INTRODUCTORY F.N.

NO.

ONEIDA COUNTY BOARD OF LEGISLATORS

Resolution No.

INTRODUCED BY: Messrs. Tanoury, Furgol and Scott

2ND BY:

RE: RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF LEGISLATORS OF ONEIDA COUNTY , NEW YORK , FOR THE ADOPTION OF A “Go Green” initiative” REGARDING THE PROCUREMENT OF RECYCLED PRODUCTS

WHEREAS, from this day on it shall be the policy of Oneida County to conserve and protect natural resources for current and future citizens; and

WHEREAS, the County's participation in and promotion of recycling programs can significantly reduce the volume of material entering the waste stream thereby conserving natural resources and extending landfill life expectancy; and

WHEREAS, in order for recycling programs to be effective, markets for recycled post-consumer materials must be developed; and

WHEREAS, the implementation of a procurement policy for Oneida County would contribute to the conservation and protection of natural resources; and

WHEREAS, the County's commitment to the purchase of recycled materials will help expand the markets for recycled products and serve as a model for private industry and local businesses; now therefore be it hereby

RESOLVED, that the Board of Legislators of Oneida County, New York, herewith adopts a “Go Green” initiative outlined as follows:

RECYCLED PRODUCTS PROCUREMENT

Definitions of Recycled Content

A. Post-consumer recovered materials. A finished material which would normally be disposed of as a solid waste, having completed its life cycle as a consumer item. Examples of post-consumer recovered materials include, but are not limited to; used newspaper, office paper, yard waste, plastic bottles, oil, asphalt, concrete and tires.

B. Pre-consumer recovered material. Material or by-products generated after manufacturing of a product is completed, but before the product reaches the end-use consumer. Examples of pre-consumer recovered materials include, but are not limited to; obsolete inventories of finished goods, rejected unused stock and paper wastes generated during printing, cutting and other converting operations. This category does not include mill or manufacturing trim, scrap or "broke," which is material generated at a manufacturing site and commonly reused within the manufacturing process. For example, pre-consumer paper waste sources are not considered "recycled." Components of a paper product include, but are not limited to; fibers recovered from waste water, trimmings of a paper machine rolls, sawdust, chips, wood slabs, other wood residue from a manufacturing process, and such materials sold between mills.

C. Total recovered material. The total pre- and post-consumer recovered material contained in a product.

Recycled Content Preference

It is recommended that Oneida County establish a policy, whenever practical, to purchase products which contain, in order of preference, the following:

1. The highest percentage of recycled content of "post-consumer recovered materials," available in the marketplace; and

2. The highest percentage of "pre-consumer recovered materials," available in the marketplace.

Recyclability and Waste Reduction

In addition to the recovered material content of a product, important criteria in selecting products shall also be:

1. The ability of a product and its packaging to be reused, reconditioned for use, or recycled through existing recycling collection programs; and

2. The volume and toxicity of waste and by-products of a given product and its packaging generate in their manufacture, use, recycling and disposal. Products and packaging designed to minimize waste and toxic by-products in their manufacture, use, recycling and disposal shall be preferred.

Purchase Requisition, Specification and Bid Solicitation

Product specification and requisitions for products shall conform to the following guidelines:

1. Product specifications and requisitions shall not indiscriminately require the use of products made from virgin materials, nor specifically exclude the use of recycled-content products;

2. Performance standards must be reasonable and related to function, and shall not be designed to exclude the purchase of recycled-content products;

3. To the extent such information is known, County staff shall identify to the Purchasing Department (in the Purchase Requisition) products available with recycled content and vendors from who such products are available.

4. The Purchasing Agent shall have the authority to specify a minimum "recycled-content" standard in bid solicitations to accomplish the purposes of this policy.

Promotion

All County purchased and printed recycled paper products shall be labeled with the standard phrase: "Printed on Recycled Paper." All County departments or agencies shall be required to use recycled products for their business cards, letterhead stationery, envelopes and copy paper. All said documents shall be printed, with the standard phrase: "Printed on Recycled Paper" thereby promoting the use of post-consumer content.

Certification

All product providers shall be required to maintain appropriate documentation verifying either the minimum or the exact percentage of post-consumer recovered material and total recovered material contained in products purchased by the County. If no recovered material has been used, then a product provider would certify zero recycled content.

Implementation

It is recommended that the purchasing agent develop administrative procedures to achieve the purposes of this resolution and implement the provisions of this policy, including procedures for waiving a requirement of this policy in any necessary circumstance.

Conclusion

The future of recycling depends upon the creation of stable and sustaining markets for recycled secondary products. It is recommended, therefore, that Oneida County enact a procurement policy, which supports the development of stable markets for recyclables and supports the County's ongoing recycling ethic and commitment to progressive integrated waste management solutions.

APPROVED: Ways & Means Committee ( )

DATED:

Adopted by the following roll call vote:

AYES____NAYS____ABSENT____