State Agencies Buy Recycled Products Why it matters... An important step in completing the recycling loop is to purchase recycled-content products. When state agencies "buy recycled" they support the markets for materials that are collected in recycling programs at home and in the workplace. Using recycled-content products conserves natural resources, reduces waste and extends the life of our landfills. In fiscal years 2000 through 2006, state agencies purchased more than $11 million worth of recycled-content products. Recycling is more than just collecting materials such as aluminum, glass, steel, paper, cardboard and plastic that would otherwise be thrown away. Recycling also includes manufacturing new products using those materials and purchasing the new products. This last step is how state government can use its buying power to make recycling a success in Ohio. It's so easy... Recycled-content products are everywhere! Chances are you are already "buying recycled." Many common office items are made with recycled materials. Look for recycled-content copier paper, folders, labels, notebooks, computer paper, note pads, pencils and desk trays. Around the workplace, recycled-content products include paper towels, napkins and tissue, carpeting, wall covering, floor tile and trash bags. Recycled plastic lumber is made into outdoor benches, tables, barricades and fencing. Boxes and cartons used for packaging often contain recycled materials. What to look for... A recycled-content product is an item that contains recovered materials. Recovered materials are wastes that have been diverted from conventional disposal (landfills or incinerators) for another use. Recovered materials include both pre-consumer and post-consumer wastes. Pre-consumer materials are generated by manufacturers and product converters, and consist of scrap, trimmings and overruns. Post-consumer materials are primarily the recyclables collected in commercial and residential recycling programs, such as office paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, plastics and metals. A product does not have to contain 100 percent recovered materials to be considered "recycled," but clearly the higher the percentage of recycled content, the greater the amount of waste that is diverted from disposal. Recycled-content products may contain some pre-consumer waste, some post-consumer waste or both. What you can do... Start thinking "buy recycled" every time you make a purchase. Check supplier catalogs for their listing of recycled-content products. When you are unsure about any product, ask the vendor if it is made using recovered materials. Let your suppliers know you are interested in purchasing recycled-content products. Look for new products made with recycled materials. When ordering from state term contracts, look for items identified as recycled-content and purchase these whenever you can. Many recycled items are found on contract including copy paper, printing paper, index cards, folders, paper products, office supplies, paper towels, napkins, tissue and trash bags. When requesting bids for purchases, ask suppliers what is the percentage of recovered materials in their product. You may be able to specify a minimum amount of recycled-content in certain products. If your fiscal group will make payment based upon an invoice, make certain the invoice is marked to clearly identify the recycled-content items. When making purchases for recycled-content products with your State Payment Card, be sure to write "recycled content" under the item description column of the purchase log. Three cheers!... If you are involved with purchasing paperwork, there is an easy way to track purchases of recycled-content products so your agency will receive credit for doing its part. The Ohio Administrative Knowledge System (OAKS) has a built-in coding system for recycled-content products. Use this accounting code on purchase orders and disbursements to automatically record a recycled-content purchase for your agency. It's simple! Check the listing of OAKS account codes for items such as supplies and materials, motor vehicle, air and watercraft items, maintenance and repair products, printing, binding and advertising materials and miscellaneous equipment. Goods purchased or produced by state agencies for resale can also be coded "recycled." Getting started... The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Recycling &Litter Prevention can help your agency to increase its purchases of recycled-content products. An annual report, Recycled Products Purchased by the State of Ohio, totals the dollar amounts and categories of recycled-content products purchased by all state agencies. Remember - use your buying power to make recycling a success in Ohio. One product at a time, state agencies can make a difference in reducing waste and conserving natural resources. For more information on how to "buy recycled," please contact Larry Cooper at (614) 265-6401.