United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste
and Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA530-F-97-034
November 1997
hffp://www, epa.gov
1997 Buy-Recycled Serii

Landscaping  Products

   1 t might be easier than you think to
     turn garbage into gardens! Whether
     you're a park manager, professional
landscapes or tend a small garden bed,
you'll find recycled-content products offer
a quick, effective, and affordable way to
make your grounds green.
  To make it easier to buy recycled, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) updates the Comprehensive Procurement
Guidelines (CPG) each year. Through the CPG, EPA designates items
that must contain recycled content when purchased by federal,
state, and local agencies or by government contractors  using
appropriated federal funds. Several landscaping products are among
these items. EPA's research shows that the items designated in the
CPG are of high quality, widely available, and cost-competitive with
virgin products. EPA also issues a non-regulatory companion
piece—the Recovered Materials Advisory Notice (RMAN)—that
recommends levels of recycled content for these items.
   So the next time you need a garden hose, edging, or soil
amendments, buy recycled! You'll help reduce waste,  and your
landscape will turn a deeper shade of green.
    Printed on paper that contains at least 20 percent postconsumer fiber.

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                                        et'iyclljig is' more than, jusl    ;'
                                        dropping off your cantj, bottles,
                                        and newspapers at the) curb or at
   ;T	si^L-;":	;	5,;	<	;	:	;	:>:	i	;»	"••«! '.".jlleetion facility. Diverting, "" •  " "
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   1  ''*•••*	T-. •-•	'•''     .  •••     , t he n:rat: step irU,Ii« recycling prpcess. The
   ;	|:,,:	|,|:,:	'^a.fft^l^tyii.'%t--'^.M^ •  '^&p^ond step qcctui'S when' qqrnpSnffis'use '
                                          ilableslo'iri'Inifficture hew  '..
                                iproducts;-Thd"tfi1rd1 stop cottjos When you
                                purchase products made from recovered '"
                                        s".. l'h,at,*s..how we close the loop.
                                   to" cnloylagi	th'^'piircHasa p|f recyclecl'
i „;;..,...,,		,,, ,   .....   .,,.„!,„...    ^...j'tiijcls,'t!i(J'RiS'G'ufe,e Conser'yjKlO'n"ancl
' 4: '''in !  ''' "" '" ,)!   "   "i "       '','!"•   , *            '   "' ''      '  '   !„ ' '! I ' ' '''
ii' ' '•'•••-':•'•.   -   ''..:":"      -'...*     ...RiXMVOsy ActlRCRA) requires agencies,,to,
                               	|u J., rccy:(;:!c4,,,,pr<3ihlfi!:,$, „ Ifl „:
                               . -|.2a7»in October J993i whii;h '.called for
                               • '"Wfi " fpcrealil'iilBI 7(jderargo.Vfflf]fiiftent's use
                               "OJf rccyclell-Cosjicjit, products. Developed in
                                response to thege. directives; the CPG
                               ,!!,:!,; ......... i  * ..... . ........ !!,!   ... ,,!.,:.,; ......  i,;,;  ' „.,:„;:!;.:!!!,:,:!' ....... !|;,' ..... I ..... ill VT
                               ...... Squires fodeFal agencies' to" give; preference
                               ,ffe £K\-desi,gri,aled, items maJe.wilh ': .....  :'"::":
                               ......... g'CCfV'orell, fffattSfels,, This, "In' turn,
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                                rerittiired'to purcEase widl'idcybl
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                               luiiiiiii , ", : ........ 1 1 ........  ,      f, .    u  .,i, ,.i, ,  ,. .,
                               ( federal j'Stai,,*: or local agency or!
                               ,,go\'(),risnie.J'i,t, cooliartnr that uses; , ............. :
                                   :»tdpifa{?5'''';fei('rj^ funds to purchase   .
                                   |ii3;^
                                   lilished m Nov0nxbev 1997, ai^d
                                de-siyiatetl an additloiwl 12 itoojis,
                                UK hiding garden and  sonkw hOscs, and- :":
                                      nnd garden edging.
      If your agency spends more than
   $10*000 per year on a product designated
   in the CFG, you are required to purchase it
 -. jwithLhe highest recycled-content level '
 :  'practicable, The, CPC also applies to lease
   contracts covering designated items.
   .   By May 1, 1996, your agency was
   required, to develop an affirmative
   procurement program {or modify its
   existing program) to incorporate buy-
   recycled requirements for hydraulic mulch
 ;  and yard trimmings compost. It is not too
   late to develop your affirmative	
  , procurement program if you have not
   already  done so. This effort might involve
	reviewing your specifications for these
  , products and eliminating provisions that
....  pose barriers to procuring them with
   recycled content (such as aesthetic;  ,  ,
 ,  requirements unrelated to product
   performance). Your, agency also must
  , revise its affirmative procurement program
   to add the newly designated, items—hoses
   and .edging—by November 13, 1998.
         C'Pp acknowledges, however, that
        ",;,'' ;    ,    i  ,   v
   specific  circumstances might arise that
  jgrecludp the purchase of products made
  „ viatlHrecovered materials. You may
  purchase designated items that do not
 _ .contain  recovered materials if you
  'determine that: (1) the price of a given    -
  "designated item made with recovered
  materials is unreasonably high, (2) there is
,,,, Jna^eqiiate competition (not enough
„„ sources  of supply),  (3) unusual and
  unreasonable delays woidcl result from
  obtaining the item,  or (4) it does not meet
  your agency's reasonable performance
-: -specifications.

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     H o help agencies comply with
      the buy-recycled
   :n requirements, EPA also issues
guidance in RMANs, which are
designed to make it as easy as
possible to buy the designated items.
The RMANs recommend recycled-
content levels to look for when
purchasing landscaping  products, as
shown in the chart below. Following
the RMANs' recommended levels will
help ensure that your affirmative
procurement program 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 recom-
  mendations are based on market
  research identifying recycled-content
  products that are commercially
  available, are competitively priced,
  and meet buyers' quality standards.
     Refer to EPA's Landscaping
  Products Containing Recovered
  Materials for sources of the
  designated items.
   The
  recommends
recycled content
         at which
 the designated
           are
    generally
 available in the
  marketplace.
  ^M^l^^^^M^^^^^4^^^&&^^.
            t^isyMii^SiftSifiH^^
100%
100%
      Hydraulic Mulch:
         —Paper
          Wood/Paper
      Yard Trimmings Compost
Purchase or produce compost from yard trimmings,
leaves, and/or grass clippings using an on-site
composting system when feasible.
      Garden Hose:
         —Rubber and/or Plastic     60 - 65% (postconsumer)
      Soaker Hose:
         —Rubber and/or Plastic     60 - 70% (postconsumer)
      Lawn and Garden Edging:
         —Rubber and/or Plastic    30 - 100% (postconsumer) 730-100% (total)

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                       „ •	
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                            •


  Planting the
  Hydraulic Mulch

          on might be establishing wildflowers
          along an interstate. Or maybe you're
          replanting grass on a public golf course,
  hi t'i'Jit'r t,;i.sH, your first step is to plant the seeds.
  Hydr.iulu; inuluh Is a quick, proven, and
  .iiTord.i'hlts Wiiy ID help get the job done. Utilizing
  ivai'unvij n<>v,",sp, wlif're appropriate. Hydraulic mulch not
  only proU'Us yoiin« seeds from the elements; it
  ;v«r alo.ng i:oac,,hvay.s and
   t'uilunkiuiiiits. Tlii! tigeiH.y h.tts also !,et>ted the
   f»("(Mfm::t"s prrlormanm and is pleased with the
   r"	.t'!K l-'tit inoi't? idlonnatirtn, contact Paul
   \iV.il!n,Mtf hi'  the TxOOT d! H12 4!fi-3091.
Strengthening the
Yard Trimmings
        i
        sed frequently in both commercial and
        residential applications, yard trimmings
        compost turns the organic waste we might
otherwise throw away—such as grass, leaves, and
twigs—into an effective soil amendment. Compost
returns nutrients to the soil, improves soil texture,
and promotes new plant growth.
   With an increase in the number of yard trimmings
composting facilities, from 651 in 1988 to more than
3,200 in 1996, the market is clearly growing for this
valuable product. Even so, more yard trimmings
could be composted still—they constitute almost 15
percent of our national waste stream, with 30.6
million tons generated in 1995, By using yard
trimmings compost in your landscaping projects, you
help put this material back to good use.
 The Washington State Department of Transportation
" (WSDOT) first began using yard trimmings compost.
 -as a soil amendment in response to a 1992       :
 legislative mandate. Since then, the department lias
 used the material in a variety of roadside
 revegotation and restoration projects, ss well as in
 wetland mitigation sites. On any given project, the
 department uses between 100 and several thousand
 cubic yards of material. One project along Interstate
 405, for example, used more than 2,900 cubic yards
 of compost to onrich the soil, The department also
 gives contractors doing land-clearing work the
 option of chipping trees and shi'ubs and leaving the
 material on site, saving hauling and. disposal fees
 and returning this material back Lo the soil. The
 department has been very pleased with the
 performance of the yard trimmings compost and
 continues to increase its use of the material. For
 more information, contact Mark Maurer of the
 WSDOT at 360 705-7242,

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Quenching Mother Nature's
Thirst:  Garden and Soaker
Hoses
jgf" "\\ nee your seeds are planted and the soil is
ft   Jl enhanced with nutrient-rich compost,
 '^^ nothing is more important than adequate
watering. The questions of how much and how
often to water are a matter of local climatic
conditions, but one thing is clear—buying
recovered-content garden and soaker hoses is the
ideal choice for watering your garden or planted
areas. Not only will these devices deliver water to
meet your garden's needs, they also help create
new uses for old tires and recycled plastics from
such items as discarded cable wires and old traffic
cones.
The            Line: Lawn and


"ti  fcift  fi hen you're ready to finish the job,
 1».^*      recovered-content lawn and garden ,
  Iff  gi*  edging provides the perfect barrier for
delineating your beds. Sold in both industrial and
residential strengths, these quality products help
to keep grass and weeds out of flower and
vegetable beds, saving time and money. You can:
purchase up to 100 percent postconsumer
recovered-content edging, which is made from
scrap rubber, milk jugs, and other plastic
containers,
  The Army Air Force Exchange Service
  (AAFES) purchased more than 5.5 million feet
  of 65 percent postconsumer recovered-content
  soaker hose over the past 4 years, keeping
  thousands of scrap tires out of landfills.
  AAFES operates retail stores for active and
  retired members of the U.S. Army and U.S. Air
  Force. Customers primarily use the product in
  gardening and landscaping projects on military
  bases and at private residences of military
  personnel. For more information, contact Carol
  Andrews of AAFES at 214 312-2236.

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            Information Available
            From EPA
            This fact sheet and the following publications on
            buymg recycled products are available in
 W-:;•• yv:>: format on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/
 cpaosvver/non-hw.'procureJhtm. Use Internet e-mail to
 C'vJi/i- pat-ar cop;c3 of documents. Include the requestor's
 n j.r,i> jivj ruling address on all orders, Address e-mail to:
 rera-doekeiCf-epamaif.epa.gov, Text of the following Federal
 c^V---'-"' I'tOticca can be found at http://www,epa,gov/
 iedrgstr search,htm. Search by specific day, by keywords,
 •--'•  LV -:.ect-ss;ng tne Government Printing Office database.
    Paper copies also may be ordered by calling the RCRA
 Bo!«?r>», Cafers wdhin the Washington  Metropolitan Area
 n-.i,:; c?;3! 703 412-9S10 or TDD 703 412-3323 (hearing
 i^Mif«'3!, Long-cnstance eaiters may call 800 424-9346 or
 TDD 600 553-7672. The RCRA Hotline operates weekdays,
 ffO'.i 9:00 a.m. !o 6:00 p.m..  EST.
 *  Federal Register (FR)  notices promulgating CPG  I (60 FR
   213:'0 EPA530-2-95-QQ6) and RMAN I (60 FR 213867
   iPA535-Z-95-007i. May 1,1995. Federal Register notices
   fV^^^f^.-g CPG it  (62 FR 60961/EPA530-2-97-009) and
   RMAN ft .65  FR 60975/EPA530-Z-97-010), November 13,
    ; _• \ * *if

 * £"P4 Issues Comprehensive Procurement Guideline
  (EPA53C-F-95-010). This 4-page fact sheet provides
  n-:"v;as infurmatien about the CPG and the development
  v: aH'iiutii'ive piocurement programs. '
 •> Landscaping Products Containing Recovered
  Matei-tate {EP.A530-B-97-012). This list identifies sources
  v- ;;!'>;!-::'aD«ng products containing recovered materials.
 Tiv. luifo'.vmg compost faci sheets are available from EPA:    .

  -  Innovative Uses of Compost—Bioremediation and
     Pollution Prevention fEPA530-F-97-042).
    • Innovative Uses of Compost—Erosion Control, Turf
     Remediation, and Landscaping  (EPA530-F-97-043),
  — innovative Uses of Compost—Disease Control for
     Plsnis and Animals (EPA530-F-97-044).
  — innovative Uses of Compost—Composting of Soils
     Contaminated by  Explosives (EPA530-F-97-045).
  — Innovative Uses of Compost—Reforestation,
     ivl-tomts Restoration, and Habitat Revltalization
  - A Study of State and Local Government Procurement
   Practices that Consider Environmental Performance of
   Goods and Services (EPA742-R-96-007). This report
   provides 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 information 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 entities 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.
* The Composting Council. The Composting Council
  offers educational materials and workshops on composting
  and seeks to develop standards for compost. For more
  information, contact the organization at 114 South Pitt
  Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Phone: 703 739-2401:
  Fax: 703 739-2407. Homepage:
  http://www.composter.com/composting/compcouncil/.
* General Services Administration (GSA). GSA publishes
  various supply catalogs, guides, and schedules for
  recycled-content products available through the Federal
  Supply Service. For copies of the following document and
  other information, contact GSA,  Centralized Mailing List
  Service (7CAFL), 4900 Hemphill Street,  P.O. Box 6477,
  Fort Worth, TX 76115. 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-bihs/advwel.
EPA !?Ja ,Vso -tev-:-toped a presentation folder that highlights
ncr.v -ifKf innovative uses for compost (EPA530-F-97-047).

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                                                  ,. fc f •> •
  — Environmental Products Guide. This GSA guide is
     designed to help procurement officials identify
     environmentally preferable products and services. It
     contains nearly 3,000 items, including many recycled-
     content products.
* Green Seal. Green Seal is a national non-profit labeling
  organization that sets environmental standards, including
  those for garden hoses, and awards a Green Seal of
  Approval to products meeting those standards. For more
  information, contact Green Seal at 1400 16th Street,  NW.,
  Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036. Phone: 202 588-8400.
  Fax: 202 588-8465. Homepage:
  http://www.greenseal.org.
* Greening the Government: A Guide to Implementing
  E.O. 12873, This guide provides detailed information  on
  establishing and implementing federal affirmative
  procurement plans. Updated in the summer of 1997,  rt 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.
* Official Recycled Products Guide. This directory lists
  more than 5,000 manufacturers and distributors of
  recycled-content products, including those of hydraulic
  mulch, compost, garden and soaker hoses, and lawn and
  garden edging.  For more information, contact the
  Recycling Data  Management Corporation, P.O. Box 577,
  Ogdensburg,  NY 13669. Phone: 800 267-0707.
  Fax:315471-3258.
*t» Recycled Plastic Products Source Book. This booklet
  lists more than  1,300 plastic products from approximately
  300 manufacturers, including garden hoses and edging.
  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.
<• Recycled Rubber Products Catalog. This catalog lists
  products manufactured from recovered rubber and
  provides information on how to obtain them. For more
  information, contact the Scrap Tire Management Council,
   1400 K Street, NW., Suite 900,  Washington, DC 20005.
   Phone: 202 682-4880. Fax: 202 682-4854.
  Products and Services Directory. This publication lists
  manufacturers of erosion control products, including
  hydraulic mulch. For more information, contact the
  International Erosion Control Association, P.O. Box
  774904, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477-4904.
  Phone: 970 879-3010. Fax:  970 879-8563.
  Homepage: http://www.ieca.org.


          Internet Sites
          * American Society for Testing and Materials
          (ASTM): http://www.astm.org/prodserv.htmi.
  ...................... This site provides links to ASTM standards, the.
  products and services offered by ASTM, and other news
  and information. ASTM has  developed standards for
  garden and soaker hoses.
* California Recycled-Content Product Database:
  http://www.ciwmb.ea.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
  database with information on products, as well as
  manufacturers, distributors,  reprocessors, mills, and
  converters 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.

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United States
Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW. (5306W)
Washington, DC 20460

Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300

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