Buy Recycled!

A publication of theMassachusetts Buy Recycled Business Alliance

A Guide For Massachusetts Businesses

TM

The Massachusetts Buy Recycled Business Allianceassists Massachusetts businesses in their efforts toincrease their purchase of products made withrecycled content. This manual is one of a series ofpublications produced by the Alliance. The Alliance ismanaged by the Center for Ecological Technology(CET) and WasteCap of Massachusetts.

For more information contact the Alliance at:376 Boylston Street - Suite 303

Boston, MA 02116(617) 236-7715

or(413) 445-4556

Buy Recycled!A Guide for Massachusetts Businesses

A publication of theMassachusetts Buy Recycled Business Alliance

November, 1996

Funding provided by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairsand the Department of Environmental Protection

Compiled and Produced by theCenter for Ecological Technology, (CET)

Copyright 1996 by the Massachusetts Buy Recycled Business Alliance. All rights reserved.

Printed on Mohawk Tomahawk 65lb cover (50% recycled - 25% post-consumer)and Crosspointe Torchglow Opaque 60lb text (20% post-consumer)

TM

Many thanks to the following Alliance membersfor their contributions to this Guide:

Boston Edison Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires

The Lenox House & Copley Square Hotels NYNEX

Norton CompanyRizzo Associates

Texas Instruments - Metals & Controls Group

Credits:“Buy Recycled Guidebook” published by the National Recycling Coalition

“Buy Recycled Training Manual” Fourth Edition, 1995. The Northeast Maryland Waste DisposalAuthority and the U.S. Conference of Mayors

We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of theNortheast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority, the National Recycling Coalition,

and the Massachusetts Operational Services Division.

Acknowledgements

Table of Contents

AppendicesAppendices

WritingWritingPurchasingPurchasing

SpecificationsSpecifications

Review the Language .....................................................12Revise Your Specifications ...............................................12Methods of Structuring Bid Documents ................................13

IntroductionIntroduction Purpose of this Guide ...................................................... 1What is the Massachusetts Buy Recycled Business Alliance? ......... 1

Enhance Your Company’s Image......................................... 2Increase Your Competitive Edge ......................................... 2Save Money ................................................................. 2Build Communication ...................................................... 3Motivate Your Employees ................................................. 3Conserve Natural Resources and Energy................................ 3Strengthen Markets for Recyclables ...................................... 3Create Jobs and Economic Development Opportunities ............... 4Encourage Manufacturers to Use More Recycled Materials ......... 4Sample List of Recycled Products ........................................ 5

Why BuyWhy BuyRecycled?Recycled?

Make a Commitment ....................................................... 6Communicate ................................................................ 6Sample Environmental Policy ............................................. 7Work With Your Suppliers ................................................ 8Learn About Recycled Products .......................................... 8Sample Letter to Suppliers ................................................. 9Create a “Buy Recycled” Team ......................................... 10Review Your Current Purchases ........................................ 10Research Specific Recycled Products ................................... 10Review Purchasing Specifications ....................................... 11Set Realistic Goals ......................................................... 11Get the Word Out! ......................................................... 11Evaluate Your Progress ................................................... 11

Check List toCheck List toSuccessSuccess

A. National Buy Recycled Business Alliance .........................14B. Massachusetts Members of the Buy Recycled Business Alliance ..16C. The Federal Government’s Buy Recycled Program ..............18D. Massachusetts’ Buy Recycled Program ............................20

Buy Recycled Terms .................................. Inside Back Cover

Acknowledgements

Introduction

What the AllianceWhat the Allianceprovides:provides:

l l Suppliers DirectorySuppliers Directoryl l Product Product ResearchResearchl l Supplier ReferralsSupplier Referralsl l Fact SheetsFact Sheetsl l Vendor FairVendor Fairl l Resource MaterialsResource Materialsl l Direct AssistanceDirect Assistance

Purpose of this GuideBuy Recycled! Drawing on a variety of resources,including the experiences of Massachusetts businessesand other “Buy Recycled” programs, theMassachusetts Buy Recycled Business Allianceproduced this Guide to help your company begin orexpand its purchase of products with recycled content.Buy Recycled! outlines the benefits to buying recycledproducts, explains various terms and definitions thatare commonly used, and provides a simple check listto guide you in purchasing recycled products.

What is the Massachusetts Buy RecycledBusiness Alliance?

The Massachusetts Buy Recycled Business Allianceassists Massachusetts businesses in their efforts toincrease the purchase of products made with recycledcontent. The Alliance provides comprehensivetechnical assistance to help companies purchaserecycled products or increase the recycled content ofthe products they already purchase.

The Alliance is affiliated with the National BuyRecycled Business Alliance, a program of theNational Recycling Coalition. The MassachusettsAlliance provides on-going assistance to anyMassachusetts business on a one-time or continuousbasis; the national program provides additionalinformation and recognition to businesses who make aformal commitment to increase their purchases ofrecycled materials.

We hope you will use these resources and contact theAlliance to receive materials, information or otherassistance with your recycled product purchasing.Any questions about the Alliance or comments aboutthis Guide are welcome. Please call (617) 236-7715or (413) 445-4556 or write to:

Massachusetts Buy Recycled Business Alliance376 Boylston Street - Suite 303Boston, MA 02116(fax) (617) 236-7141

American Airlines

uses 100% recycled

paper, tissues, and

napkins.

11

2

Why Buy Recycled?

What is a Recycled Product?

1. A product that contains a

percentage of material

recovered from the

manufacturing process or

through commercial and

residential recycling

programs.

2. A product that has been

rebuilt or remanufactured,

such as remanufactured laser

toner cartridges and computer

diskettes.

Most businesses want to engage in practices thatmake good business sense and protect theenvironment. You may not be aware that buyingproducts with recycled content offers numerousbenefits for your company, community andenvironment. This section outlines why it makessense for your company to buy recycled products.More and more products contain recycled content.A partial list is provided on page 5.

“Buying recycled isan excellentopportunity for us tobe recognized andrewarded as anenvironmental leaderin our businesscommunity andamong ourcustomers.” RichardMorrissey, SeniorStock Supervisor,Boston Edison.

Enhance Your Company’s ImageBuying recycled is an easy step to take thatdemonstrates to your customers your commitmentto protect the environment. If you already have anenvironmental program that includes efforts such asrecycling or energy efficiency measures, buyingrecycled provides an opportunity to easily expandyour efforts.

Increase Your Competitive EdgeMore and more customers - individuals,government agencies, institutions and othercompanies - are considering recycled content intheir purchasing decisions. Some are evenrequiring it. Your willingness to produce or userecycled content products could differentiate yourcompany from your competition and improve yourposition in retail sales or a competitive bidprocess.

Save MoneyBY BUYING RECYCLED PRODUCTS. Manyrecycled products provide immediate savingsbecause they are less expensive or offer long-term savings because they are more durable.Some cost-competitive products includeremanufactured toner cartridges, computerdiskettes, and retread tires. Decking,marine piers, park benches and tables,

manufactured from plastic lumber, areexamples of durable, low maintenance products.As demand and availability increases, more and

3

“Five Years ago,Norton Companypurchased sixteen parkbenches made fromrecycled plastic.Placed throughout thecomplex, the bencheshave never requiredany maintenance andstill look new. Buyingrecycled makesbusiness sense.” BillHazel, Recycling andSource ReductionAdministrator, NortonCompany, Worcester.

more recycled products will be priced competitivelywith the non-recycled alternative.

BY REVIEWING YOUR PURCHASING PRACTICES.Buying recycled can prompt a review of yourcurrent purchasing practices. This fresh look cangenerate new ideas and potential ways to savemoney.

Build CommunicationYour buy recycled commitment is likely to bringdifferent departments together to discuss needs andconcerns in working towards this common goal.This process can break down walls and buildrelationships that have a long-term positive effect.

Motivate Your EmployeesYour employees will appreciate your company’sefforts to protect the environment. Establishing abuy recycled effort can energize employees andfoster goodwill.

Conserve Natural Resources AndEnergy

Buying recycled products can reduce ourdependence on virgin raw materials and theassociated waste, pollution and energy consumptionincurred in the extraction and processing of rawmaterials. In manufacturing, recycled feedstocksoften consume less energy than virgin materials andgenerate less pollution.

Strengthen Markets ForRecyclables

Recycling does not begin and end at therecycling bin. Purchasing products withrecycled content is a critical stepbusinesses can take to create and stimulatemarkets for the recyclable materialscollected. “Buying recycled” is key toclosing the recycling loop.

Collect

Manufacture

BuyRecycled!

Each year, steel recycling

saves the energy equivalent

to electrically power about 18

million homes for one year.

4

“Buying recycledproducts is a criticalpart of anycomprehensiverecycling program,because it creates themarkets for thesegoods. The Weld-CellucciAdministration,through itscommitment andleadership in this area,has helped to fuel whatis now a $600 millionrecycling industryemploying more than12,000 people inMassachusetts.”Commissioner DavidB. Struhs, MADepartment ofEnvironmentalProtection.

“When you care enough to send the very best to yourclients and friends, ‘buy recycled’.”

Rizzo’s holiday card, designed by Flanders & Associates, used 100% post-consumer paper in the form of chipboard (commonly used for the backs ofnotepads) and was printed with soy-based ink. Margaret Carvan, Rizzo’sMarketing Manager, commented, “We avoided the cost and unnecessary use ofan envelope, used paper containing 100% post-consumer waste, and created adistinctive design. The unit cost for 3,500 pieces was 68 cents. This is roughlyhalf the cost of commercially produced alternatives. When you care enough tosend the very best to your clients and friends, buy recycled.” Rizzo Associates Rizzo Associates isa multi-disciplinary engineering and environmental consulting firm in Natick, MAand Enfield, CT.

Create Jobs and EconomicDevelopment Opportunities

To maintain and expand recycling industries, endmarkets for recycled products are needed. Buyingrecycled products helps create these end markets.

Encourage Manufacturers To UseMore Recycled Materials

In order to use recycled materials, manufacturersmust make an investment both in equipment andprocessing techniques. To justify the investment,there must be a market for the finished recycledproducts. Consumers have the ability to influencemanufacturers’ decisions to produce recycledproducts by expressing an interest in buyingrecycled products.

According to a survey ofnearly 30 U.S. andCanadian plastic lumber

producers, more than 60million pounds of scrap

plastics are used annuallyto make plastic lumber.

5

“Because the qualityof recycled productshas so dramaticallyimproved in the lastfew years, we oftenfind these“new”products to be moreaesthetically pleasingthan productsmanufactured fromraw materials. Buyingrecycled sets anexample for ouremployees and gueststo emulate in theirpersonal support ofthe environment.”Mary Ellen St. John,Managing Director,Canyon Ranch in theBerkshires.

Office SuppliesAdding TapeRing BindersBrochuresBusiness CardsCarbonless FormsComputer PaperCopy PaperPadded EnvelopesMailing EnvelopesLetterheadFile FoldersIndex CardsMessage PadsNote PadsScratch PadsLetter TraysScissorsThermal Fax PaperPrinting PaperInkjet CartridgesPensPencilsDiskettesToner Cartridges

Packaging MaterialsBubblewrapFile Storage BoxesInsulated PackagingCardboard BoxesWrapping TissueMolded PackagingPallets

AutomotiveParking StopsRe-Refined OilRetread Tires

Building/Construction

Asphalt MixDeckingInsulationPlastic LumberRecycled Aggregate

FlooringCarpetMatsCeramic TilesVinyl TilesExercise MatsRubber MatsGym Flooring

Janitorial/IndustrialPlastic BagsBucketsWiping ClothsPolishing ClothsPaper TowelsPaintNapkins

Landscaping/ExteriorCompost BinsFencingFertilizerMulchPicnic TablesPlayground EquipmentSignsWoodchips

Portions of the material for this chapter were derived from theBuy Recycled Training Manual, Fourth Edition, Copyright1995, Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority and theUnited States Conference of Mayors.

Sample List of Recycled Products

The cost of arecycled diskette

may be about20% - 40% less

than virgin disks.

6

BUYING RECYCLED

IS EASY

1. DECIDE TO BUY RECYCLED

2. TALK TO YOUR SUPPLIERS

3. SELECT A RECYCLED

PRODUCT

4. BUY IT - TRY IT.

Checklist to SuccessBuying recycled is simple. With awide range of recycled productsavailable, many competitivelypriced, you will find a variety thatfit your company’s needs. In yourexploration, you may be surprisedto learn that some of your currentpurchases already contain recycledcontent. For example, metal officefurniture is typically made withrecycled steel and most file folderscontain recycled paper.

The actions described in this section are based uponexperiences that several companies reported asmost helpful to their buy recycled success. Keep inmind as you read that there is no one right orwrong way to institute a company-wide buy re-cycled effort and these suggestions have not beenplaced in any specific order.

Make a CommitmentObtain a commitment from management topurchase recycled products. Senior managementsupport is often critical because there can bebarriers or considerations (such as working with anew vendor) that will require the time and effort ofthe company’s purchasers and users to overcome.Also, consider creating a company buy recycledpolicy. Experience shows that buy recycledprograms operate smoother and are easier toimplement when everyone understands that thecompany is committed to buying recycled productsas a matter of policy. A sample environmentalpolicy is provided on page 7.

CommunicateLet your employees, contractors, customers, thepublic, and especially your suppliers know aboutyour commitment to buy recycled products. Youare likely to find them very supportive of yourefforts. Review the sample letter to suppliers onpage 9.

“NYNEX has learnedthat it is possible tobuy recycled andmaintain quality andcost. But the key isgaining topmanagement supportand involvement.Using thiscommitment, as wellas teamwork amongseveral work groups,was critical toaccomplishing ourconversion to billreturn envelopesmade from 100%post-consumer fiber,50% of which is oldtelephonedirectories.” KenTeal, Director ofEnvironmentalIssues, NYNEXInformationResourcesCompany.

7

Sample Environmental PolicyCourtesy of the Lenox House Hotel

Our Environmental Policy

All of us at the Lenox House Hotel are taking action to make the world acleaner, safer place for ourselves and our children.

The creation of our comprehensive environmental campaign, along withcoordinated efforts at our sister hotel, The Copley Square Hotel, demon-strates our ongoing commitment to future generations.

During the implementation of our environmental program, we will:

- Identify and take action wherever possible to reduce and recycle waste,conserve energy and water, and educate our guests, suppliers and employeesabout environmental concerns;

- Introduce new products and services which are safer for the environ-ment, and for our visitors, neighbors and fellow workers;

- Maintain the high standards for which we have earned the reputation as“that charming little hotel in Boston.”

We must all protect the natural resources which we rely upon so heavilyfor our health and well-being. Working together, we will all make a differ-ence and leave our children a planet that will heal and flourish.

The Lenox House, Boston

8

Boston Edison’s Boston Edison’s purchasing department established a Green Packaging TaskForce, a cross-section of the utility company’s many departments includingproduction, materials management and engineering. In its investigation ofrecycled products, the Task Force selected re-refined motor oil as anopportunity to explore its purchase of recycled products. Working closely withits supplier, the Task Force alleviated the transportation department’s concernabout the viscosity breakdown of the re-refined oil. The end result: BostonEdison switched to re-refined oil and saves money, as the re-refined motor oilcost less than the virgin oil.

Work With Your SuppliersOnce your suppliers know about your commitmentto buy recycled, you may find them very willing tohelp you locate recycled alternatives that meet yourbusiness’ needs. In addition to product suppliers,ask service contractors including printers, janitorialservices, and maintenance contractors to userecycled products.

Learn About Recycled ProductsPRODUCT AVAILABILITY. Recycled paper is not theonly recycled product offered. In fact, you can findrecycled products to use in just about everydepartment or area of your business! (Refer to thesample list of recycled products on page 5.)

PRODUCT QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE. Product qualityis improving continuously, and recycled products oftenare made to the same or similar standards as their virginmaterial counterparts. Users may be concerned aboutperformance, fearing that recycled products are inferiorto products made with virgin materials. Askproduct manufacturers and suppliers forperformance information to explore and alleviatethese concerns.

You may want to begin by selecting a product witha long track record. Recycled paper products,remanufactured toner cartridges, plastic trash bags,or anti-freeze are a few examples of these products.

Today, Merc

edes

Benz i

nstalls

re-

refined

oil in

every

new ca

r

manufac

tured in

German

y.

“Once suppliers knewthat we were interestedin buying recycled,they becameenthusiastic aboutsharing informationabout recycledproducts and helpingto locate products thatmeet our quality andprice criteria.” JoanneRosier, PurchasingAgent, Canyon Ranchin the Berkshires.

9

Dear Supplier:

Canyon Ranch is strongly committed to preserving andprotecting the environment and our natural resources. Inrecent years, we have engaged in a number ofenvironmental initiatives, such as an aggressiverecycling program. We have also created a company-wide“green team” which meets monthly to discuss and reviewour operations and make recommendations on how we cancontinually improve our environmental performance.

As a valued supplier, I am writing to you today toask for your help in meeting Canyon Ranch’s environmentalcommitment. Specifically, I wanted to inform you thatCanyon Ranch is strongly committed to increasing itspurchase of products made from recycled materials.

As part of that commitment, we want to review ourcurrent and future purchases to identify those that maybe available with recycled content which also meet ourhigh standards for aesthetics, performance and price. Assuch, we would very much appreciate it if you could keepour commitment in mind and regularly supply us withinformation about such products that you know areavailable.

Through our involvement with the Massachusetts BuyRecycled Business Alliance, we have come to learn thatthere are thousands of high-quality, cost-competitiverecycled products now on the market today. With yourhelp, we can gather the necessary information to bestdecide which of these products may make sense for us.

We look forward to continuing to work with you.

Sample Letter to Inform Your Suppliers ofYour Commitment to Buying Recycled

Courtesy of Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires

10

PRODUCT COST. Many recycled products are lessexpensive or comparably priced.

PRODUCT TERMINOLOGY. A variety of terms areused to describe the type of recycled material in aproduct including pre- and post-consumer,recovered, recycled, etc. Review the Buy RecycledTerms defined on the inside of the back cover.

Create A “Buy Recycled” TeamFor larger companies, assembling a team ofrepresentatives from different departments can bevaluable in implementing your buy recycled efforts.Involving purchasing staff, management andrepresentatives of all divisions or departments addsthe benefit of different perspectives.

Review Your Current PurchasesA review of your current purchases will help directyour buy recycled efforts. You may learn that anumber of recycled products are already beingpurchased. You should also find out whichproducts are purchased in large quantities.Consider exploring recycled alternatives for theseitems. Also consider increasing the recycledcontent of recycled products already purchased.(For example, perhaps your company’s letterheadcontains 10% recycled content. You may want toexplore increasing the recycled content to 20% ormore.)

Research Specific Recycled ProductsMany quality recycled products are available on themarket today. Once you determine which productsyou are interested in, you will want to review therecycled alternative to ensure that it fits yourbusiness’ needs for cost, performance andavailability.

TESTING A NEW PRODUCT. When in doubt about aproduct’s performance, test samples of severalbrands. For example, test one or more cartons ofrecycled paper in copiers and printers. If users

The cost of a

remanufactured toner

cartridge is typically 25% -

50% less than an OEM

cartridge.

11

The U.S. PostalService increasedthe use of retread

tires by 43% inone year.

object to recycled products, consider a blind test tohelp overcome biases. For example, test virgin andre-refined lubricating oils in company vehicles but donot tell the vehicle operators which type of oil is ineach vehicle. To educate users, share the test results.

Review Purchasing SpecificationsIf your company has purchasing specifications, reviewthem for language that restricts the purchase or use ofrecycled products. For example, look for wordingsuch as “virgin only” materials or other specificationsthat unnecessarily place aesthetics over performance.

Set Realistic GoalsAfter identifying recycled products that you alreadypurchase, set goals for increasing their recycledcontent and/or adding additional recycled products tothe list. Make your goals time based, precise andspecific. For example, “50% increase in recycledproduct purchases” is less specific than “By July 1,1997, increase recycled product purchases 50% over1995 levels.” Evaluate and adjust your buy recycledgoals, as needed.

Get The Word Out!Once your buy recycled program is established, don’thide it! Promote your program both externally toexisting and potential suppliers, customers, and otherbusinesses, and internally to employees. And don’tstop with an initial promotion campaign. Promotionis part of the education process and can generategoodwill about the buy recycled program amongemployees, suppliers, and customers.

Evaluate Your ProgressEstablish a way to document and track your recycledproduct purchases. Documentation may justify yourbuy recycled efforts and provide further motivation.Consider tracking the recycled content, types,quantities and amount spent on the purchase ofrecycled products. Also, track any savings andcomments regarding the use of the recycled products.Document successes as well as problems. Be sure topublicize the successes.

“By working together,we can influence themarket-place andmake purchasingrecycled productsstandard practice.Buying recycled is a“win-win” for all ofus, the customers,businesses, communityand most of all theenvironment; we allgain.” Bob Grosse,Purchasing Manager,Texas Instruments,Metals and ControlsGroup.

12

Are Your Company’spurchasing

specifications or policiesrestricting your purchase

of recycled products?

Review your specifications, policies and proceduresclosely and, using the pointers below, revise themaccordingly. An inter-departmental team can be help-ful in this process.

Review the LanguageLook for...

... phrases that restrict the purchase of recycledcontent products. Examples include “virgin paperonly” or “no recycled materials allowed.” Rewriteyour specifications to be material neutral unlessthere is a legitimate performance reason forspecifying virgin materials.

... requirements that are aesthetic rather thanperformance based. Examples include brightness andcolor requirements that are not critical to the function oruse of the product. These requirements canunnecessarily exclude the purchase of recycledproducts.

Revise Your SpecificationsInclude a paragraph that emphasizes your interest inbuying recycled products made with post-consumercontent. When appropriate, state desired percentagesof pre-and post-consumer materials.

Define what you mean by “recycled”. Specify thetypes of recovered materials that can be considered“recycled” (e.g. plastic, paper). Establish and specifyminimum content standards whenever feasible. Usethese definitions and standards in specifications,solicitation documents, and certification forms. TheBuy Recycled Terms on the inside of the backcover may be useful in this process.

Talk to your suppliers to learn about reasonablestandards for recycled content, quantity and deliverytimes. Where aesthetics may be a concern, inquireabout reasonable expectations.

Writing Specifications ?

EstablishEstablishReasonableReasonable

StandardsStandards

Define RecycledDefine Recycled

Emphasize YourEmphasize YourCommitmentCommitment

13

Build InBuild InFlexibilityFlexibility

Advertise BidsAdvertise BidsWidelyWidely

Hold A Pre-bidHold A Pre-bidMeetingMeeting

Avoid AwardingAvoid AwardingBids On An All-Bids On An All-or-None Basisor-None Basis

Build flexibility into your specifications to letmanufacturers and suppliers provide substitutions.The substitution may contain higher levels ofrecovered materials and still meet your needs.

Based on the scope of the purchase, considerholding a pre-bid meeting to discuss proposedrevisions. This meeting provides an opportunity forindustry representatives to help you modifyspecifications and bid documents to enable recycledproducts to compete.

Avoid awarding bids on an all-or-none basis. Recycledproduct suppliers may be able to supply some, butnot all, of your products.

Advertise new bid opportunities widely. Expand yourbidders lists to include manufacturers of recycledproducts.

Methods of Structuring Bid Documents

1. Request recycled products/no preference: Ask bidders to supply recycled productswhere available. This indicates your interest in buying recycled and give syou theopportunity to consider recycled alternatives. While this method opens up themarketplace for recycled products, it may not provide the maximum use of theseproducts.

2. Price preference: If your company provides a price preference, the bids shouldshow:

a. the definition and minimum content required for a product to beconsidered“recycled,” and

b. the price preference your company allows for the product.

3. Recycled only: If adequate competition exists for a recycled product, you may wantto require recycled content for a bid to be considered.

14

Appendix A

Free ResourceFree ResourceMaterialsMaterials

Discounts onDiscounts onPublicationsPublications

VoluntaryVoluntaryCommitmentCommitment

No Cost To JoinNo Cost To Join

Companies join theAlliance simply by

making a commitmentto increase theirrecycled product

purchases.

What Is The Buy Recycled Business Alliance?

The Massachusetts Buy Recycled Business Alliance isaffiliated with the National Buy Recycled BusinessAlliance, a program of the National Recycling Coalition.The National Buy Recycled Business Alliance providesadditional information and recognition opportunities tocompanies that make a formal commitment to increasetheir recycled content purchases. We encourageMassachusetts companies to consider becoming membersof the National program.

The Alliance was founded in 1992 by the NationalRecycling Coalition, a non-profit organizationrepresenting the diverse interests in recycling. From the25 charter members in 1992, Alliance membership hasgrown to more than 3,000 companies nationwide.

Why Should I Join The Alliance?By joining the Buy Recycled Business Alliance, yourcompany can gain valuable knowledge on buyingrecycled products and materials. Your company can alsoreceive recognition for its environmental efforts. There isno cost to join the Alliance and your company willreceive the following free resource materials:

l A 30-page guidebook on how to implement a recycledproduct purchasing program in your company.

l A free subscription to the quarterly newsletter, the BuyRecycled NewsLine, with information on recycledproducts and tips on buying recycled.

l Free industry-specific guides and briefs that will save youtime and resources.

l In addition, you may receive discounts on recycledproduct guides and publications.

How To Join The Alliance?Joining the Alliance simply requires a company to make avoluntary commitment to increase its recycled productpurchases -a move that will benefit your company andthe environment. To make this commitment, complete theAlliance Charter on the following page and fax it to617-236-7715 or 413-443-8123.

National Buy RecycledBusiness Alliance

15

The National Recycling Coalition’s Buy Recycled Business Alliance

Charter

We commit to buying recycled.We commit to buying recycled.

As a Participant in the NationalRecycling Coalition’s Buy RecycledCampaign, we are committed toincreasing the procurement ofproducts with recycled content.

Our objectives:Our objectives:

n To facilitate the increasedprocurement in our business ofproducts with recycled content; and

n To increase the understanding of thevalue, reliability and performance ofproducts with recycled content.

We will:We will:

n Survey our current usage of recycledcontent products and report to NRC;and

n Report on progress annually to NRC.

We are participating with a diverse groupof businesses to demonstrate that“Buying Recycled,” as part of anintegrated effort, is a practical market-based solution to one of today’senvironmental problems.

Company: _____________________________________________________________

O fficer’s Signature:______________________________________________________

Date:__________________________________________________________________

Printed N am e:__________________________________________________________

Title:__________________________________________________________________

Street A ddress:_________________________________________________________

City: ____________________ State:____________ ZIP: ______________________

Phone: _______________________________Fax:_____________________________

N o. of Em ployees:_______________ SIC Code: ____________________________

Please return this form to: The M assachusetts Buy Recycled Business A lliance376 Boylston Street - Suite 303Boston, M A 02116Phone: (617) 236-7715Fax: (617) 236-7141 or (413) 443-8123

TM

16

Appendix B

3 Com CorporationAlexander Bloomstein, Esq.Alliance Book ManufacturingAlta Resource Management ServicesAlternative ResourcesAmerican Steel & AluminumAMPADAnderson & KreigerATLON Laboratories, Inc.Baird House B & BBecton DickinsonBerkshire Marketing Group, Inc.Berkshire Natural Resources CouncilBerkshire Plastics NetworkBoston Edison CompanyBoston ElectronicsBoston Park Plaza Hotel & TowersBright HorizonsCains Foods, Inc.Canyon RanchCenter for Ecological TechnologyCharles River RecreationColdar Business ServicesColebrook CorporationColonial Management Associates, Inc.Commonwealth PrintingCopley Square HotelCrane & CompanyCrittenton Hastings HouseDelta Dental Plan of MassachusettsDennis K. Burke, Inc.Dr. Richard Newburg D.M.D.Dunn & Company, Inc.DuPontDuracellE-Call, Inc.Earth Safe, Inc.Ecotrek, Inc.Environmental PartnersEnviroproducts CorporationEpiscopal Diocese of MassachsuettsERC Wiping Products, Inc.ESP Lock ProductsFenwal Safety SystemsFuss & O’Neill, Inc.Gannett Massachusetts Supply Co.GE-Environmental & Facilities

Global Balance CompanyGlobal Gourmet, Inc.Global TraderGlobe Rubber Works, Inc.Gorman Richardson ArchitectsGraphic Impact Signs, Inc.Green AuditH&R 1871, Inc.Harvard Univ. -Dept. of EconomicsHighland Laboratories, Inc.Hill-Rom Company - N.E. RegionHyde Manufacturing Company, Inc.International Beam Welding Corp.Ionics, Inc.ITW DevconJames River/Dixie CutleryJiminy Peak Mt. ResortJohn R. Lyman CompanyJudd Paper CompanyKamel Hassan’s Barn, Inc.Katz, Murphy & GreenwaldKimball FarmsKoehler ManufacturingLee Lime CorporationLee Plastics, Inc.Lee V.N.A., Inc.Manufacturing Partnership of W. MAMary Kraus, ArchitectMass. Water Resources AuthorityMassachusetts Port AuthorityMerrimac Paper CompanyMicro Abrasives CorporationMotherwear, Inc.New England Cartographics, Inc.New England Electric System Co.New England Paper CompanyNew England Waterworks AssociationNorth Adams State CollegeNorton CompanyNTS Registration ServicesNYNEXPacer SystemsPhotofabrication Engineering, Inc.PLANERGY, Inc.Potts DesignPrinciple Profits Asset ManagementQuality ImageRecycled Office Products, Inc.

Massachusetts MembersBuy Recycled Business Allianceas of November 1996as of November 1996

17

Recycled Paper Printing, Inc.RecycLineRelief ResourcesRizzo AssociatesRoberts & Flint RealtySelecTech, Inc.Sentinel/Amersham CorporationShare Group, Inc.Shea’s Floor ConnectionSheppard Envelope Co.Spir-It, Inc.Techrite UnlimitedTexas InstrumentsTexas Instruments - Metals & Controls GroupTextronThe Berkshire Gas CompanyThe Berkshire HiltonThe Green Paint CompanyThe Lenox hotelThe Rockport Company, Inc.Tighe & Bond, Inc.TRW Fasteners DivisionU.S. Postal Service - Springfield DistrictUnWrapped, Inc.UT/Adaptive Optics Associationvan Schouwen AssociatesVarian Ion Implant SystemsVeryfine Products, Inc.Walden ResearchWhiteford EggsWiltec, Inc.Wood Recycling, Inc.Woods Hole Oceanographic InstituteWorcester Envelope CompanyWordWorks Advertising

Massachusetts Members (continued)

Recycled paintgoes through the

same qualitycontrol as virgin

paint and can beless expensive.

18

Appendix C The Federal Government’sBuy Recycled ProgramThe federal government, with its enormous purchasingpower, has had a positve impact on the marketplacefor recycled products. The US EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) provides information thatcan help you identify products which are readilyavailable and cost competitive. You may want to useor exceed EPA guidelines in selecting recycledproducts or establishing buy recycled policies.

In 1993, President Clinton signed the Federal Acquisition,Recycling, and Waste Prevention Executive Order. TheOrder’s main goal is to have all Executive andgovernment agencies incorporate recycling and buyingrecycled as part of their daily business. Underlying goalsare to promote environmentally conscious consumerism,serve as a role model for businesses and the public, createjobs, and encourage new technology and efficient use ofnatural resources. The Executive Order requires allfederal purchases of uncoated printing and writing paperto contain a minimum of 20% post-consumer materialsand 30% by the end of 1998.

In response to the Executive Order, the EPA developedComprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG) thatdesignates 19 new products (and incorporates fivepreviously designated items) in seven product categoriesthat procuring agencies (and government contractors thatuse appropriated federal funds) are required to purchasewith recycled content. The agencies themselves must meetthe EPA guidelines, eliminate barriers to buying recycledsuch as unnecessary brightness specifications for paper,set forth goals and reviews of their programs, and set upagency award programs to promote awareness.

To help agencies comply with the buy-recycledrequirements, EPA has issued non-regulatory RecoveredMaterials Advisory Notice (RMAN). The RMANrecommends levels of recycled content for a variety ofrecycled products based on EPA’s in-depth, currentmarket research concerning the availability and quality ofproducts in these categories. A select list of RMAN levelsis shown on page 19.

EPA’s RecoveredEPA’s RecoveredMaterialsMaterials

Advisory NoticeAdvisory Notice(RMAN)(RMAN)

EPA’sEPA’sComprehensiveComprehensive

ProcurementProcurementGuidelines (CPG)Guidelines (CPG)

The Executive Ordersigned in 1993 requiresall federal purchases ofuncoated printing and

writing paper to containa minimum of 20%

post-consumer materialsand 30% by the

end of 1998.

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EPA 1996 Buy Recycled Series provides the Recovered Materials Advisory Notice levels for therecycled product categories listed below and background information about CPG and RMAN.

Transportation Products (EPA530-F-96-011) April 1996.Park and Recreation Products (EPA530-F-96-012) April 1996.Non-Paper Office Products (EPA530-F-96-013) April 1996.Paper Products (EPA530-F-96-014) June 1996.

Federal Register notices establishing the CPG (60FR 21370/EPA530-Z-95-006) and the RMAN (60FR21386/EPA530-Z-95-007), May 1, 1995.

Transportation Products Containing Recovered Materials (EPA530-B-95-006), June 1995. Listsmanufacturers and suppliers of traffic cones and barricades containing recovered materials.

EPA Issues Comprehensive Procurement Guideline (EPA530-F-95-010). This four-page fact sheet providesgeneral information about the CPG and the development of affirmative procurement programs.

EPA’s Recovered Materials Advisory Notice (RMAN) LevelsEPA’s Recovered Materials Advisory Notice (RMAN) Levelsfor Several Product Categories:for Several Product Categories:

Traffic Cones:Plastic (PVC and LDPE) 50-100% recovered materialCrumb Rubber 50-100% recovered material

Traffic Barricades:Plastic(HPDE,LDPE,PET) 80-100% post-consumerSteel 80-100% post-consumerFiberglass 100% recovered material

Non-PaperOffice Products

TransportationProducts

Playground Surfaces:Plastic or Rubber 90-100% post-consumer

Running Tracks:Plastic or Rubber 90-100% post-consumer

Recycling Containers and Waste Receptacles:Plastic 20-100% post-consumerSteel 25-100% recovered material

Plastic Desktop Organizers (Polystyrene) 25-80% post-consumerPlastic Covered Binders 25-50% recovered materialPlastic Trash Bags 10-100% post-consumer

Park andRecreation

Products

Carbonless Copy Paper 20% post-consumerBathroom Tissue 20-60% post-consumerPaper Towels 40-60% post-consumerPaper Napkins 30-60% post-consumerGeneral Purpose Industrial Wipers 40% post-consumer

Paper Products

EPA PublicationsPublications on buying recycled and the Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines are available fromthe EPA. To order, call 1-800-424-9346 (or 800-553-7672 for the hearing impaired) from Mondaythrough Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST.

20

As part of the long term plan to close the recycling loop,encourage waste diversion, and promote economicdevelopment, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts iscommited to increasing its purchases of recycled products.From fiscal year ’92 - ’96, Massachusetts’ purchases ofrecycled products grew from $2.3 million to over $20million. Dozens of recycled products are available to stateagencies and political subdivisions through state priceagreements, including:

l 20% post-consumer copy paper l plastic bagsl computer paper l cardboard boxesl recycled anti-freeze l re-refined oill printing paper l compost binsl various office supplies l paper towelsl recycling set out containers l toilet paperl remanufactured office panels l traffic conesl remanufactured toner cartridges l napkins

By the Spring of 1996, statewide contracts for copy,computer, and printing paper, and envelopes required thepurchase of paper with a minimum of 20% post-consumerrecycled content.

The state’s buy recycled program, coordinated by the MAOperational Services Division and funded by theExecutive Office of Environmental Affairs andDepartment of Environmental Protection, providesagencies and political subdivisions with a number of freeresources and services. These include presentations andworkshops, recycled fact sheets, a recycled productsguide to state contracts (updated every six months),vendor and product information, assistance inidentifying suppliers of recycled products andpreparing specifications, an annual Buy RecycledVendor Fair and Conference, and an environmentalpage on the Internet (Massachusetts home page).

For more information about the state’s buy recycled effortsor to receive assistance, please contact the OperationalServices Division (617) 727-7500, Eric Friedman at ext.351 or Marcia Deegler at ext. 356.

Appendix D

From fiscal year ’92 -’96, Massachusetts’

purchases of recycledproducts grew from $2.3

million to over $20million.

For more informationcontact the OperationalServices Division (617)

727-7500, Eric Friedmanat ext. 351 or MarciaDeegler at ext. 356.

Dozens of recycledproducts are available to

state agencies andpolitical subdivisions

through state priceagreements.

Massachusetts’Buy Recycled Program

Various terms are used in marketing a product thatcontains recycled materials. Below are definitions of themost common terms used.

Recycled simply means that a product contains somerecovered materials. Be aware that “recycled” does notmean that a product contains 100% recovered materials.Nor does it always mean that a product containspost-consumer materials.

Recovered Materials is a broad term referring to materialsdiverted from the waste stream to be used in themanufacturing process. Recovered does not differentiatebetween post-consumer or pre-consumer recoveredmaterials.

Recyclable means “able to recycle.” A material is onlyrecyclable if you can recycle it in your business or localcommunity’s recycling program.

Post-consumer materials are materials that have beenpurchased, used, and collected in recycling programswhether curb-side or office. Examples of post-consumermaterials include, office paper, glass bottles, steel cans,corrugated cardboard boxes.

Pre-Consumer materials (also known as Post Industrial)are generated by manufacturers and product converters.Instead of being trashed, materials such as trimmings,damaged or obsolete products, or overruns are collectedand incorporated into a manufacturing process. Manytextile, plastic and paper products frequently contain pre-consumer materials.

RecoveredRecoveredMaterialsMaterials

RecycledRecycled

Post-ConsumerPost-ConsumerMaterialsMaterials

Pre-ConsumerPre-ConsumerMaterialsMaterials

RecyclableRecyclable

Buy Recycled Terms

Furniture - Pens - Rulers - Diskettes - Com-puter Paper - Pencils - Calendars - Envelopes -Letterhead - Retread Tires - Re-refined Oil -Plastic Lumber - Fax Paper - Wiping Cloths -Fences - Message Pads - Carpets - Paper Tow-els - Copy Paper - Note Pads - Tiles - Card-board Boxes - Binders - Fabric - Fenders - TrafficCones - Carbonless Forms - Push Pins - Pens -Waste Baskets - Mats - Mulch - Signs - PrintingPaper - Report Covers - Park Benches - Scis-sors - Bubblewrap - Kraft Paper - Toilet Tissue- Insulation - Plastic Bags - Napkins - CarpetUnderlay - Decking - Drawing Paper - RegisterTape - Backpacks - Vinyl Flooring - ServingTrays - Mugs - Piping - T-Shirts - Pallets - La-bels - Bumpers - Antifreeze - Greeting Cards -File Storage Boxes - Animal Bedding - ClothBags - Traffic/Safety Barricades - Paperboard -Compost - Exercise Mats - Laser Toner Car-tridges - Mailing Envelopes - Ceramic TilesFood Wrapping - Silverware - Business Cards -Inkjet Cartridges - Compost Bins - File Folders- Packaging Materials - Asphalt Mix - Benches

WhatRecycled ProductsCan I Buy?