US EPA

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US EPAs P2 Programs EPP,
PBTs H2E
GLRPPR Summer Meeting Toronto, Ontario August
26-28, 2002
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EPP Why Green Purchasing?

• Environmentally Preferable Products are
• products and services that have a lesser or
  reduced effect on human health and the
  environment when compared to other products and
  services that serve the same purpose.
• This comparison may consider raw materials
  acquisition, production, manufacturing,
  packaging, distribution, reuse, operation,
  maintenance, or disposal of the product or
  service.
• Executive Order 13101, Greening the Government
  Through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal
  Acquisition, September 16, 1998.

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The Federal EPP Program
Environmentally preferable purchasing
incorporates key environmental factors with
traditional availability, price and performance
considerations in purchasing decisions.
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Federal EPP Pilot Projects

• Construction-related
• Building materials, lumber, paints, parking lots
• Office products
• Copier paper, printing paper, business cards,
  copiers
• Services
• Conferencing, printing
• Solvents
• Cleaning products, degreasers
• Miscellaneous
• Cafeteria serviceware, electronics, uniforms,
  hospital products

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Providing Tools
EPP Database Identify and compare environmental
attributes for key products and services from
various information sources, both domestic and
foreign Promising Practices 20 case studies
incorporating environmental factors into product
and service contracts Links directly to contract
language, worksheets, evaluation criteria, etc
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Supporting the Development of Voluntary Standards

• Drafted FR notice to recognize 5 standards
  developed through an open, transparent and
  participatory process consider life cycle
  impacts
• Green Seal
• General purpose bathroom/glass cleaners
• Commercial adhesives
• Cleaning/degreasing agents
• ASTM
• Data collection for sustainable building
  products
• Stewardship for cleaning commercial/institutional
  buildings

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Focusing on Specific Products and Services

• Conferences/meetings, Copiers, Cafeteria
  serviceware, Carpets, Electronics, Cleaners,
  andBuilding materials/operations
• Developing one-stop shops for specific green
  purchasing information
• Initiating stakeholder review process

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Product Focus Biobased Products

• Executive Order 13134 Biobased Products
  Bioenergy 2002 Farm Bill
• Strengthening biobased component of NISTs BEES
  lifecycle decision support software
• Designate biobased products and content levels.
• Provide information on availability, price,
  performance, and environmental and public health
  benefits.
• Develop labeling program for certified biobased
  products.

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Service Focus Green Meetings

• Created one-stop shop website for government
  employees interested in green meetings
  www.epa.gov/oppt/greenmeetings
• Greened OPPTS meeting planning contract
• Funded industry-based initiative, co-developed
  web tool
• Leveraging through partnerships
• GSA/EPA/SGMP Meet Green Initiative
• CERES Green Hotel Initiative - Best Practices
  Survey
• DC Green Hotel Initiative

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Questions? Visit
www.epa.gov/oppt/epp Call 202/564-8834 Julie
Shannon Office of Pollution Prevention and
Toxics U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E)
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Why is EPA working with Hospitals?

• Hospitals generate 2 million tons of solid waste
  annually
• Medical waste incinerators 4th largest known
  source of mercury emissions to the environment
• Healthcare facilities are willing pollution
  prevention partners

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Medical Uses of Mercury

• Cleaning solutions
• Fluorescent lights
• Thermostats
• Pressure gauges
• Electric switches

• Thermometers
• Sphygmomanometers
• Esophogeal dilators
• Cantor tubes
• Feeding tubes
• Lab chemicals
• Medical batteries
• Pharmaceutical preservatives

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H2E Program

• EPA/American Hospital Association asking all
  hospitals to pledge to
• Virtually eliminate mercury waste by year 2005
• Reduce total waste volume by 33 by year 2005 by
  50 by 2010
• Identify hazardous substances in hospitals for P2
  and waste reduction opportunities
• We need full involvement to ensure success

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H2E 312 partners representing 950 facilities and
growing!

• Childrens National Medical Center
• George Washington Medical Center
• Sibley Memorial Hospital
• Washington Hospital Center

• DC General Hospital
• Greater Southeast Community Hospital
• Howard University Hospital
• Veterans Affairs Medical Center

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Thirty plus Healthcare organizations champion H2E
and this number is growing!

• Aramark Service Master Facility Services
• Catholic Health East
• Catholic Healthcare West
• Consorta Inc.
• Sustainable Hospitals Project

• Kaiser Permanente
• District of Columbia Hospital Association
• DC Department of Health
• Environmental Medical products, LLC
• Baxter

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THE PERSISTENT, BIOACCUMULATIVE AND TOXICS
(PBT)PROGRAM

• AN AGENCY-WIDE MULTIMEDIA PROGRAM

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Our concern is PBTs

• Alkyl-Lead
• Benzo(a)Pyrene
• DIOXINS/FURANS
• Hexachlorobenzene
• MERCURY AND COMPOUNDS
• Octachlorostyrene
• PCBs
• PESTICIDES
• Aldrin/Dieldrin, Chlordane
• Mirex,DDT(DDDDDE),Toxaphene

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PBTs -- A Global Priority

• "Pollutants that are persistent, bioaccumulative
  and toxic have been linked to numerous adverse
  effects in humans and animals. The United States
  has taken extensive action over the years to
  address these pollutants. But such pollutants not
  only remain in the environment for years and even
  decades, they also travel far beyond their
  initial points of release, posing threats across
  national and geographic boundaries. Only by
  addressing the threat of these pollutants on a
  global scale can we help to meet our goal of
  leaving America's air cleaner, our water purer,
  and our land better protected.
  -Christine Todd Whitman

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PBT Program Management Structure
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