[SustainableNC] State Agency Waste Reduction and Buy-Recycled Activities

[Scott Mouw]

State Agency colleagues:

The FY 2001 Report on State Agency Reduction of Solid Waste Disposal is now
viewable at: www.p2pays.org/buyrecycled
State agencies are directed to reduce the quantity of solid waste disposed
by G.S. 130A-309.14 and by Executive Order 156
(http://www.p2pays.org/ref/03/02221.pdf) in support of the State government
environmental sustainability initiative, N.C. Project Green. 

This document fulfills the reporting mandate of Executive Order No. 156. It
compiles waste reduction reports required from 26 state government
departments and offices, 18 constituent institutions of the University of
North Carolina, and 58 community colleges. Reports were received from 71
percent of required agencies. The Division of Pollution Prevention and
Environmental Assistance (DPPEA) is the agency charged with receiving data
from agency reports and publishing this summary. Copies of past reports may
be obtained by calling (919) 715-6500 or (800) 763-0136.

State agency performance in waste reduction and recycling improved during
the past fiscal year. Agencies as a whole are diverting more material from
disposal than they did five or six years ago. Yet data summarized from
fiscal year 2001 reports suggest that much variability still exists among
agencies in level of commitment, effort, and performance. Several agencies
have not reported totals for several years, making it difficult to get an
accurate reading of waste reduction and recycling initiatives throughout the
state.

At the same website noted above, you can also view FY 2001 Report on State
Agency Purchases of Recycled Products.  The report shows that state agencies
continue to make progress on the purchase of high quality and affordable
recycled products.  Twenty-eight agencies succeeded in meeting the mandate
that all paper purchased have recycled content (please see
http://www.p2pays.org/ref/03/02243.pdf for information on the high quality
of recycled paper).  State agencies also increased purchasing of non-paper
recycled products and a number of recycled products were added to state term
contracts, including API specification re-refined motor oil.  It is
important to note in the face of the current budget crisis, that all
categories of re-refined motor oil are of the same quality but cheaper than
their virgin equivalents - see http://www.doa.state.nc.us/PandC/405j.htm for
product price information.   

While you visit the reports at: www.p2pays.org/buyrecycled, feel free to
check out all the great resources listed on the Environmentally Preferable
Purchasing website. 
 
Please note that Executive Order 156 requires agencies and universities to
designate lead coordinators responsible for recycling and for
promoting/ensuring environmentally preferable purchasing.  Is your agency
following this requirement?

Please share this information with appropriate staff in your agency.  If you
have questions about the reports or related issues, please call Scott Mouw
at 919-715-6512 or email scott.mouw at ncmail.net