Ill
Buy-Recycled Series
NONPAPER OFFICE PRODUCTS
COMPREHENSIVE
PROCUREMENT
GUIDELINES
The soda bottle you recycled
after lunch might end up back
on your desk as a recycled
binder or pencil holder. Used toner
cartridges and printer ribbons once
considered "trash" are now remanu-
factured and returned, providing your
office with high-performance
NONPAPER OFFICE products at considerable sav-
ings.
To make it easier to buy
recycled, the U.S.
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) updates the
Comprehensive
Procurement Guidelines
(CPG) every 2 years.
Through the CPG, EPA des-
ignates items that must
contain recycled materials
when purchased with
appropriated federal funds
by federal, state, and local
agencies, or by government
contractors. Several nonpa-
per office 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 nonregulatory companion
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-04-014
www. epa. gov/osw
May 2004
guidance—the Recovered Materials
Advisory Notice (RMAN)—that
recommends levels of recycled con-
tent for those 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 (including
binders, office recycling containers, office waste
receptacles, plastic desktop accessories, plastic
trash bags, and toner cartridges) and incorporat-
ed 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 plastic
envelopes and printer ribbons. A second CPG
update (CPG III) was published in January 2000
and designated an additional 18 items, includ-
ing plastic binders, plastic clipboards, plastic
file folders, plastic clip portfolios, and plastic
presentation folders. The third CPG update
(CPG IV), published in April 2004, designated
seven new products, including office furniture.
Procuring agencies include all federal agencies,
and any state or local government agencies or
government contractor that use appropriated
federal funds to purchase the designated items.
If your agency spends more thSt4^^QO per
year on a product designated in the
are required to purchase it with the higl
recycled-content level practicable. The CPG
also applies to lease contracts covering designat-
ed items. Executive Order 13101 and the Federal
Acquisition Regulation also call for an increase
in the federal government's use of recycled-con-
tent and environmentally preferable 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 recycling containers; waste recep-
tacles; plastic desktop accessories; plastic cov-
ered, paper covered, and pressboard binders;
trash bags; toner cartridges; printer ribbons;
plastic envelopes; plastic binders; plastic clip-
boards; plastic file folders; plastic clip portfo-
lios; and plastic presentation folders. Agencies
must revise their affirmative procurement pro-
grams to add the items designated under CPG
IV by April 30, 2005. This effort might involve
reviewing specifications for this product and
eliminating provisions that pose barriers to
procuring it with recycled content (such as aes-
thetic requirements unrelated to product perfor-
mance). Also, be aware that paper envelopes
were designated in CPG I. Recommended recy-
cled-content ranges for paper envelopes are
addressed in the RMAN for paper products and
can also be found in the Buy-Recycled Series
Paper Products fact sheet.
The CPG acknowledges that
stances might arise that precl
of products made with recovered matem
bur agency may purchase designated items
that do n.ot contain recovered materials if it
determines 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-con-
tent item does not meet the agency's reasonable
performance specifications.
NONPAPER OFFICE PRODUCTS
PAGE 2
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How Do I Purchase Recycled-Content
Nonpaper Office Products?
EPA 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 office products, as shown in
the table below. Following the RMANs' recom-
mended levels will help ensure your affirmative
procurement program and standards 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 Nonpaper Office Products
NONPAPER OFFICE
PRODUCT
Recycling Containers
and Waste Receptacles1
Desktop Accessories
including desk organizers,
sorters, trays and memo,
note, and pencil holders1
Binders1
MATERIAL
RECOVERED
Plastic
Steel2
Paper
- Corrugated
- Solid Fiber Boxes
- Industrial Paperboard
Plastic (polystyrene)
Plastic-Covered
Paper-Covered
Pressboard
Solid Plastic
-HDPE
-PE
-PET
- Misc. Plastics
POSTCONSUMER I TOTAL RECOVERED
RECOVERED I CONTENT
CONTENT I
20-100%
16%
25-50%
40%
40-80%
25-80%
75-100%
20%
90%
30-50%
100%
80%
25-30%
25-50%
100%
25-50%
90-100%
50%
90%
30-50%
100%
80%
Continued next page
NONPAPER OFFICE PRODUCTS
PAGE 3
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NONPAPER OFFICE
PRODUCT
Trash Bags1
Toner Cartridges1-3
Printer Ribbons1-4
Plastic Envelopes1
Plastic Clipboards1
Plastic File Folders1
Plastic Clip Portfolios1
Plastic Presentation
Folders1
Office Furniture
MATERIAL
RECOVERED
Plastic
See Endnote 3
See Endnote 4
Plastic
FDDPE
PS
Miscellaneous Plastic
FDDPE
FDDPE
FDDPE
Furniture Structure
- Steel2
- Aluminum
Particleboard/
Fiberboard Component5
- Wood or Wood
Composite
- Agricultural Fiber
Fabric
-PET
Plastic Furniture
Component
-FDDPE
Remanufactured or
Refurbished Furniture
- Various
POSTCONSUMER I TOTAL RECOVERED
RECOVERED I CONTENT
CONTENT I
10-100%
See Endnote 3
See Endnote 4
25%
90%
50%
15%
90%
90%
90%
16%
Greater than 0%
100%
70-75%
25-75%
See Endnote 3
See Endnote 4
25-30%
90%
50%
15-80%
90%
90%
90%
25-30%
75-100%
80-100%
100%
100%
95%
25-75%
1 EPA's recommendations do not preclude procuring agencies from purchasing nonpaper office products made from the materials manufactured
using other materials, such as wood or cloth. EPA simply recommends that procuring agencies, when purchasing nonpaper office products made
from the materials 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 materials, of which 16% is postcon-
sumer steel.
3 EPA recommends the return of used toner cartridges for remanufacturing and reuse or purchase a remanufactured or recycled-content replacement
cartridge.
4 EPA recommends the procurement of printer ribbon reinking or reloading services, or of reinked or reloaded printer ribbons.
5 Particleboard and fiberboard used in the wood components of office furniture may also contain other recovered cellulosic materials, including,
but not limited to, paper, wheat straw, and bagasse. The percentages of these materials contained in the product would also count toward the
recovered materials content level of the item. In addition, while EPA has no evidence or indication that wood treated with chromated copper
arsenate (CCA) is currently used in office furniture, EPA is not recommending the use of CCA-treated wood as a recovered material in office fur-
niture. The arsenic in CCA is a known human carcinogen and EPA is currently conducting a thorough and comprehensive risk assessment of
CCA as a part of the pesticide reregistration process for CCA. In addition, EPA is conducting a risk assessment for children who contact CCA-
treated wood playsets and decks.
NONPAPER OFFICE PRODUCTS
PAGE 4
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How Can I Get More Information?
T
Information Available
From EPA
his fact sheet and the following publications on
buying recycled-content products can be accessed
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 m (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
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: E-mail: brbainfo@nrc-recycle.org.
Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD). The JWOD Program
creates jobs and training opportunities for people
who are blind or who have other severe disabilities.
JWOD's online "environmentally friendly products
store" provides office supplies, including several
CPG-designated items such as recycled-content clip-
boards. This store can be accessed at
.
U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). GSA
publishes various supply catalogs, guides, and sched-
ules for recycled-content products available through
the Federal Supply Service. For copies of the follow-
ing documents and other information, contact GSA,
Centralized Mailing List Service (7CAFL), 4900
Hemphill Street, P.O. Box 6477, Fort Worth, TX
76115-9939. Phone: 817 334-5215. Fax: 817334-
5527. You can also access GSA Advantage!, GSA's
Internet-based online ordering system, to order any
GSA product at .
NONPAPER OFFICE PRODUCTS
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Recycling Collection Containers and Specialty
Waste Receptacles, Federal Supply Schedule
Group 72, Part 7, Schedule B. Lists a variety of
containers and receptacles available for purchase.
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.
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.
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. Contact: Recycling
Data Management Corporation, P.O. Box 577,
Ogdensburg, NY 13669. Phone: 800 267-0707. Fax:
877471-3258.
Recycled Plastic Products Source Book. This booklet
lists more than 1,400 plastic products from approxi-
mately 300 manufacturers, including nonpaper office
products. 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:
.
Internet Sites—Product
Information
• Recycling Data Network Information Services:
. This com-
mercial Web site provides access, on a subscription
basis, to a recycled-content products database of
over 4,500 listings in 700 product classifications.
It also provides a reference guide 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.
Internet Sites—Government
• The Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines:
. 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 includ-
ing environmental performance in purchasing deci-
sion-making, and posts case studies of successful
pilot projects in both the public and private sectors.
• 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.
• King County Recycled Product Procurement
Program:
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California Recycled-Content Product Database:
. This site contains infor-
mation 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 pro-
duce these products.
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.
NONPAPER OFFICE PRODUCTS
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