United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pollution Prevention Washington, DC 20460 March 1991 &EPA Pollution Prevention Fact Sheet Local Governments and Pollution Prevention Role of Local Governments Resolutions, Ordinances Local governments can play a significant role in promoting pollution prevention in the industrial, consumer, transportation, agricultural, and public sectors of the community. Many local governments have already taken the lead in putting successful recycling programs into place. A variety of tools are available to promote prevention. Local governments (including cities, counties, sewer and water agencies, planning departments, and other special districts) can provide: — educational programs to raise awareness in businesses and the community of the need to reduce waste and pollution and conserve resources; — technical assistance programs that provide on-site help to companies and organizations in reducing pollution at the source; — regulatory programs that promote prevention through mechanisms such as codes, licenses, and permits; and — procurement policies regarding government purchase of recycled products, reusable products, and products designed to be recycled. Many local governments have passed resolutions and ordinances relating to waste reduction, energy conservation, automobile use, procurement policies, etc. Such resolutions and ordinances can be useful steps in signaling a public commitment to operate under environmentally sound principles; they also help to define goals and targets and to delineate the specific responsibilities of different local agencies. Several model resolutions are included in this fact sheet. For more information and copies of model ordinances, contact the Local Government Commission, 909 12th St., Suite 205, Sacramento, CA 95814, Tel: 916-448-1198. Printed on Recycled Paper ------- MODEL RESOLUTION Establishing a Recycled Product Procurement Policy in the City/County of . WHEREAS the volume of material disposed of at the (city/county) landfill(s) has been increasing annually. WHEREAS sanitary landfill space is at a premium and it is becoming increasingly difficult to site new landfills, WHEREAS much of the material that enters the waste stream can be recycled, reused, or incorporated in the manufacture of new products, WHEREAS participation in and promotion of recycling programs can significantly reduce the volume of material entering the waste stream thereby extending (city/county) landfill life expectancy and reducing expenses, and WHEREAS for recycling programs to be effective, markets must be developed for products that incorporate postconsumer materials in their manufacture, are reusable, or are designed to be recycled. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the (Council/Board of Supervisors) of the (City/County) of as follows: That is hereby amended by adding Section to read as follows: Within twelve months subsequent to the effective date of this section, all (city/county) departments, agencies, offices, boards and commissions must conduct a review of existing product and service specifications to determine whether existing specifications either require the use of products manufactured from virgin materials or exclude the use of recycled products, reusable products, or products designed to be recycled. In the event that such specifications do exclude the use of recycled products or require the use of virgin materials, then such exclusions or requirements must be eliminated unless the pertinent department of entity can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the (city manager/chief executive office/etc.) that these recycled products would not achieve a necessary performance standard. Within the same 12 month period, all (city/county) departments and agencies must recommend changes to the (city manager/chief administrative officer/etc.) to ensure that performance standards for particular products can be met and that specifications are not overly stringent, and to recommend changes to ensure that specifications will incorporate a requirement for the use of recycled materials, reusable products, and ------- products designed to be recycled to the maximum extent practicable, subject to an alternative showing that either the performance of the product will be jeopardized or that the product will negatively impact health, safety or operational efficiency. 4. Outside contractors bidding to provide products or services to the (city/county), including printing services, must demonstrate that they will comply with the specifications described in paragraph 3 to the greatest extent feasible. 5. (City/county) staff will work to encourage the copier industry to develop high-speed copiers that will accept recycled paper. In addition, recycled paper shall be purchased and used in all copy machines that will accept it. 6. When recycled products are used, reasonable efforts shall be undertaken to label the products to indicate that they contain recycled materials. (City/County) departments and agencies shall use for their masthead stationery and envelopes, recycled paper that includes postconsumer recycled content and indicate on the paper and envelopes that they contain recycled material. Other recycled products used by the (City/County) shall also indicate that they contain recycled material to the extent practicable. 7. A (10% or greater) price preference may be given to recycled products, reusable products offered as alternatives to disposable products, and products designed to be recycled where they are offered as alternatives to non-recyclable products. The preference percentage shall be based on the lowest bid or price quoted by the supplier or suppliers offering non-recycled products. 8. The (city/county) will cooperate to the greatest extent feasible with neighboring city and county governments in an effort to develop a comprehensive, consistent and effective procurement effort intended to stimulate the market for recycled products, reusable products, and products designed to be recycled. 9. All related (city/county) departments and agencies shall work cooperatively to further the purposes of the ordinance. The (city/county's) economic development process shall incorporate the goal of stimulating the market for recycled material. ------- MODEL RESOLUTION To Require a POTW to Develop a Hazardous Waste Minimization Program to Reduce Industrial Pollutant Discharges to the Sewers WHEREAS hazardous waste minimization includes reducing the use of hazardous substances, reducing the generation of hazardous waste at the source, and recycling hazardous waste; WHEREAS industrial hazardous waste minimization strategies can substantially reduce hazardous pollutant loads to the sewers, without transferring those same pollutants to the air or land; WHEREAS hazardous waste minimization saves industry money by increasing productivity while treatment and disposal costs, sewer fees, long-term liability and chemical feedstock costs are reduced; WHEREAS the industrial chemical compounds currently discharged to POTWs can work their way into the environment through receiving water pass-through, sludge disposal, air evaporation and collection system leaks, causing potential environmental problems; WHEREAS future regulatory pressures and economic growth are likely to significantly increase the current industrial pollutant load to the sewers; and WHEREAS, due to increasingly stringent state and federal laws, POTWs in the future will have to significantly limit the hazardous pollutants in their sludge, receiving water pass-through, and air emissions; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the fname of the POTW) establishes a hazardous waste minimization program to assist area businesses reduce their hazardous pollutant discharges to the sewers; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the dead dept. or division') develop and implement this hazardous waste minimization program; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in developing this program, the dead dept. or division') : • Identity specific industrial dischargers and water-borne pollutants for priority attention; • Set percentage reduction goals for those water-borne hazardous pollutants identified as a priority; • Confer with other local agencies that regulate the same industries; and • Evaluate the feasibility of each of the following program options: education and outreach, technical assistance, and regulations; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the (lead dept. or division') submit a proposed work program back to this board for approval by fdatel that identifies the hazardous waste minimization activities selected for implementation, along with a timetable and required financial support; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the (lead dept. or division') recommend to this board by fdatel any changes to the existing sewer use ordinance necessary to implement the hazardous waste minimization program as proposed. ------- |