Many resources are available to help you learn more about recycled-content products (RCP) and other environmentally preferable products (EPP). The resources are organized into three specialized sections, in addition to the general resources listed on this page:
- Audience-Specific. These resources were designed with specific audiences in mind, such as state agencies or schools, but they may be useful to others.
- Product Category-Specific. These resources highlight specific product categories, such as paper or glass.
- Purchasing and Tracking Tools. This page includes directories, databases, catalogs, product libraries/collections, etc.
You may also be interested in these other CalRecycle purchasing resources:
General Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Resources
- Buy Green
- CalRecycle Buy Recycled Publications
- Economics: Studies on the economics of recycling were conducted for CalRecycle and the former CIWMB.
- Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Best Practices Manual. Provided by the California Department of General Services as part of its Green California effort. DGS also developed a Buying Green Guide webpage for buyers.
- The Government Purchasing Project works to encourage the government to use its immense purchasing power to promote safe, cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentally-sound products.
- Model Green Procurement Specifications and Purchasing Guidelines. Northeast Recycling Council (NERC)
- National Center for Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery (NC3R). NC3R is internationally recognized as a leading center for applied research in remanufacturing.
- Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC) has compiled information that will assist purchasers in their efforts to establish or maintain an environmental purchasing program.
- Resource Recycling. This site contains information on periodicals, directories, and services related to recycling.
- Responsible Purchasing Network (RPN) provides general information about environmentally preferable purchasing and specific information about how state and local governments can reduce the environmental impacts of their purchasing decisions.
- State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign: Steps to Implement a Successful Buy Recycled Program.
- State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign: Buying Recycled Products. Requirements and Reportable Products Categories.
Reuse Resources
- CalRecycle Reuse Site
- Garbage Reincarnation is a nonprofit organization that promotes reuse in Sonoma County. Call (707) 888-8257 for more information.
- L.A. Shares is a nonprofit materials reuse organization that links schools and other nonprofit organizations with local businesses whose surplus goods and materials are needlessly cluttering up warehouses, or might otherwise be headed for landfills.
- Urban Ore, located in Berkeley, California, buys, trades, and sells used or surplus building materials, household items, furniture, fixtures, art, and computers. Call (510) 548-4515 for more information.