Buying Recycled:

1
Buying Recycled

• Making It the
• Only Option

2
Do you (or does someone in your office) purchase,
contract or initiate a request for goods and
services that include

• Paper or non-paper products
• Computers or other equipment
• Batteries
• Appliances
• Awards or plaques
• Signs
• Paints
• Light Bulbs
• Vehicle Gasoline, motor oil or tires
• Park Benches or picnic tables
• Landscaping products

3
Your purchases could impact the environment by

• Depleting the availability of natural resources
  if virgin or raw materials are constantly used

• Creating more waste in landfills that could
  pollute the soil and groundwater

4
Work to

• Substitute green products
• Use recycled paper and recycled content office
  products
• Buy Energy Star and energy- and water- efficient
  products
• Find alternative for products with excessive
  packaging or those that contain or produce toxic
  chemicals
• Consider the entire life cycle of the product

5
No matter what you call it, why is it
important? Buying Recycled or Environmentally
Preferred Purchasing
6
S.C. Solid Waste Policy and Management Act says

• All state agencies shall procure products and
  materials with recycled content. It is the goal
  of the General Assembly for state agencies to
  reflect a 25 percent goal in their procurement
  policies.
• Section 44-96-140 (E).

7
What else does the S.C. Act say?

• (B) Not later than September fifteen of each
  year, each state agency and each state-supported
  institution of higher learning shall submit to
  the department a report detailing its source
  separation and recycling program and a review of
  all goods and products purchased during the
  previous fiscal year

8
Make a commitment.

• Business and Industry
• Executive orders or corporate management
  directives

• State local governments
• Policies, ordinances and resolutions
• Samples included in session packet

9
How to Get Started

• Review your current purchasing program
• Whats it Going to Cost
• Phase in your Purchasing Effort
• Promote your Program

10
Review your current purchasing program

• Determine types and quantities of paper currently
  in use
• Find out whats available
• Review existing contracts and specifications
• Test and be fair

11
Whats it Going to Cost

• Depending on the item, you may need to implement
  preferential purchasing mechanisms
• Price preferences
• Set aside programs
• Dual track bids

12
Phase in your Purchasing Effort

• Start with widely available products and work
  your way up to more specific items.
• For example packaging materials, tissue more
  widely available than some recycled content
  printing and writing paper

13
Promote your Program

• Tell vendors you are committed to buying recycled
• Share the information with employees
• Include statements such as Printed on recycled
  Paper
• Refer to your buy recycled program in advertising

14
Follow Up

• Survey office staff to identify/overcome any
  issues
• Survey market developments

• Train buyers and staff about latest products
• Conduct annual reviews

15
Desktop Reminder
16
Availability of Products

• State Contracts
• Catalogs
• Official Recycled Products Guide

17
Availability of Products

• Web sites
• Search Engines of major office supply retailers

18
Writing Specifications

• Consider using environmental attributes as
  specifications in your bid solicitations or
  proposal requests

19
Record Keeping

• Utilizing tracking forms enables organization to
  measure growth and success of green purchasing
  program

20
Questions?

• Contact
• S.C. Department of Health and Environmental
  Controls
• Office of Solid Waste
• Reduction Recycling
• 1.800.768.7348