United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste
and Emergency Response
(5306W)
1997 Buy-Recycled Series
Non-Paper Office Products
NON-PAPER OFFICE
EcoPurchasing means consid-
ering attributes
such as
*
recycled content
toxicity
reusability
durability
repairability
before you buy
a product.
The soda bottle you recycled at
lunch might end up back on your
desk as a recycled binder cover or
pencil holder. Used toner cartridges and
printer ribbons once considered "trash" are
now remanufactured and returned, provid-
ing your office with high performing prod-
ucts at considerable savings.
Through the Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG), the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designates items that
must contain recycled content when purchased by federal, state,
and local agencies or by government contractors using appropriated
federal funds. Among these items, EPA has designated several non-
paper office products. EPA's research shows that the items designat-
ed in the CPG are of high quality, widely available, and
cost-competitive with virgin products. EPA also issues a non-regu-
latory companion piece—the Recovered Materials Advisory Notice
(RMAN)—that recommends levels of recycled content for these
items. To make it even easier to buy recycled, EPA updates the CPG
each year.
If you're involved in purchasing office supplies, you know that
creating an efficient office environment means more than having a
good work force. It also means closing the recycling loop and creat-
ing a demand for the materials we collect for recycling each day.
Lead by example—buy recycled office products, such as trash bags,
plastic envelopes, and desktop accessories.
Printed on paper that contains at least 20 percent postconsumer fiber.
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1(1
I
1
What Is The CPG?
The CPG
requires
federal
agencies to
buy items
made from
recovered
materials.
Recycling is more than just drop-
ping off your cans, bottles, and
newspapers at the curb or at a
local collection facility. Diverting recy-
clables from the waste stream is only the
first step in the recycling process. The
second step occurs when companies use
these recyclables to manufacture new
products. The third step comes when you
purchase products made from recovered
materials. That's how we close the loop.
To encourage the purchase of recycled
products, the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA) requires agencies to
buy recycled products. In addition,
President Clinton signed Executive Order
12873 in October 1993, which called for
an increase in the federal government's
use of recycled-content products.
Developed in response to these directives,
the CPG requires federal agencies to give
preference to EPA-designated items made
with recovered materials. This, in turn,
supports recycling markets and allows
recycling to continue to expand.
Issued in May 1995, the first CPG des-
ignated 19 new products in 7 product cat-
egories. Procuring agencies are required
to purchase these items with recycled
content. (A procuring agency is any feder-
al, state, or local agency, or government
contractor, that uses appropriated federal
funds to purchase products.) A CPG
update (CPG II) was published in
November 1997, and designated an addi-
tional 12 items, including printer ribbons
and plastic envelopes.
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.
By May 1, 1996, your agency was
required to develop an affirmative pro-
curement program (or modify its existing
program) to incorporate buy-recycled
requirements for recycling containers and
waste receptacles, plastic desktop acces-
sories, binders, trash bags, and toner car-
tridges. It is not too late to develop your
affirmative procurement program if you
have not already done so. This effort
might involve reviewing your specifica-
tions for these products and eliminating
provisions that pose barriers to procuring
them with recycled content (such as aes-
thetic requirements unrelated to product
performance). Your agency also must
revise its affirmative procurement pro-
gram to add the newly designated items—
printer ribbons and plastic envelopes—by
November 13, 1998. Also be aware that
paper envelopes were designated in CPG
I. Recommended recycled content ranges
for this item are addressed in the RMAN
for paper products.
The CPG acknowledges, however, that
specific circumstances might arise that
preclude the purchase of products made
with recovered materials. You may pur-
chase designated items that do not con-
tain recovered materials if you determine
that: (1) the price of a given designated
item made with recovered materials is
unreasonably high, (2) there is inadequate
competition (not enough sources of sup-
ply), (3) unusual and unreasonable delays
would result from obtaining the item, or
(4) it does not meet your agency's reason-
able performance specifications.
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How Do I Purchase Recycled-Content Non-Paper Office Products?
To help agencies comply with the buy-recycled
requirements, EPA also issues guidance in
RMANs, which are designed to make it as easy as
possible to buy the designated items. The RMANs rec-
ommend recycled-content levels to look for when pur-
chasing office products, as shown in the chart on the
next page. Following the RMANs' recommended levels
will help ensure that your affirmative procurement pro-
gram and standards meet the buy-recycled requirements.
Rather than specifying just one level of recycled
content, the RMANs recommend ranges that reflect
actual market conditions. The recommendations are
based on market research identifying recycled-content
products that are commercially available, are compet-
itively priced, and meet buyers' quality standards.
Refer to EPA's Non-Paper Office Products
Containing Recovered Materials for a list of sources of
the designated items.
Plastic Envelopes:
Used in heavy-duty,
security-related, and other
specialized mailing appli-
cations by the express mail,
banking, legal, and other
industries.
Lightweight, tear-resistant,
durable, and water-resis-
tant.
CASE STUDY: U.S. Postal Service & U.S. General Services Administration
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has been using Tyvek® envelopes
with a minimum of 25 percent postconsumer high density polyethylene
(HDPE) plastic ever since the product became available. In a typical year,
USPS spends more than $20 million on 120 million Tyvek® envelopes
nationwide, using them primarily for express mail and priority mail. USPS
staff credit the reliability, superior strength, and lightweight properties of
Tyvek® for its success in the USPS mail distribution network. The U.S.
General Services Administration (GSA) also cites the envelopes' strength
and weight as reasons for their annual use of almost 2 million envelopes
nationwide at a purchasing cost of more than $400,000. For more informa-
tion, contact Dick Lee of the USPS at 202 268-4153 or Cathy Ferreira of GSA
at 212 264-2683.
Printer Ribbons:
CASE STUDY: State of Alabama
Reinked printer ribbons
are used ribbons in printer
cartridges that are reinked
using electromagnetic
machinery. Ribbons can be
reinked until they reach
the end of their useful life
and begin to fall apart.
Reloaded printer ribbons
are new fabric ribbons that
are reloaded by vendors
when used ribbons run out
of ink. The printer car-
tridge is reused.
The state of Alabama has used reinked printer ribbons for years. The state
purchasing agency has ordered more than 3,000 reinked ribbons since
November 1991. The Alabama Department of Human Resources alone typi-
cally requests approximately 200 reinked ribbons per year. In addition, the
cost of the reinked ribbons is six times less than the cost of buying new rib-
bons and cartridges. For more information, contact John P. Patterson of the
state of Alabama at 334 242-3243 or Patricia Antle at 334 242-7253.
CASE STUDY: U.S. Postal Service
In 1993, the USPS district in Maine began purchasing reinked printer rib-
bons, in large part due to the environmental commitment of an individual in
the purchasing department. Today, the district is purchasing more than 150
ribbons a year from a local manufacturer, for both large and small impact
printers. The switch has worked out quite well. The reinked ribbons are one-
third to one-half as expensive as virgin ribbons. Maine USPS staff members
are very pleased with the performance of the product, noting that the rib-
bons last as long, if not longer, than virgin ribbons. For more information,
contact Bob Kearney of the USPS at 207 828-8423.
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EPA's Recommended Content Levels for Non-Paper Office Products
Non-Paper Office Product1
Recovered Material Content Recommendations
Recycling Containers and Waste Receptacles:
- Plastic
- Steel
- Paper
- Corrugated
- Solid Fiber Boxes
- Industrial Paperboard
20 - 100% (postconsumer)
25 - 100%
25 - 50% (postconsumer)/25 - 50% (total)
40% (postconsumer)
40 - 80% (postconsumer)/100% (total)
Plastic Desktop Accessories (polystyrene)
including desk organizers, sorters, and trays,
and memo, note, and pencil holders
25 - 80% (postconsumer)
Binders:
- Plastic-covered
- Paper-covered
- Pressboard
25 - 50%
75 - 100% (postconsumer)/90 - 100% (total)
20% (postconsumer)/50% (total)
Trash Bags (plastic)
10 - 100% (postconsumer)
Toner Cartridges
Return used toner cartridges for remanufacturin^
and reuse or purchase a remanufactured or
recycled-content replacement cartridge.
Printer Ribbons
Procure printer ribbon reinking or reloading ser-
vices or procure reinked or reloaded printer rib-
bons.
Plastic Envelopes
25% (postconsumer)/25 - 35% (total)
1 EPA's recommendations do not preclude procuring agencies from purchasing non-paper office products manufactured
using other materials, such as wood or cloth. EPA simply recommends that procuring agencies, when purchasing non-
paper office products designated in the procurement guidelines, purchase these products containing recovered materials.
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How Do I Get More Information?
Information Available From EPA
This fact sheet and the following publications on
buying recycled products are available in elec-
tronic format on the Internet at
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/
procure.htm. Use Internet e-mail to order paper copies of docu-
ments. Include the requestor's name and mailing address on all
orders. Address e-mail to: rcra-docket@epamail.epa.gov. Text
of the following Federal Register notices can be found at
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/search.htm. Search by specific
day, by keywords, or by accessing the Government Printing
Office database.
Paper copies also may be ordered by calling the RCRA
Hotline. Callers within the Washington Metropolitan Area must
dial 703 412-9810 or TDD 703 412-3323 (hearing impaired).
Long-distance callers may call 800 424-9346 or TDD 800 553-
7672. The RCRA Hotline operates weekdays, from 9:00 a.m. to
6:00 p.m., EST.
* EPA Issues Comprehensive Procurement Guideline
(EPA530-F-95-010). This 4-page fact sheet provides general
information about the CPG and the development of affirmative
procurement programs.
* Federal Register (FR) notices promulgating CPG I (60 FR
21370/EPA530-Z-95-006) and RMAN I (60 FR 21386/EPA530-
Z-95-007), May 1, 1995. Federal Register notices promulgat-
ing CPG II (62 FR 60961/EPA530-Z-97-009) and the RMAN II
(62 FR 60975/EPA530-Z-97-010), November 13, 1997.
* Non-Paper Office Products Containing Recovered
Materials (EPA530-B-97-011). This list identifies manufacturers
and suppliers of non-paper office products containing recov-
ered materials. (Each listing is based on information provided
by the manufacturer and does not constitute an endorsement
by EPA.)
* A Study of State and Local Government Procurement
Practices that Consider Environmental Performance of
Goods and Services (EPA742-R-96-007). This report pro-
vides important program elements and case studies of state
and county agencies purchasing environmentally preferable
products and services. For a copy of the report or more infor-
mation on EPA's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP)
program, contact the Pollution Prevention Information
Clearinghouse at 401 M Street, SW. (7409), Washington, DC
20460. Phone: 202 260-1023. Fax: 202 260-4659. Visit the
EPP homepage at http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/p2home.
Other Sources of Information
* Buy Recycled Business Alliance. The
Alliance includes over 3,200 companies and
organizations committed to increasing their use
of recycled-content products and materials in their day-to-day
operations. The Alliance offers educational materials, a quarterly
newsletter, and product-specific guides. Public purchasing enti-
ties can join free of charge. For more information, contact Bonnie
Fedchock, National Recycling Coalition, 1727 King Street, Suite
105, Alexandria, VA 22314-2720. Phone: 703 683-9025, Ext.
209. Fax: 703 683-9026.
DLA Environmental Products Catalogue. This document is
an important source of supply information for environmental
products from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). It includes
items from all DLA inventory control points containing recycled
material, including printer toner cartridges. For more informa-
tion, call 800 352-2852 or fax 800 352-3291. Military cus-
tomers can call DSN 695-5699 or fax DSN 695-5695. For
information on the CD-ROM version of the catalogue, contact
the DLA Service Center at 616 961-4459 or DSN 932-4459.
Homepage: http://www.dscr.dla.mil.
General Services Administration. GSA publishes various
supply catalogs, guides, and schedules for recycled-content
products available through the Federal Supply Service. For
copies of the following documents and other information, con-
tact GSA, Centralized Mailing List Service (7CAFL), 4900
Hemphill Street, P.O. Box 6477, Fort Worth, TX 76115-9939.
Phone: 817 334-5215. Fax: 817 334-5227. You can also
access GSA Advantage!, GSA's Internet-based online ordering
system, to order any GSA product at
https://www.fss.gsa.gov/cgi-bins/advwel.
— Recycling Collection Containers and Specialty Waste
Receptacles, Federal Supply Schedule Group 72, Part
7, Schedule B. Lists a variety of containers and recepta-
cles available for purchase.
— New Item Introductory Schedule. Lists recycled
reloaded printer ribbons for purchase.
— Next Day Delivery Office Supplies, Federal Supply
Schedule Group 75, Part 3, Section A. Lists 25 percent
recovered-content plastic envelopes for purchase for next
day delivery.
— Environmental Products Guide. This guide is designed
to help procurement officials identify environmentally
preferable products and services. It contains nearly 3,000
items, including many recycled-content products.
In addition, GSA makes a limited number of toner cartridges
available through its stock program and most customer supply
centers. For technical information, contact Patricia Miller,
Marketing Director, at 703 305-3044 or fax 703 305-7135.
GSA also offers binders and plastic trash bags that meet EPA
recovered content recommendations, as stock items through
its general catalog. For further information, contact John
Marrone, Engineering Branch, at 212 264-3578.
Greening the Government: A Guide to Implementing
Executive Order 12873. This guide provides detailed informa-
tion on establishing and implementing federal affirmative pro-
curement plans. Updated in the summer of 1997, it is available
without charge from the Office of the Federal Environmental
Executive, 401 M Street, SW. (Mail Code 1600), Washington,
DC 20460. Phone: 202 260-1297. Fax: 202 401-9503.
Homepage: http://www.ofee.gov.
National Association of State Purchasing Officials
(NASPO). NASPO's Internet-based Database of Recycled
Commodities (DRC) includes information from states on their
recycled product procurement. Data include product distribu-
tors, manufacturers, brand names, recycled and postconsumer
content, "Energy Star" rating, units purchased, unit of mea-
surement, unit price, and type of procurement. Visit the site at
http://fcn.state.fl.us/bpsr/drc_notice.html. For more infor-
mation, contact George C. Banks, DRC Coordinator, Florida
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How Do I Get More Information? (Continued)
Department of Management Services, 4050 Esplanade Way,
Suite 335, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0950. Phone: 850 921-7852.
Fax: 850 921-5979. E-mail: banksg@dms.mail.ufl.edu.
National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP).
NIGP maintains a library of product specifications and sample
bid documents for both virgin- and recycled-content products,
including reinked and reloaded printer ribbons. It also offers
procurement training workshops for members. For more infor-
mation, contact Fuad Abu-Taleb, 11800 Sunrise Valley Drive,
Suite 1050, Reston, VA 22091. Phone: 703715-9400, Ext.
241. Fax:703715-9897.
Official Recycled Products Guide. This directory lists more
than 5,000 manufacturers and distributors of recycled-content
products, including those of plastic desktop accessories, trash
bags, and plastic envelopes. For more information, contact the
Recycling Data Management Corporation, P.O. Box 577,
Ogdensburg, NY 13669. Phone: 800 267-0707.
Fax:315471-3258.
Recycled Plastic Products Source Book. This booklet lists
more than 1,300 plastic products, including trash bags, binders,
and recycling containers, from approximately 300 manufactur-
ers. For more information, call the American Plastics Council
(APC), 1801 K Street, NW., Suite 7010, Washington, DC
20006. Phone: 202 974-5400. Fax: 202 296-7119. Visit the
APC homepage at http://www.plasticsresource.com.
Resource Guide to Business Products Manufacturers'
Recycling Products and Program. Provides information on
how to purchase recycled-content office products. The guide
costs $20 for members and $40 for nonmembers. To obtain a
copy, contact the Business Products Industry Association, 301
North Fairfax Street, Alexandria VA22314.
Phone: 800 542-6672 or 703 549-9040.
Unicor. Provides remanufactured toner cartridges. Contact
Federal Prison Industry, Customer Service Center, P.O. Box
13640, Lexington, KY 40583-3640. Phone: 800 827-3168.
Fax: 606 254-9692.
Internet Sites
* California Recycled-Content Product
Database:
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/mrt/rcp/rcp.htm.
This site contains information on why to buy recycled-content
products, how to procure them, and provides access to a data-
base with information on products, as well as manufacturers,
distributors, reprocessors, mills, and convenors across the
country who procure or produce these products.
King County Recycled Product Procurement Program:
http://www.metrokc.gov/oppis/recyclea.html. This site
describes the tools and techniques developed by King County,
Washington, agencies for purchasing recycled products.
The Procurement Assistance Jumpstation:
http://www.fedmarket.com/procinet.html. This site contains
links to many sites containing procurement information.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...Through Procurement:
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/procure.htm. This
site describes EPA's effort to facilitate the procurement of
products containing recovered materials, including information
on CPG, RMANs, and the Buy Recycled Series.
In addition, contact your state solid waste
management agency for information about
local and regional businesses that produce
or distribute recycled-content products.
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW. (5306W)
Washington, DC 20460
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300
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