Archive

EXECUTIVE ORDER

ON FEDERAL ACQUISITION, RECYCLING & WASTE REDUCTION

** Significantly reduce the burden on landfills.

** All federal purchases of printing and writing paper must contain:

- 20 percent post-consumer material by the end of 1994, and 30 percent by the end of 1998.

Or, to encourage innovative production techniques and reduce landfill waste, paper made with 50 percent recovered byproducts from the production of goods other than paper or textiles, provided that the waste would otherwise end up in a landfill.

** No increase in federal spending on paper goods; agencies are required to make up any price increase by cutting waste and using less paper.

** Create a strong market for recycled paper now being collected by more than 5,500 community recycling programs operating in the United States -- programs that reach more than one-third of all Americans. Localities currently spend more than $11 billion per year to dispose of this material.

** Spur investment in recycling technologies, and create needed jobs, primarily in the recycling sector and in cities.

Removal of unnecessary brightness specifications. GSA will revise all paper specifications in order to allow agencies to acquire paper made with processes that minimize emissions of harmful byproducts, including chlorinated compounds.

A streamlined EPA process to designate recycled and environmentally preferable products for federal procurement, to ensure that agencies purchase the most environmentally sound products.

Mandated federal procurement of re-refined lubricating oil and retread tires, in compliance with EPA procurement guidelines for these materials, within 180 days.

Federal environmental executive and agency environmental executives at each department will take responsibility carrying out the order.