Affirmative ProcurementTraining for Federal

Credit Card Holders

EO 13101 and the Federal Government’s Mandatory Buy

Recycled Program

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Affirmative Procurement

The policy and practice of purchasing goods made with recycled materials

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Affirmative Procurement vs. Environmentally Preferable Purchasing

• Recycled-content materials• Certain items designated by

EPA in Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG)

• Guidance in Recovered Materials Advisory Notices (RMANs)

May involve a multitude of attributes Reduced toxicity, less

packaging, reparability, energy savings, create less HW, recycled content

Items not specifically identified

AP

EPP

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Why Affirmative Procurement?

The Federal The Federal government spends government spends about $200 Billion about $200 Billion

every year – and has every year – and has put this buying power put this buying power behind the country’s behind the country’s recycling programs recycling programs

As stewards of federal dollars, we are obligated to purchaseAs stewards of federal dollars, we are obligated to purchasedesignated items containing recycled materialsdesignated items containing recycled materials

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AP Benefits

purchasing collection

manufacturing

Creates recycling markets

Saves energyConserves resourcesSaves moneySaves landfill spaceReduces pollution Purchasing recycled products Purchasing recycled products

is the key to completing the is the key to completing the recycling loop!recycling loop!

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Why Affirmative Procurement?

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Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), 1976Section 6002 required EPA to publish guidelines for affirmative procurement and required procuring agencies to develop an AP program within 1 year of publication of the guidelines

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WHAT IS A PROCURING AGENCY (WHO DOES THIS APPLY TO?)

Procuring Agency – any Federal agency or contractor using appropriated Federal funds for a procurementApplies for procurements exceeding $10,000 in a year$10,000 threshold applies to entire agency (e.g., Dept. of Agriculture, Dept. of Interior, etc.)

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ExemptionsAccording to RCRA, procuring agencies must follow the CPGs unless the product:

Is available at an unreasonable price

Will not meet reasonable performance standards

Is unavailable within a reasonable timeframe at a sufficient level of competition

Price

Performance

Availability

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EO 13101 – Greening the Government Through Waste Prevention, Recycling and Federal Acquisition (1998)Directed EPA to include AP in compliance inspectionsRequired agencies to provide AP trainingRequired procuring agencies to follow CPGs published in the Federal RegisterIntroduced biobased products as part of AP programsEncouraged purchase of environmentally preferable products and services

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What are the Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPGs) and Recovered

Materials Advisory Notices (RMANs)?CPGs designate the products that must contain recovered materialRMANs provide recycled-content recommendations and guidance on buying recycled-content products

CPG RMAN

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And The Products Are:

ConstructionLandscapingNon-paper OfficePaper and Paper ProductsParks and RecreationTransportationVehicularMiscellaneous

EPA-Designated Product Categories

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CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTSDESIGNATED ITEMS:

Building insulationCarpetCement and concreteConsolidated and reprocessed latex paintFloor tilesLaminated paperboardPatio blocksShower and restroom dividers

Structural fiberboardCarpet cushionFlowable fillRailroad grade crossings/surfaces

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LANDSCAPING PRODUCTS

DESIGNATED ITEMS:Garden and soaker hosesHydraulic mulchLawn and garden edgingYard trimmings compost

Food waste compostLandscaping timbers and posts (plastic lumber)

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NON-PAPER OFFICE PRODUCTS

DESIGNATED ITEMS:Binders (paper, plastic covered)Office recycling containersOffice waste receptacles Plastic desktop accessoriesPlastic envelopesPlastic trash bagsPrinter ribbonsToner cartridges

Solid plastic bindersPlastic clipboardsPlastic clip portfoliosPlastic file folders Plastic presentation folders

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PAPER AND PAPER PRODUCTS

DESIGNATED ITEMS:Commercial/industrial sanitary tissue productsMiscellaneous papersNewsprintPaperboard and packaging productsPrinting and writing papers

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PARK AND RECREATION PRODUCTS

DESIGNATED ITEMS:Plastic fencingPlayground surfacesRunning tracks

Park and recreational furniturePlayground equipment

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TRANSPORTATION PRODUCTS

DESIGNATED ITEMS:ChannelizersDelineatorsFlexible delineatorsParking stopsTraffic barricadesTraffic cones

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VEHICULAR PRODUCTS

DESIGNATED ITEMS:Engine coolantsRe-refined lubricating oilsRetread tires

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MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS

DESIGNATED ITEMS:PalletsSorbentsAwards and plaquesIndustrial drumsMatsSignage, including supportsStrapping and stretch wrap

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What About the Mandated Sources of Supply?

Small Businesses

First define your product needs; for example, folders made with recycled content paperSecond, go to your mandatory sourcesIf they don’t supply the item, let them know you require recycled content! Check with them often to see if they supply the item

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Where Can These Products Be Found?Government Supply Sources

General Services Administration (GSA)*Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)*Government Printing Office (GPO)*Federal Logistics Information System (FLIS)Beltsville Service CenterJWOD UNICOR*These agencies have automatic substitution

(paper and re-refined oil) and also report all federal purchases up the chain!

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AP Made Easy…

Use The WebFor Information• EPA: www.epa.gov/cpg

To Search for Products• GSA www.gsa.gov• DLA www.dscr.dla.mil• EPA http://notes.erg.com/• CA Waste Management

Board’s Recycled Content Database: www.ciwmb.ca.gov/rcp/

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How Will Purchases of EPA-Designated Items be Monitored?

EPA RCRA InspectionsEPA Facility QuestionnairesReporting of PurchasesEnvironmental AuditsOIG Inspections

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What Should You Do?Keep the list of CPG items handy – refer to it when making purchasesMaximize your purchases of recycled-content items by

Searching for recycled-content products in catalogs and online sourcesRequesting recycled-content items from your vendors

Document noncompliant purchases (those not meeting recycled-content requirements) over $2,500 (for reasons of price, performance, or availability)

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What Else Should You Do?

Await guidance for tracking and reporting

Currently no requirement for credit card purchases to be tracked

Document Your Awareness Training!

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You’re Almost Done

Make sure you fill out the registration form at the end of this

presentation.