Appendices

• • Appendix A: Definitions
  • Appendix B: Waste Reduction Resources for State Government Agencies
  • Appendix C: Sample Waste Reduction and RCP Procurement Policy Statements

Appendix A: Definitions

Recycled Content Product (RCP) Procurement. The term recycled content product procurement refers to purchasing practices that support markets for recycled materials and minimize environmental impact.

California State Agency. Refers to every State office, department, division, board, commission, or other agency of the State of California.

Waste Reduction. The term waste reduction, as used in this document, refers to the comprehensive efforts of waste prevention, reuse, recycling/collection, and procurement practices.

Appendix B: Waste Reduction Resources for State Government Agencies

General Resources. CalRecycle’s resource page for State agencies includes links to pertinent information, including the other programs in this section.

CalRecycle Publications. CalRecycle’s online publications catalog provides information on more than 500 CalRecycle publications. Most are available on line or can be downloaded. Hard copies can be ordered via e-mail.

Business Resource Efficiency and Waste Reduction Program. Developed primarily to assist the business community to divert waste, this program provides fact sheets and guides on waste prevention and resource efficiency. Many of the materials are applicable to any office setting and are available to California State agencies. For more information on CalRecycle’s Business Assistance resources, please visit our Business Assistance Portal for more information on growing or greening a business.

State Agency Waste Management Manual. The CalRecycle coordinates implementation of waste prevention, reuse, and recycling programs at State-owned and leased buildings and facilities including offices, prisons, youth authority facilities, developmental centers, hospitals, maintenance facilities, and parks.

The Board coordinates and assists State facilities by:

• • Managing State recycling contracts.
  • Training and advising State employees and recycling coordinators.
  • Acting as a liaison between State facilities and recyclers.
  • Providing recycling information, supplies, and equipment.
  • Gathering and reporting data on materials collected for recycling.

As of January 1999, Project Recycle was coordinating and monitoring programs at more than 1,800 State facilities. During 1998 over 63,000 tons of material were reported collected for recycling from California State facilities.

State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign. The State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC) consists of mandates for State agencies to purchase recycled-content products (RCP) in 11 categories ranging from copy paper to steel products. The mandates, located in the Public Contract Code (PCC), require each State agency to submit a Recycled Product Procurement Plan and a Recycled Product Procurement Report annually to CalRecycle. The reports are used to determine compliance with the RCP procurement mandates.

The State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign provides a recycled-content product database for State agencies to assist in procuring recycled-content products, and a guidance document to assist agencies with both procurement and reporting compliance. For more information, visit the SABRC Web site.

Appendix C: Sample Waste Reduction and RCP Procurement Policy Statements

The following are sample waste reduction policies and individual action items to support an agency’s steps toward reducing waste. Agencies may need to add, modify, or delete items depending on the particular goals of the organization.

Waste Reduction Policy Statements (General)

1. 1. It is the policy of the (Agency) to assist local government and business in meeting California’s waste diversion mandates by practicing waste reduction and recycled content product procurement in all aspects of its internal and external operations.
   2. The (Agency) shall continually strive to minimize the generation of waste and support markets for recycled materials through waste prevention, reuse, collection/recycling and composting, and the procurement of recycled content products.
   3. The (Agency) recognizes the trust placed in it by the people of California to wisely use resources in the most effective and efficient manner possible so that waste is minimized in all areas of operation, so that procured products contain the maximum amount of recycled content, and so that savings are accounted for and measured.

Waste Prevention Policy Statements and Action Items

The (Agency) shall:

1. Use available information technology to maximize the efficient use of paper.

1. 1. Set all electronic systems to default double-sided printing, including individual and network software.
   2. Print all documents and communications double-sided.
   3. Use electronic mail and voice mail.
   4. Promote electronic access of agency information and publications to customers via the Internet prior to providing paper copies.

2. Review standard documents, templates, and publications for waste reduction opportunities.

1. 1. Eliminate unnecessary reports and reduce report size.
   2. Use 1/2 sheets of paper for fax cover sheets instead of a full sheet (and use both sides).
   3. Design mailers to avoid use of envelopes.
   4. Proofread documents on screen and preview before printing.
   5. Annually purge and remove duplicate names and out of date entries from mailing lists.

3. Submit internal documents with minor legible handwritten corrections.

4. Utilize a centralized mailing system.

5. Review standard distribution/circulation procedures for waste reduction opportunities

1. 1. Circulate memos, documents, reports, periodicals, and publications.
   2. Post announcements on bulletin boards or circulate copies.

6. Maximize waste prevention practices in the custodial, maintenance and landscaping practices of state-owned buildings. Contractual arrangements with facility management in leased buildings shall maximize waste prevention in the custodial, maintenance and landscaping practices.

1. 1. Encourage cafeteria discounts for use of own cup, plate, and utensils.
   2. Encourage use of air dryers or cloth wipes in restrooms instead of paper towels.
   3. Encourage landscape maintenance to implement grasscycling.

Reuse Policy Statements and Action Items

The (Agency) shall:

1. Establish systems that routinely reuse paper and other office supplies.

1. 1. Reuse paper printed on one side:
      • In fax machines.
      • In copiers for draft copies, except where specifically prohibited by equipment warranties.
      • To make scratch paper and pads through DGS.
   2. Reuse envelopes by placing a label over the old address.
   3. Institute an office “trading post” next to supplies area to reuse office supplies, etc.
   4. Investigate whether local libraries, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, etc. could use old trade journals or magazines.

Employee Education/Outreach Policy Statements and Action Items

The (Agency) shall:

1. Develop an ongoing employee education and outreach campaign.

1. 1. Use intranet (internal web site) to post in-house waste reduction information (policy, goals, procedures, and accomplishments) for easy reference.
   2. Provide all new employees with an in-house Waste reduction policy orientation.
   3. Conduct employee educational activities on at least a quarterly basis.

2. Become a government member of U.S. EPA’s WasteWi$e program to show commitment to waste reduction practices.

3. Ensure all (Agency) documents carry a recycled logo and/or environmental policy statement.

Recycling Collection Policy Statements and Action Items

The (Agency) shall:

1. Work with CalRecycle to set up, implement, or expand collection programs.

2. Utilize CalRecycle collection contracts when feasible.

3. Provide, at a minimum, for collection of the following materials: white paper, newspaper, mixed paper, magazines, plastic, glass, and aluminum.

1. 1. Provide desktop recycling containers for employees.
   2. Provide clearly labeled recycling bins near copiers, shipping and receiving areas, and in employee eating areas.
   3. Print directly on envelopes rather than using labels to increase envelope recyclability.

4. Periodically increase the level of white paper recycling and correspondingly decrease contaminants in white paper bins.

1. 1. Don’t buy paper that is a contaminant in recycling, e.g., thermal fax paper, glossy/plastic coatings, envelopes with plastic windows, or bright colors (including goldenrod).
   2. Eliminate use of pressure sensitive adhesives.

Recycled Content Product Procurement Policy Statements and Action Items

The (Agency) shall:

1. Buy recycled-content products rather than nonrecycled content products. Quality and availability being comparable, the (Board/Agency) shall:

1. 1. Buy only white copy/xerographic paper with at least 30 percent postconsumer recycled content.
   2. Purchase the product with the greater recycled content when faced with a choice of two recycled products.
   3. Use recycled-only bids and RCP set-asides to purchase products.

2. Attain the mandated RCP procurement goals.

1. 1. Appoint SABRC contact.
   2. Require recycled content information for all of the products purchased.
   3. Track all RCP and non-RCP purchases within the product categories.
   4. Annually submit the SABRC procurement report and plan.

Prevention and Reuse Procurement Policy Statements and Action Items

The (Agency) shall:

1. Purchase products that prevent waste.

1. 1. Purchase high-quality, durable products.
   2. Purchase photocopiers with a fast, reliable duplex function designed for heavy loads.
   3. Purchase refillable pens.

2. Purchase used or reused products at every opportunity.

1. 1. Purchase reused diskettes.
   2. Reuse disks from software purchases.
   3. Purchase remanufactured toner cartridges.

2. Purchase products with no packaging, less packaging, or reusable packaging.

1. 1. Purchase products in bulk.
   2. Discuss with suppliers a reduction in the amount of packaging of the products purchased.

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