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
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purchase products made from recovered '"
s".. l'h,at,*s..how we close the loop.
to" cnloylagi th'^'piircHasa p|f recyclecl'
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. -|.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
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:»tdpifa{?5'''';fei('rj^ funds to purchase .
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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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