Buy-Recycled Series
VEHICULAR PRODUCTS
COMPREHENSIVE
PROCUREMENT
GUIDELINES
VEHICULAR
L^H?t*V^
If you are a fleet manager,
buying recycled products can
take you a long way down
the road toward protecting the
environment and saving re-
sources. Cost-effective, reliable,
and high-quality recycled-con-
tent vehicular products, such
^^^ as re-refined oil, retread
tires, recycled engine
coolants, and rebuilt
vehicular parts are being
used with success by
many government agen-
cies nationwide.
Buying recycled products...
...conserves natural resources
...saves energy
...reduces solid waste
...reduces air and water pollutants
...reduces greenhouse gases
...creates new jobs
SEPA
EPA530-F-07-042
www.epa.gov/osw
October 2007
To make it easier to
buy recycled, the U.S.
Environmental Protec-
tion Agency (EPA) pe-
riodically updates the
Comprehensive Procure-
ment Guidelines (CPG).
Through the CPG, EPA
designates items that
must contain recycled
materials when pur-
chased with appropri-
ated federal funds by
federal, state, and local
agencies, or by govern-
ment contractors. Sev-
eral vehicular products
are among these items.
EPA's research shows
that the items desig-
nated in the CPG are of high
quality, widely available, and
cost-competitive with virgin
products. EPA also issues non-
regulatory companion guid-
ance—the Recovered Materials
Advisory Notice (RMAN)—that
recommends levels of recycled
content for these items.
Why Buy Recycled?
Recycling is more than just
dropping off your cans, bottles,
and newspapers at the curb or
at a local collection facility.
Diverting recyclables from the
waste stream is only the first
of three steps in the recycling
process. The second step oc-
curs when companies use these
recyclables to manufacture new
products. The third step comes
when you purchase products
made from recovered materials.
Buying recycled products re-
sults in many environmental
benefits. It supports local re-
cycling programs by creating
markets for the collected mate-
rials that are processed and used
to manufacture new products.
This creates jobs and helps
strengthen the economy; con-
serves natural resources; saves
energy; and reduces solid waste,
air and water pollutants, and
greenhouse gases that contrib-
ute to global warming.
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What Is CPG?
The Resource Conservation and Re-
covery Act (RCRA) requires procur-
ing agencies to buy recycled-content
products designated by EPA in the CPG.
Issued in May 1995, the first CPG desig-
nated 19 new products (including engine
coolants) and incorporated five previously
designated items (including re-refined lubri-
cating oils and retread tires) in eight prod-
uct categories. The first CPG update (CPG
II) was published in November 1997. A
second CPG update (CPG III) was published
in January 2000. Neither of these updates
designated any new vehicular products.
The third CPG update (CPG IV), published
in April 2004, designated seven new prod-
ucts, including rebuilt vehicular parts. The
fourth CPG update (CPG V), published in
September 2007, designated one new item
and revised another designation, but did not
designate any new vehicular products. For
more information, visit .
Procuring agencies include all federal agen-
cies, and any state or local government
agencies or government contractors that
use appropriated federal funds to purchase
the designated items. 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-con-
tent level practicable. The CPG also ap-
plies to lease contracts covering designated
items. Executive Order (E.O.) 13423 and the
Federal Acquisition Regulation also call for
an increase in the federal government's use
of recycled-content and environmentally
preferable products.
Once any new items are designated in a
published CPG update, an agency has 1
year to develop an affirmative procure-
ment program (or revise an existing one) to
include these new items. By May 1, 1996,
agencies were required to develop affirma-
tive procurement programs to incorporate
buy-recycled requirements for re-refined
lubricating oils, retread tires, and engine
coolants. Agencies also were required to
revise their affirmative procurement pro-
grams to include the new items designated
under CPG IV by April 30, 2005. This ef-
fort might have involved reviewing speci-
fications for those items and eliminating
provisions that pose barriers to procuring
them with recycled content (such as aes-
thetic requirements unrelated to product
performance). Since CPG V designates no
new vehicular products, agencies are not
required to revise this portion of their af-
firmative procurement program.
The CPG acknowledges that specific cir-
cumstances might arise that preclude the
purchase of products made with recovered
materials. Your agency may purchase des-
ignated items that do not contain recov-
ered materials if it determines 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 supply); 3) unusual and
unreasonable delays would result from ob-
taining the item,- or 4) the recycled-content
item does not meet the agency's reasonable
performance specifications.
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How Do I Purchase Recycled-
Content Vehicular Products?
EPA issues purchasing guidance in
RMANs, which are designed to make
it as easy as possible to buy the des-
ignated items. The RMANs recommend
recycled-content levels to look for when
purchasing vehicular products, as shown
in the table below. Following the RMANs'
recommended levels will help ensure your
affirmative procurement program and stan-
dards meet the buy-recycled requirements.
The RMANs also provide other purchasing
guidance. Please refer to for more information on
individual products.
Rather than specifying just one level of
recycled content, the RMANs recommend
ranges that reflect actual market condi-
tions. The recommendations are based on
market research identifying recycled-con-
tent products that are commercially avail-
able, are competitively priced, and meet
buyers' quality standards.
Access EPA's online recycled-content prod-
ucts database by going to and selecting "Supplier Database." See
the last section of this guide for other help-
ful resources.
EPA's Recommended Content Levels for Vehicular Products
VEHICULAR PRODUCT
Re-refined Oil
Retread Tires
Engine Coolants
Rebuilt Vehicular Parts
RECOMMENDATIONS
Use 25 % or more re-refined oil base stock for engine lubricating oils,
hydraulic fluids, and gear oils.
Procurement of tire retreading services for agencies' used tire casings:
EPA recommends that procuring agencies specify that tire repair and retread
services must conform to Federal Specification ZZ-T-441H (or current
version).
Procurement of tires through competition between vendors of new tires and
vendors of retread tires:
EPA recommends that procuring agencies specify that retread tires must
meet the requirements of Federal Specification ZZ-T-381, "Tires, Pneumatic,
Vehicular (Highway) (New and Retreaded)."
Reclaim engine coolants onsite or contract for offsite reclamation services.
Also request reclaimed engine coolant when having vehicles serviced at
commercial service centers and buy it when making direct purchases.
EPA recommends that procuring agencies whose vehicles (passenger vehicles
as well as medium- and heavy-duty equipment, including trucks, cranes, off-
road vehicles, and military vehicles) are serviced by a motor pool or vehicle
maintenance facility establish a service contract to require the use of rebuilt
vehicular parts in the agencies' vehicles or establish a program for vehicular
parts rebuilding and reuse consisting of either recovering a used vehicular
part and rebuilding it, replacing it with a rebuilt part, or contracting to have
the part replaced with a rebuilt part. This designation applies to vehicles
served by both onsite and commercial facilities.
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Myths and Facts About Recycled-
Content Vehicular Products
People are often reluctant to try new
technologies. Recycled-content prod-
ucts are no exception. Out-of-date and
incorrect information about the uses and
benefits of recycled-content products lead
people to believe that they do not work as
well as virgin products. Several agencies using
recovered-content products, however, have
proven that these products work well and are
cost-effective. Some of the common myths
about recycled-content vehicular products are
dispelled below. At the end of this resource
guide, you can find an extensive list of addi-
tional resources for more information.
• Re-refined Oil
MYTH: Re-refined lubricating oil is inferior to new
lubricating oil.
FACT: Re-refined oil is subject to the same stringent
refining, compounding, and performance stan-
dards as virgin oil. Extensive laboratory testing
and field studies conducted by the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, the U.S.
Army, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S.
Postal Service, and EPA concluded re-refined oil
is equivalent to virgin oil, passes all prescribed
tests, and can even outperform virgin oil. The
American Petroleum Institute (API) has licensed
qualified re-refined oil products, which display
the API starburst and/or douut symbol.
MYTH: Using re-refined oil voids manufacturers'
warranties.
FACT: All three major U.S. automobile manufactur-
ers (i.e., Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler) now
recognize that re-refined oil meets the perfor-
mance 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 and not on the origin of the base oil. As
long as the purchased oil meets the warranty
requirements, the warranty must be honored.
Retread Tires
MYTH: Retreads are less safe than new tires.
FACT: Statistics compiled by the U.S. Department
of Transportation show that nearly all tires in-
volved in any tire-related accidents were under-
inflated or bald. Properly maintained tires, both
new and retreaded, do not cause accidents. Re-
tread tires have been safely used on school buses,
trucks, cars, fire engines, and other emergency
vehicles for years.
MYTH: Retreads have a higher failure rate than new
tires.
FACT: Rubber on the road comes from both new
tires and retread tires, primarily from truck tires
that are overloaded, underiiiflated, or other-
wise abused. New or retread tire failures can be
greatly reduced by following all the rules of good
maintenance, including proper mating with re-
gard to diameter and tread depth and design, and
maintaining proper air pressure.
• Recycled Engine Coolants
MYTH: Recycled engine coolant is inferior to new
engine coolant.
FACT: Testing shows recycled coolant meets na-
tionally recognized performance specifications
for new coolant, such as those established by
the American Society for Testing and Materi-
als and the Society of Automotive Engineers.
The recycling process reduces the chlorides that
come from hard water so that recycled antifreeze
might actually be purer than virgin coolant.
MYTH: Recycled coolant costs more than new coolant.
FACT: Recycled coolant might 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 com-
pare these to the cost of onsite or offsite recycling.
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MYTH: 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 requir-
ing it to be managed as a hazardous waste. Most
new vehicle radiators are made with aluminum
cores and plastic tanks, so there is less opportu-
nity for lead contamination of coolant today than
in the past. Still, some states consider coolant to
be hazardous. Contact your state environmental
agency for further information.
MYTH: Recycled coolant will void manufacturers'
warranties.
FACT: Coolant recyclers have worked with automo-
tive and truck engine original equipment manu-
facturers (OEMs) to get their approval on coolant
recycling processes. Check with your recycler for
a list of OEM approvals.
Coolant Recycling Processes
The RMAN recommends that pro-
curing agencies establish a pro-
gram for engine coolant reclama-
tion and reuse either on site or through a
service contract. There are three general
types of coolant recycling processes:
filtration, distillation, and ion exchange.
Since variations exist among the various
processes, check with the system manu-
facturer for specifics regarding coolant
produced by the system.
Filtration is the most common type of
coolant recycling process. It has the lowest
initial investment but has high operating
costs. Coolants often contain dissolved
solids and filtration systems often require
pre- and post-filter treatment as well.
Distillation evaporates and recondenses
the coolant. This is a slow process with
a high initial investment, but it requires
less operator time and lower operating
costs. Solids and other chemicals are left
behind as a residue that must be man-
aged according to applicable laws.
Ion exchange removes solids and other
chemicals from the coolant as it passes
through a resin bed. Periodically, this
bed must be regenerated to remove the
buildup. Equipment costs are higher than
most other systems. Operating costs are
comparable to filtration systems.
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How Can I Get More Information?
T
his resource guide and the following resourc-
es on buying recycled-content products can
be accessed on the Internet.
Information Available
From EPA
The CPG: . This site de-
scribes EPA's effort to facilitate the procurement
of products containing recovered materials,
including information on CPG and RMANs, and
an online database of manufacturers and suppli-
ers of designated items.
EPA CPG Program: . EPA's EPP program encour-
ages and assists federal agencies in purchasing
environmentally preferable products and ser-
vices. The site explains EPA's proposed guiding
principles for including environmental per-
formance in purchasing decision-making, and
includes case studies of successful pilot projects
in both the public and private sectors.
Jobs Through Recycling: .
EPA's Jobs Through Recycling program stimu-
lates economic growth and recycling market de-
velopment by assisting businesses and support-
ing a network of state and regional recycling
contacts. This Web site provides information on
financing and technical assistance for recycling
businesses, as well as other market develop-
ment tools.
Municipal Solid Waste: . Waste-
Wise is a free, voluntary EPA program through
which organizations eliminate costly municipal
solid waste, benefitting their bottom line and the
environment. The program provides hands-on
assistance to members to help them purchase or
manufacture recycled-content products, prevent
waste, and recycle solid waste materials.
Federal Register (FR): and . Notices promulgat-
ing CPG I (60 FR 21370) and RMAN I (60 FR
21386), May 1, 1995. FR notices promulgating
CPG II (62 FR 60961) and RMAN II (62 FR
60975), November 13, 1997. FR notices promul-
gating CPG III (65 FR 3070) and RMAN III (65
FR 3082), January 19, 2000. FR notices promul-
gating CPG IV (69 FR 24028) and RMAN IV (69
FR 24039), April 30, 2004. FR notices promul-
gating CPG V (72 FR 52475) and RMAN V (72
FR 52561), September 14, 2007.
Other Government
Sources
U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
Environmental Products Overview: . GSA offers a variety of
environmental products and services to its federal
customers to assist them in their efforts to com-
ply with procurement responsibilities outlined in
federal environmental laws and regulations. This
overview contains information about environ-
mentally oriented products and services in the
Federal Supply Service Supply System. To access
GSA Advantage!, GSA's Internet -based ordering
system, and order any GSA product, visit .
Environmental Products Guide: . This
guide is designed to help procurement of-
ficials identify environmentally preferable
products and services. It features nearly
3,000 items, including many recycled-con-
tent products.
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Tires, Pneumatic for Passenger, Light Truck,
Medium Truck/Bus, and Retread Services,
Federal Supply Schedule, Group 26, Part 1:
Lists a variety of retread tires available for
purchase. For more information, contact GSA.
Office of the Federal Environmental Executive
(OFEE): . OFEE offers a number
of resources to help government agencies learn
about CPG-desigiiated products.
Closing the Circle News: This newsletter re-
ports on the government's progress toward an
environmentally conscious and friendly ap-
proach to recycling, acquisitions, and procure-
ment. For more information, contact OFEE.
Greening the Government: A Guide to
Implementing E.O. 13101: . This guide provides
detailed information on the requirements
of E.O. 13101, which established a process
for amending the CPG and issuing RMANs.
E.O. 13101 preceded E.O. 13423 and estab-
lished many requirements and definitions
that are still in effect. Updated in February
2001, the E.O. is available from OFEE.
Executive Order 13423: Strengthening
Federal Environmental, Energy, and Trans-
portation Management: . Published in January
2007, this Order replaced E.O. 13101 and
requires federal agencies to purchase green
products and services, including recycled-
content products, energy- and water-efficient
products, biobased products, and environ-
mentally preferable products and services.
Although E.O. 13423 revoked E.O. 13101,
EPA continues to follow certain procedures
of E.O. 13101 since they are consistent with
the requirements of RCRA 6002 (e).
Federal Green Purchasing Program: . This program assists
federal agencies to promote the acquisition
of recycled content, environmentally pref-
erable, and biobased products; non-ozone
depleting substances; and products contain-
ing alternatives to certain priority chemicals.
The program also assists agencies to imple-
ment energy-related purchasing require-
ments, including the purchase of alternative
fuel vehicles and alternative fuels. Training
tools and other green purchasing guidance
are available.
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Environmental
Products Catalogue: . This
document is an important source of supply infor-
mation for environmental products from DLA. It
includes items from all DLA inventory control
points containing recycled material or having
other environmental benefits.
Additional Sources
• Buy Recycled Business Alliance: .The Alliance includes over 3,200
companies and organizations committed to
increasing the 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.
• Official Recycled Products Guide: . This
document is a comprehensive directory of re-
cycled-content products and contains more than
5,000 listings of manufacturers and distributors,
including those of re-refined oil, retread tires,
and engine coolants.
• Recycling Data Network Information Services:
. This
commercial Web site provides access, on a sub-
scription basis, to a recycled-content products
database of over 4,500 listings in 700 product
classifications. It also provides a reference library
and a newsletter. Managed by the publisher of the
Official Recycled Products Guide, the product
database is considered to be the largest of its kind.
Product Information—Re-refined Oil
• Re-refined and Commercial Motor Oils:
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Product Information—Retread Tires
• Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIE): . This organization dedicated
to retreading and repairing tires has a Retread
Tire Buyers Guide that lists contact information
for all TRIE member retreaders and tire deal-
ers in North America and includes the type of
retreading available from each listing.
• Tire Industry Association: . An Evaluation
of Engine Coolant Recycling Technologies offers
information about recovered engine coolants.
Product Information—Rebuilt
Vehicular Parts
• The Automotive Parts Rebuilders Association:
. This site features more than
1,800 member companies that rebuild automo-
tive-related parts such as starters, alternators,
clutches, transmissions, brakes, drive shafts, and
other parts for passenger cars, trucks, off-road,
equipment, and industrial uses.
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