this policy.
3. The city/county shall require its contractors and consultants to use and specify recycled products in fulfilling contractual obligations whenever practicable.
4. The city/county shall promote the use of recycled products publicizing its procurement policy whenever practicable.

Responsibilities of (title of person assigned to coordinate the policy)

The (title) shall coordinate the implementation of this policy. He/she will establish a list of recycled products that shall be purchased by all city/county departments whenever practicable and will develop the mechanism for maintenance, additions and deletions to the list of recycled products available for procurement. Maintenance of the list will include addition of new products containing recycled material as they become available and make available to departments specifications on the new product along with a list of suggested uses.

The (title) will also work with all departments to establish minimum recycled content standards for designated recycled products to maximize recycled-product availability, recycled content and competition. To the extent such information is known; city/county staff shall identify to the (title), products available with recycled content and vendors from whom such products are available. The (title) will also be responsible for information and dissemination of that information to all departments and for all annual review.

Responsibilities of All Other City/County Departments

1. Each department shall purchase recycled products whenever practicable.
2. Evaluate recycled products on the establish list.

Example #2: Waste Reduction and Recycling Directive

The applicant will act to make resource conservation an integral part of the physical operation of the jurisdiction and within the project location. The practice of discarding materials used in facilities is wasteful of natural resources, energy and money. It is also a function of the jurisdiction to set an example of stewardship of our natural resources.

It will be the policy of the jurisdiction to implement the following actions:

1. The jurisdiction will integrate the concept of resource conservation including waste reduction and recycling, into its environmental programs.
2. The jurisdiction will decrease the amount of waste of consumable materials by (a) reduction of the consumption of consumable materials wherever possible, (b) full utilization of all materials prior to disposal, and (c) minimization of the use of non biodegradable products wherever possible.
3. The jurisdiction will cooperate with, and participate in, recycling efforts being made by the governing entity. As systems for the recovering of waste and recycling are developed within the jurisdiction, the applicant will participate by appropriately separating and allowing recovery of recyclable waste products.
4. The jurisdiction will purchase, where financially viable, recycled products. The jurisdiction will also encourage suppliers, both private and public, to make recyclable products and unbleached paper products available for purchase by the governing entity.
5. Representatives of the jurisdiction will actively advocate where appropriate, for resource conservation practices to be adopted at all applicable levels of government.

Last updated: December 02, 2007