United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste
and Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA530-F-96-019
June 1996
1996 Buy-Recycled Series
Vehicular Products
EcoPurchasing
as
recycled content
toxicity
reusability
durability
repairability
---.*• .
you buy
a product.
If you're a fleet manager, buying recycled
vehicular products can take you a long way
down the road toward protecting the
environment and saving resources. Cost-
effective, reliable, and high quality recycled
vehicular products such as re-refined oil,
retreaded tires, and recycled engine coolants
are being used with success by many
government agencies nationwide. These products work just as
well as comparable new products and can save money over the
long term.
To help you begin buying recycled, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) recently published the Comprehensive
Procurement Guideline (CPG), which identifies seven categories of
items, including vehicular products, that are available with
recycled content or can be recycled on site. Federal, state, and
local agencies and government contractors that use appropriated
federal funds should purchase these items. EPA also released a
companion guidance document—the Recovered Materials
Advisory Notice (RMAN)—that recommends levels of recycled
content that should be purchased, based on EPA's current market
research concerning the availability, quality, and price of recycled
products in these categories.
You might be unfamiliar with buying re-refined oil, retreaded
tires, or recycled engine coolant. You might think it's risky
business. But studies and experience have shown that buying
recycled can save money, reduce solid waste, and provide markets
for recyclable materials collected nationwide.
Recycled/Recyclable .Printed with Vegetable Based Inks on Recycled Paper (20% Postconsumer)
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What Is The CPG?
Recycling is growing all across
America, making it more
important than ever to find
buyers for these collected materials.
That's why President Clinton signed
Executive Order 12873 in October
1993, calling for an increase in the
federal government's use of recycled-
content products. Developed in
response to the Executive Order, the
CPG requires federal agencies to give
preference to EPA-designated items
made with recovered materials—which
in turn will support recycling markets
and allow recycling to continue to
expand.
Issued in May 1995, the CPG
designates 19 new products and
incorporates 5 previously designated
items (including re-refined oil and
retreaded tires) in 7 product categories
that procuring agencies are required to
purchase with recycled content. (A
procuring agency is any federal, state,
or local agency or government
contractor that uses appropriated.
federal funds to purchase products.) If
your agency spends more than $10,000
per year on a product designated in
the CPG, you are required to purchase
it with the highest recycled-content
level practicable. The CPG also applies
to lease contracts covering designated
items.
Your agency must develop an
affirmative procurement program (or
modify its existing program) to
incorporate buy-recycled requirements
for designated products as of May I,
1996. This might involve reviewing
your specifications for these products
and eliminating provisions that might
pose barriers to their procurement
(such as aesthetic requirements
unrelated to product performance). As
soon as the program is in place, your
agency should begin following the
guidelines for purchasing designated
products.
The CPG acknowledges, however,
that specific circumstances could arise
that would preclude the purchase of
products made with recovered
materials. Under the CPG, you may
purchase designated items that do not
contain recovered materials if you
determine that (1) the price of a given
item made with recovered materials is
unreasonable, (2) there is inadequate
competition (not enough sources of
supply) for the item, (3) unusual and
unreasonable delays would result from
obtaining the item, or (4) the item does
not meet your agency's reasonable
performance specifications.
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How Do I Purchase Recycled-Content Vehicular Products?
To help agencies comply with
buy-recycled requirements,
EPA also issued guidance in
the RMAN, which is designed to
make it as easy as possible to comply
with the CPG. The RMAN
recommends recycled-content levels
to look for when purchasing the
vehicular products as shown in the
chart below. Following the RMAN's
recommended levels will help ensure
that your purchases meet CPG
requirements.
The RMAN recommends recycled-
content or purchasing options that
are based on market research to
identify commercially available,
competitively priced, quality
recycled-content products.
recommends
ranges
that
•: /
whatis
I RMAN Recommendations for Vehicular Products
Vehicular Product
Re-Refined Oil.
Retread Tires
airplane tires)
• 25 percent or more re-refined
oil base stock for lubricating
oils, hydraulic fluids, and
gear oils.
• Purchase retread tires or tire
retreading |er^ces to the
maximum feasible.
Reclaim
or contr;
reclama
request rj
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Myths and Facts About Recycled-Content Vehicular Products
Iespite the fact that federal agencies have been required to buy re-refined oil
and retreaded tires for several years, the compliance rate is low. To
determine why agencies have been slow to accept the use of these products,
EPA interviewed federal fleet managers, other government officials, and industry
representatives. EPA found that managers still believed various myths about these
products. Several agencies using recovered-content products, however, have proven
that they work well and are cost-effective. Some of the common myths are dispelled
below. At the end of this fact sheet, you can find an extensive list of additional
resources for more information.
MOil
MYTH 1: Re-refined lubricating oil is inferior to new
lubricating oil.
FACT: Re-refined oil is subject to the same stringent
refining, compounding, and performance
standards as virgin oil. Extensive laboratory
testing and field studies conducted by the
National Bureau of Standards (now NIST), the
U.S. Army, the Department of Energy, the U.S.
Postal Service (USPS), and EPA have
concluded that re-refined oil is equivalent to
virgin oil, it passes all prescribed tests, and it
can even outperform virgin oil. The American
Petroleum Institute (API) has licensed
qualified re-refined oil products, which
display the API starburst and/or donut
symbol.
MYTH 2: Re-refined oil costs more than virgin oil.
FACT: In most cases, re-refined oil prices are
comparable to equivalent virgin oil product
pricing. WAL-MART, a national distributor of
vehicular oils, is currently selling a re-refined
oil for 10 percent less than virgin oils.
Re-refined oil product pricing is affected by a
number of variables, however, including
availability of used oil. The best method for
determining price is through the marketplace.
MYTH 3: Using re-refined oil voids manufacturers'
warranties.
FACT: All three of the major U.S. automobile
manufacturers (Ford, General Motors, and
Chrysler) now recognize that re-refined oil can
meet the performance criteria specified in
their warranties. Each has issued a written
statement explaining that the use of re-refined
oil will not void warranties. Warranty
requirements are based on performance
criteria, not on the origin of the base oil. As
long as the oil meets the warranty
requirements, which many re-refined oils do,
the warranty must be honored.
I CASE STUDY: USPS is using re-refined oil-based *
! lubricants in more than 100,000 vehicles,(more,,tha£im
I one-half of its fleet). USPS also implemented a closed
| |oop recycling program whereby its used oil is
? collected, re-refined, and sold back to the service,
• After numerous vehicle miles, chemical analyses
I of re-refined and virgin oil samples taken from USPS
| vehicles showed that using re-refined oil was no
i different than using virgin oil-based lubricants.
For more inform,ation,, contact Richard Harris, USPS
.CASE STUDY: The Santa Ana, California, USPS
, District uses a closed loop system for re-refining used
= oil. In its fleet of nearly 4,500 vehicles, the district
uses more-than 22,000 quarts of motor oil per year
^and saves more than $1,300 each year by re-refining
=its used oil. For more information, contact Jon Martin
at 714 842-2528.
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3sf
MYTH 1: Retreads are less safe than new tires.
FACT: Statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of
Transportation show that nearly all tires
involved in any tire-related accidents were
underinflated or bald. Properly maintained
tires—both new and retreaded—do not cause
accidents. Retreaded tires have been safely
used on school buses, trucks, cars, and fire
engines and other emergency vehicles for years.
MYTH 2: Retreads have a higher failure rate than new
tires,
FACT: Rubber on the road comes from both new tires
and retreaded tires, primarily from truck tires
that are overloaded, underinflated, or
otherwise abused, as opposed to poor retread
product quality. New or retreaded tire failures
can be greatly reduced by following all the
rules of good maintenance, including proper
mating with regard to diameter and tread
depth and design, as well as maintenance of
proper air pressure.
Engine Coolants
MYTH 1: Recycled engine coolant is inferior to new
engine coolant.
FACT: Testing has shown that recycled coolant can
meet nationally-recognized performance
specifications for new coolant, such as those
established by the American Society for
Testing and Materials and the Society of
Automotive Engineers. The recycling process
reduces the chlorides that come from hard
water so that recycled antifreeze may actually
be purer than the original.
MYTH 2: Recycled coolant costs more than new
coolant.
FACT: Recycled coolant can cost less than new
coolant if you select the right recycling
process for your shop. You must consider the
cost of new coolant and your current disposal
costs and compare these to the cost of onsite
or offsite recycling.
.
3E STUDY: After noticing poor tire
performance in new tires, the fleet manager at
i, Wisconsin, tested 20 retreaded tires
e results, he purchased
gyear and about
s in 1995, The facility
gjfias found that retreads provide superior handling
tand fail less often than new tires. They also cost
Siout $20,000 less per year. For more inform-
ion, contact Jerry Cooper, General Services
Administration Fleet Inspector, at 608 269-4429.
.CASE STUDY: In 1992, USPS operated 172,000
p-ejiicles and retreaded 50,000 tires. In 1994, the
eet; grew to 202,000 vehicles that used 7Q,000 ..
^tee|^vt|SPS vehicles travel in all kinds of
lfSather^pn;bot|i paved and unpaved roads. This
5Kpercent growth in the number, of retreads over
reflects IJSPS's belief that retreads meet
and quality needs. For more
,'.contact/Richard Harris, USPS, at
1101268-3576: r- ; ^; ••
ASE.STUDY: In a .pilot study, the Southeast, area
S*pf the USPS is implementing an onsite coolant
jgC^cling program. Commercial vacuum
;|3is|^aticjn,machines are in use in many of the
olta! yehicle maintenance facilities throughout
li^^ulheast. Those facilities have substantially
jjiducediheJ amount of new products they
*Wchase.;Once^ all facilities make the switch,
^LLAQQ gallons ';(75 percent) of concentrated ,
lanj: will, be reused each year by the Southeast
Stal fleet. For more information, contact Bob
in "at 901 747-7635.
'' '
: USPS' Huntington Beach,
California, Vehicle Maintenance Facility uses an
|la-lipusfi extraction and recovery process for its
prigine coolants. The units recover virtually all of
" i,e, ethylene glycol left in the spent coolant.
R§,gjovering the coolant reduces total waste stream
, money by reducing costs for
|,sposal and for purchasing new coolant. For
contact Jon Martin at
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- . Jk -/-TMliJ
SfVijfln
V*Sl
Myths and Facts About Recycled-Content Vehicular Products
MYTH 3: Spent coolants are hazardous waste and those
handling them must follow hazardous waste
regulations.
FACT: Spent coolants are not listed by EPA as a hazardous
waste. Some older test data indicated used coolant
sometimes had levels of lead requiring it to be
regulated as a hazardous waste. Most vehicular
radiators are now made with aluminum cores and
plastic tanks, however, so there is less opportunity
for lead contamination of coolant today than in the
past. Some states still consider it to be hazardous,
however. Contact your state environmental agency
for further information.
MYTH 4: Recycled coolant will void manufacturers'
warranties.
FACT: Coolant recyclers have worked with automotive and
truck engine original equipment manufacturers
(OEMs) to get their approval on coolant recycling
processes. Check with your recycler for a list of OEM
approvals.
CASE STUDY: General Motors (GM) endorses several
coolant recycling systems and states that "The warranty of
General Motors will be unaffected if engine coolant
recycling is performed as described by the manufacturer
: and with GM-approved recycling equipment." Ford
i expressly authorizes the use of certain engine coolant
recycling processes and chemicals that meet its
i specifications. Chrysler allows any coolant to be used
(virgin or recycled) as long as it meets Chrysler's and
I ASTM's specifications for ethylene glycol. For more
I information, call Richard Paul at the American Automobile
! Manufacturer's Association at 313 872-4311.
_ „-
f* Coolant Recycling
^^Ci^-ffls'p'firfWf "ff f vr y- f -jnr" TT* f "»»"»" - r-*nj m* 1
m Processes
he RMAN recommends that
procuring agencies establish
_____ a program for engine coolant
reTclamation and reuse either*on site
through a service contract.
are three general types of
recycling processes:
jpjfiltration, distillation, and ion
^exchange. Since variations exist
|~. among the various processes, check
fSwTth the system manufacturer"for
^^pecifics regarding coolant produced
Jjylhe system'
^ JRItratipn is the most common
rf" of Vecyclfng'processr lt"Fias the
lowest initial investment but has high
^operating costs. Coolants often
£ "contain dissolved "solids-anip filtration"
^systems often require pre- and p'os't-
: filter treatment as well.
" Distillation evaporates and
recondenses the coolant. This is a
£ slow process that has high initial
r investment but requires less
^.operator involvement and lower
^operating costs. SolidsTahd""other""""
^chemicals are left behind as a
^residue that must be managed
l^gCctJFb'ing to applicable laws.
JI ion exchange removes solids and
Bother chemicals ^from the coolant as
p°1t passes through a resin bed.
I- 'Periodically this bed must be
f" regenerated to remove the buildup.
f? Equipment costs are higher than
most other systems. Operating costs
*f are comparable to filtration systems.
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How Can I Get More Information?
Information Available from EPA
The following publications on buying recycled and
the CPG are available through the RCRA Hotline. To
order, call 800 424-9346 (or TDD 800 553-7672 for
the hearing impaired). In Washington, DC, the
number is 703 412-9810 or TDD 703 412-3323. The RCRA
Hotline is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.
* Federal Register notices establishing the CPG (60 FR
21370/EPA530-Z-95-006) and the RMAN (60 FR
21386/EPA530-Z-95-007), May 1, 1995.
* EPA Issues Comprehensive Procurement Guideline
(EPA530-F-95-01 0). This four-page fact sheet provides
general information about the CPG and the development of
affirmative procurement programs.
<• Environmental Fact Sheet— Purchasing and Maintaining
Retread Passenger Tires (EPA530-F-95-019), September
1995. This EPA and General Services Administration fact
sheet provides information on waste prevention, proper tire
maintenance, and tire retreading for fleet managers and
vehicle operators.
<» List of Manufacturers and Suppliers of Vehicular
Products Containing Recovered Materials (EPA530-B-96-
001). This list has been prepared to facilitate the
implementation of the CPG and to assist customers
interested in purchasing vehicular products containing
recovered materials.
-5,-,
- These documents also are available on EPA's Public Access
*• Server on the Internet (gopher.epa.gov). For the text of
^"Federal Register notices, choose: Rules, Regulations, and
^Legislation; Waste Programs; EPA Waste Information-
f'GPO; and Year/Month/Date. This fact sheet, the technical
-< .support documents, and the product availability lists are
^-available under EPA Offices and Regions; Office of Solid
^ Waste and Emergency Response; Office of Solid Waste;
^JNonhazardous Waste; and Procurement.
Other Sources of Information—
General
Environmental Products Guide. This guide, published by
the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), is a handy
reference companion to the GSA Supply Catalog and Federal
Supply Schedules. It provides information on the acquisition
of engine coolant reclamation systems. The guide is also
available on GSA's Multi-User File for Interagency News
(MUFFIN), an electronic bulletin board. For copies of the
guide or MUFFIN manual, contact GSA, Centralized Mailing
List Service (7CAFL), 4900 Hemphill Street, P.O. Box 6477,
Ft. Worth, TX 76115 or call 817 334-5215. For computer
support help with MUFFIN, call 703 305-7200.
* DLA Environmental Products Catalogue. This document is
an important source of supply for environmental products
from the Defense Logistics Agency. It includes items from all
DLA Inventory Control Points containing recycled material or
having other environmental benefits. For more information,
call 800 352-2852 or fax 800 352-3291. Military customers
can call DSN 695-5699 or fax DSN 695-5695. For information
on the CDROM version of the catalogue, contact the DLA
Service Center at 616 961-4459 or DSN 932-4459.
* The Official Recycled Products Guide. This document is a
comprehensive directory of recycled-content products and
contains more than 5,000 listings of manufacturers and
distributors. For more information, contact the Recycling Data
Management Corp., P.O. Box 577, Ogdensburg, NY 13669.
Phone: 800 267-0707.
<» Office of the Federal Environmental Executive (OFEE).
The OFEE offers a number of resources to help government
agencies learn about CPG designated products. Contact:
Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, 401 M Street,
SW. (MC 1600), Washington, DC 20460 or call 202 260-1297
or fax 202 401-9503. Email: mcpoland.fran@epamail.epa.gov.
* Closing the Circle News. This newsletter reports on the
government's progress towards an environmentally-
conscious and friendly approach to recycling, acquisitions,
and procurement. The Fall 1995 issue contains an article
entitled "OFEE Helps Negotiate an End to Gridlock on
Re-Refined Oil."
* Roadmap to Buying Recycled Vehicular Products.
This video was produced by the Office of the Federal
Environmental Executive and the U.S. Postal Service. It
highlights availability, performance, and warranty issues of
re-refined oil, retread tires, and reclaimed engine coolant.
It features a message from the Federal Environmental
Executive and insight from experiences of fleet
management personnel from five federal agencies. It is
available free of charge.
* Greening of the Government: A Guide to
Implementing EO 12873. This document provides
detailed information on establishing and implementing
affirmative procurement plans and is available free of
charge. It contains information on oil and tires, including
automobile manufacturers warranty-related statements on
re-refined oil.
Other Sources — Re-Refined Oil
* The Defense Logistics Agency General Supply Center,
Richmond Products Catalog supplies rerefined oil. Phone:
800 345-6333 or DSN 695-4908.
* Copies of GSA's guidance on the use of re-refined oil in
Interagency Fleet Management Systems Vehicles can be
obtained from Larry Frisbee, Fleet Management Division,
GSA, Washington, DC 20406 Phone: 703 305-6837.
Fax:703305-7158.
* Contact the Buy Recycled Campaign for automobile
manufacturers' warranty statements on the use of re-refined
oil. Call the U.S. Conference of Mayors, 1620 Eye Street,
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How Can I Get More Information?
Washington, DC 20006. Phone: 202 293-7330. Fax: 202 429-
0422. Warranty statements are also available from the Office
of the Federal Environmental Executive at 401 M Street, SW.
(MC 1600), Washington, DC 20460 or call 202 260-1297 or
fax 202 401-9503. Email: mcpoland.fran@epamail.epa.gov.
* Buy Recycled Campaign/Training Institute Fact Sheet on
Re-Refined Oil. This document is available without charge to
local governments from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, 1620
Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006. Phone: 202 293-
7330. Fax: 202 429-0422. It is also available to the private
sector from the National Recycling Coalition at 1727 King
Street, Suite 105, Alexandria, VA 22314.
Phone:703683-9025. Fax:703638-9026.
* For a limited time, three cases of re-refined oil are available
free to federal entities and local governments of over 30,000
people by contacting the U.S. Conference of Mayors, 1620
Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006. Phone: 202 293-
7330. Fax: 202 429-0422. Private sector companies with a
minimum of 50 service fleet vehicles can contact the National
Recycling Coalition for three free cases at 1727 King Street,
Suite 105, Alexandria, VA 22314. Phone: 703 683-9025. Fax:
703 638-9026.
<• The Office of the Federal Environmental Executive has a list
of 940 WAL-MART locations that offer re-refined oil with their
Tire and Lube Express" services. This is available in hard
copy and on disk. (Most WAL-MARTs offer re-refined oil off
the shelf.) Contact Office of the Federal Environmental
Executive at 401 M Street, SW. (MC 1600), Washington, DC
20460 or call 202 260-1297 or fax 202 401-9503.
Email: mcpoland.fran@epamail.epa.gov.
Other Sources—Retread Tires
<* For additional information about the Federal Tire Program,
including copies of the Qualified Products List, GSA
specifications, and GSA-approved retreading facilities, contact
GSA-FSS-FCAE, Attention: K.L. Collings, Jr., Manager,
Federal Tire Program, CM4, Room 604, Washington, DC
20406. Phone: 703 308-4673. Fax: 703 305-3034. Email:
kenneth.collings@gsa.gov.
* Tire Tips and Facts. This document, published by GSA's
Federal Tire Program, provides tire purchasers and users with
information on new products, tire maintenance, retreading,
and industry trends. To be added to the mailing list, contact
GSA-FSS-FCAE, Attention: K.L. Collings, Jr., Manager,
Federal Tire Program, CM4, Room 604, Washington, DC
20406. Phone: 703 308-4673. Fax: 703 305-3034.
Email: kenneth.collings@gsa.gov.
* For additional information about tire retreading and tire
repairing, including a video, The Use of Retreaded Tires on
Government Vehicles, contact the Tire Retread Information
Bureau, 900 Weldon Grove, Pacific Grove, CA 93950. The
Bureau will rebate 10 percent from the lowest price federal
fleet managers are able to negotiate for their initial retread tire
purchase. The offer is good for fleet tires sent for retreading or
for "cap and casing" retreads that are purchased through
July 1996. Phone: 408 372-1917. Fax: 408 372-9210.
<• Buy Recycled Campaign/Training Institute Fact Sheet on
Retread Tires. This document is available without charge to
local governments from'tri'e U.S. Conference of Mayors, 1620
Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006. Phone: 202 293-
7330. Fax: 202 429-0422. It is also available to the private
sector from the National Recycling Coalition at 1727 King
Street, Suite 105, Alexandria, VA 22314.
Phone: 703 683-9025. Fax: 703 638-9026.
* International Tire and Rubber Association, Marvin Bozarth,
Executive Director, P.O. Box 37203, Louisville, KY 40233-
7203. Phone: 800 426-8835. Fax: 502 964-7859.
* National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association, John F.
Buettner, Sr., Director, Tire Retreading Institute, 1250 I Street,
NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005-3922.
Phone 800 876-8372. Fax: 202 682-3999.
Other Sources—Recovered Engine Coolants
«$> The Society of Automotive Engineers' paper #921634
offers information about recovered engine coolants. Entitled
"An Evaluation of Engine Coolant Recycling Technologies,"
the paper is available by calling 412 776-4841.
* For information on USPS' testing and approval of recycled
engine coolant, call Vincent Tung, Mechanical Program
Engineer, USPS, 8403 Lee Highway, Merrifield, VA 22082-
8101. Phone: 703 280-7052. Fax: 703 280-4541.
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW. (5306W)
Washington, DC 20460
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300
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