Buy-Recycled Series
MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS
COMPREHENSIVE
PROCUREMENT
GUIDELINES
(MISCELLANEOUS
More and more procurement
officials are realizing that
buying recycled is an easy,
cost-efficient, and earth-friendly
alternative. Today's products made
from materials recovered for recy-
cling offer the strength,
durability, and performance
equivalent to those made
from virgin materials.
That's why businesses and
public sector buyers across
the country are buying and
using recycled-content
products.
Buying recycled products...
...conserves natural resources
...saves energy
...reduces solid waste
...reduces air and water pollutants
...reduces greenhouse gases
...creates new jobs
SER&
Solid Waste and Emergency
Response (5305W)
Washington, DC 20460
EPA-530-F-04-013
www. epa. gov/osw
May 2004
To make it easier to buy
recycled, the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency
(EPA) updates the Comp-
rehensive Procurement
Guidelines (CPG) every 2
years. Through the CPG,
EPA designates items that
must contain recycled mate-
rials when purchased with
appropriated federal funds
by federal, state, and local
agencies, or by government
contractors. Several miscellaneous
products are among these items.
These are items that don't corre-
spond to any of the other seven
CPG product categories. EPA's
research shows that the items desig-
nated in the CPG are of high quali-
ty, widely available, and cost-com-
petitive with virgin products. EPA
also issues nonregulatory compan-
ion guidance—the Recovered
Materials Advisory Notice
(RMAN)—that recommends levels
of recycled content for these items.
Why Buy Recycled?
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 of three steps 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.
Buying recycled products results in
many environmental benefits. It
supports local recycling programs
by creating markets for the collect-
ed materials that are processed and
used to manufacture new products.
This creates jobs and helps
strengthen the economy; conserves
natural resources; saves energy; and
reduces solid waste, air and water
pollutants, and greenhouse gases
that contribute to global warming.
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What is CPG?
The Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act requires procuring agencies to buy
recycled-content products designated by
EPA in the CPG. Issued in May 1995, the first
CPG designated 19 new products and incorpo-
rated five previously designated items in eight
product categories. The first CPG update (CPG
II) was published in November 1997 and desig-
nated an additional 12 items, including pallets.
A second CPG update (CPG III) was published
in January 2000 and designated an additional
18 items, including sorbents, awards and
plaques, industrial drums, mats, manual-grade
strapping, and signage. The third CPG update
(CPG IV), published in April 2004, designated
seven new products, including bike racks and
blasting grit.
Procuring agencies include all federal agencies,
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-content level practicable. The CPG
also applies to lease contracts covering desig-
nated items. Executive Order 13101 and the
Federal Acquisition Regulation also call for an
increase in the federal government's use of
recycled-content and environmentally prefer-
able products.
Once any new items are designated in a pub-
lished CPG update, an agency has 1 year to
develop an affirmative procurement program
(or revise an existing one) to include these new
items. In previous years, agencies have had to
revise their affirmative procurement programs
to incorporate buy-recycled requirements for
items such as pallets, sorbents, awards and
plaques, industrial drums, mats, manual-grade
strapping, and signage. Agencies must revise
their affirmative procurement programs to
include the new items designated in CPG IV
by April 30, 2005. This effort might involve
reviewing specifications for these items and
eliminating provisions that pose barriers to
purchasing them with recycled content (such
as aesthetic requirements unrelated to product
performance).
The CPG acknowledges that specific circum-
stances might arise that preclude the purchase
of products made with recovered materials.
Your agency may purchase designated items
that do not contain recovered materials if you
determine that: 1) the price of a given desig-
nated item made with recovered materials is
unreasonably high, 2) there is inadequate com-
petition (not enough sources of supply), 3)
unusual and unreasonable delays would result
from obtaining the item, or 4) the recycled-
content item does not meet the agency's rea-
onable performance specifications.
MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS
PAGE 2
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How Do I Purchase Recycled-
Content Products?
EPA issues guidance in RMANs, which are
designed to make it as easy as possible to
buy the designated items. The RMAN rec-
ommends recycled-content levels to look for
when purchasing miscellaneous 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 recy-
cled content, the RMANs recommend ranges
that reflect actual market conditions. The rec-
ommendations are based on market research
identifying recycled-content products that are
commercially available, are competitively
priced, and meet buyers' quality standards.
Access EPA's online recycled-content products
database by going to and
selecting "Supplier Database." See the last sec-
tion of this fact sheet for other helpful resources.
EPA's Recommended Content Levels for Miscellaneous Products
MISCELLANEOUS
PRODUCT
MATERIAL
RECOVERED
Awards and Plaques1 Glass
Wood
Paper
Industrial Drums1
Mats1
Pallets1
Plastic and Plastic/Wood
Composite
Steel2
Plastic (HOPE)
Fiber (paper)
Rubber
Plastic
Rubber/Plastic Composite
Wood
Plastic
Thermoformed
Paperboard
POSTCONSUMER
RECOVERED
CONTENT
75-100%
40-100%
50-100%
16%
30-100%
100%
75-100%
10-100%
100%
95-100%
100%
25-50%
50%
TOTAL
RECOVERED
CONTENT
100%
100%
95-100%
25-35%
85-100%
100%
Continued next page
MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS
PAGE 3
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MISCELLANEOUS
PRODUCT
Signage1
Sorbents1
Manual-Grade
Strapping1
Bike Racks
Blasting Grit
MATERIAL
Plastic3
Aluminum
Plastic Sign
Posts/Supports3
Steel Sign
Posts/Supports4
Paper
Textiles
Plastics
Wood5
Other
Organics/Multimaterials6
Polyester
Polypropylene
Steel4
Steel2
Plastic (HOPE)
Steel7
Coal Slag
Copper and Nickel Slag
Bottom Ash
Glass
Glass/Plastic
Fused Alumina Oxide
Walnut Shells
POSTCONSUMER
RECOVERED
CONTENT
80-100%
25%
80-100%
16%
67%
90-100%
95-100%
TOTAL
RECOVERED
CONTENT
50-85%
16%
67%
16%
100%
16-67%
100%
20%
100%
25-30%
100%
100%
25-100%
100%
100%
10-40%
25-30%
100%
25-30%
100%
25-100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
1 EPA's recommendations do not preclude procuring agencies from purchasing miscellaneous products manufactured using other materials. EPA
simply recommends that procuring agencies, when purchasing miscellaneous products designated in the procurement guidelines, purchase these
products containing recovered materials.
2 The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact that the designated item is generally made from steel
manufactured in a Basic Oxygen Furnace (EOF). Steel from the EOF process contains 25% - 30% total recovered steel, of which, 16% is postcon-
sumer steel.
3 Plastic signs and sign posts are recommended for nonroad applications only, such as, but not limited to, trailway signs in parks and
directional/informational signs in buildings.
4 The recommended recovered materials content level for steel in this table reflect the fact that the designated items can be made from steel manufac-
tured from either a Basic Oxygen Furnace (EOF) or an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). Steel from the EOF process contains 25-30% total recovered mate-
rials, of which 16% is postconsumer steel. Steel from the EAF process contains a total of 100% recovered steel, of which 67% is postconsumer.
5 "Wood" includes materials such as sawdust and lumber mill trimmings.
'' Examples of other organics include, but are not limited to, peanut hulls and corn stover. An example of multimaterial sorbents would include,
but not be limited to, polymer and cellulose fiber combination.
7 The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact that the designated item may contain steel manufac-
tured in either a Basic Oxygen Furnace (EOF) or an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), or a combination of both. Steel from the EOF process contains
25% - 30% total recovered steel, of which 16% is postconsumer. Steel from the EAF process contains 100% total recovered steel, of which 67% is
postconsumer. According to industry sources, blasting grit containing a combination of EOF and EAF steel would contain 25% - 85% total recov-
ered steel, of which 16% - 67% would be postconsumer. Since there is no way of knowing which type of steel was used in the manufacture of
the item, the postconsumer and total recovered material content ranges in this table encompass the whole range of possibilities, i.e., the use of
EAF steel only, EOF steel only, or a combination of the two. _^^M
MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS
PAGE 4
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How Can I Get More Information?
Information Available
From EPA
his fact sheet and the following publications on
buying recycled-content products are available
on the Internet.
EPA Amends Comprehensive Procurement
Guidelines (CPG). This fact sheet provides general
information about the CPG and the development of
affirmative procurement programs. See
.
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. FR notices
promulgating CPG II (62 FR 60961/EPA530-Z-97-
009) and RMAN II (62 FR 60975/EPA530-Z-97-010),
November 13, 1997. FR notices promulgating CPG
III (65 FR 3070) and RMAN III (65 FR 3082), January
19, 2000. FR notices promulgating CPG IV (69 FR
24028) and RMAN IV (69 FR 24039), April 30, 2004.
See .
Other Sources of
Information—General
Buy Recycled Business Alliance. The Alliance
includes over 3,200 companies and organizations
committed to increasing their use of recycled-con-
tent products and materials in their day-to-day oper-
ations. The Alliance offers educational materials, a
quarterly newsletter, and product-specific guides.
Public purchasing entities can join for free. For more
information, contact the National Recycling
Coalition, 1325 G Street, NW., Suite 1025,
Washington, DC 20005-3104. Phone: 202 347-0450.
Fax: 202 347-0449. Web site: .
- 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. An electronic version
can be viewed at .
Greening the Government: A Guide to
Implementing Executive Order 13101. This guide
provides detailed information on the requirements
of Executive Order 13101, and the benefits of
achieving compliance. Updated in February 2001,
it is available from the Office of the Federal
Environmental Executive. Phone: 202 564-1297.
MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS
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Fax: 202 564-1393. Web site: .
Email: task_force@ofee.gov. An electronic version
of the document can be accessed at
.
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 post-
consumer content, Energy Star rating, units
purchased, unit of measurement, unit price, and
type of procurement. The database was developed
and is maintained by the Florida Department of
Management Services. To use the database, visit
.
Official Recycled Products Guide. This directory
lists more than 5,000 manufacturers and distributors
of recycled-content products. For more information,
Contact: Recycling Data Management Corporation,
P.O. Box 577, Ogdensburg, NY 13669.
Phone: 800 267-0707. Fax: 877 471-3258.
Plastic Lumber Trade Association (PLTA). PLTA is a
nonprofit membership organization working to pro-
mote the interests of the recycled plastic lumber
industry. Their work includes collaborating with
ASTM to set industry-wide standards for recycled
plastic lumber. For more information, contact Alan
Robbins, President, The Plastic Lumber Company,
Inc., 115 W. Bartges St., Akron, OH 44311-1034.
Phone: 800 886-8990 Fax: 330 762-1913. Web site:
.
Recycled Plastic Products Source Book. This booklet
lists more than 1,400 plastic products from approxi-
mately 300 manufacturers, including pallets. For
more information, contact the American Plastics
Council (APC), 1300 Wilson Blvd., 13th Floor,
Arlington, VA 22209. Phone: 800 2-HELP-90.
Outside of U.S.: 703 253-0710. Web site:
.
Other Sources—Industrial Drums
• Reusable Industrial Packaging Association (RIPA).
This association represents about 100 container
reconditioners. For more information, contact Paul
Rankin, Reusable Industrial Packaging Association
(RIPA), 8401 Corporate Drive, Suite 140, Landover,
MD 20785-2224. Phone: 301 577-3786. Fax: 301 577-
6476. Email: prankin@igc.org. Visit the RIPA Web
site at .
• The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI). This trade
association represents the fourth largest manufactur-
ing industry in the United States. For more informa-
tion contact The Society of the Plastics Industry,
1801 K St., NW Suite 600, Washington, DC 20006.
Phone: 202 974-5200. Fax: 202 296-7005. Web site:
.
Other Sources—Pallets
• National Wooden Pallet and Container Association
(NWPCA). This international trade association rep-
resents manufacturers, recyclers, and distributors of
pallets, containers, and reels. NWPCA also devel-
oped the Uniform Standards for Wood Pallets as a
resource for pallet users and suppliers. For more
information, contact Karen Wanamaker at NWPCA,
329 South Patrick St., Alexandria, VA 22314-3501.
Phone: 703 519-6104. Fax: 703 519-4720. Web site:
.
• Sustaining Business & Jobs Through Pallet Repair &
Reuse. This report lists pallet reuse and recycling
operations across the country and highlights case
studies of model reuse programs. To view an elec-
tronic version of this report, visit
. For more
information, contact Brenda Platt at the Institute
for Local Self-Reliance, 2425 18th Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20009-2096. Phone: 202 232-4108.
Fax: 202 332-0463.
MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS
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Internet Sites—Government
The Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG):
. This site describes EPA's effort
to facilitate the procurement of products containing
recovered materials, including information on CPG,
RMANs, and an online database of manufacturers
and suppliers of designated items.
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP):
. EPA's EPP program encourages
and assists federal agencies in purchasing environ-
mentally preferable products and services. The site
explains EPA's proposed guiding principles for
including environmental performance in purchasing
decision-making, and includes case studies of suc-
cessful pilot projects in both the public and private
sectors.
Office of the Federal Environmental Executive
(OFEE): . OFEE's mission is to advo-
cate, coordinate, and assist environmental efforts of
the federal community in waste prevention, recy-
cling, affirmative procurement of CPG items, and
the acquisition of recycled and environmentally
preferable products and services.
Federal Trade Commission: . The Federal Trade
Commission issued Guides for the Use of
Environmental Marketing Claims in May 1998.
Jobs Through Recycling: . EPA's
Jobs Through Recycling program stimulates eco-
nomic growth and recycling market development by
assisting businesses and supporting 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 development tools.
Municipal Solid Waste: . This
site includes information on recycling, source reduc-
tion, and reuse. Contains state municipal solid
waste data and the latest facts and figures on waste
generation and disposal.
WasteWise: . WasteWise
is a free, voluntary EPA program through which
organizations eliminate costly municipal solid
waste, benefitting their bottom line and the environ-
ment. The program provides hands-on assistance to
members to help them purchase or manufacture
recycled-content products, prevent waste, and recy-
cle solid waste materials.
King County Recycled Product Procurement
Program:
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