# Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Operational Services Division

# Playground Equipment (recycled plastic)---Procurement Language

Note: this is a contract excerpt from RFR FAC20.

## Product-Specific Language

[11. PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS]{.underline}

CATEGORY IV: PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

B. Mandatory Specifications

4.  All non-moving plastic and metal parts **must** be warranted for a
    minimum of ten (10) years against structural failure due to warping,
    sagging, cracking, corrosion, deterioration, or manufacturing
    defects.

5.  All playground equipment **must** include recycled plastic lumber in
    at least two (2) of the following applications: decking, sandbox
    borders, roofing, walls/partitions, facia inserts, other.

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6.  All plastic lumber used in playground equipment **must** contain a
    minimum of 90% post-consumer plastic and **must** not contain any
    fiberglass or other materials which may cause adverse skin reaction
    or other skin sensitivities.

7.  All plastic lumber **must** contain UV stabilizers and be color-fast
    throughout the entire material.

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9.  All steel and aluminum structures **must** be made from recycled
    materials.

## Other Applicable EPP Language

1.  [PURPOSE OF PROCUREMENT]{.underline}

The purpose of this procurement is to establish a statewide contract for
eight categories of recycled plastic products, including recycled
plastic lumber, recycled recreational and site amenity products,
recycled traffic control products, and other recycled plastic products.
In some cases recycled rubber products will also be accepted. This
contract will be an approved list of contractors who meet the minimum
mandatory requirements outlined in this RFR. The Commonwealth is
particularly interested in focusing on recycled plastic products for the
purpose of stimulating and strengthening markets for plastic materials
collected in recycling programs and encouraging new areas of economic
development.

[7. DEFINITIONS]{.underline}

**"post-consumer content,"** as used in this RFR, means materials in a
recycled product which are derived from businesses or consumers after
having served their intended uses, and which have been separated or
diverted from solid waste for the purpose of collection, recycling, and
disposition.

**"post-industrial materials"** refers to materials generated by
manufacturers or product converters, such as trimmings, overruns, and
obsolete products, that are incorporated back into the manufacturing
process of the same or a different product.

**"recyclability"** is the ability of a product or material to be
recovered from or otherwise diverted from the solid waste stream for the
purpose of recycling.

**"virgin products"** are those made with 100% new/raw materials and
contain no recycled content.

**"recovered materials"** are those materials recovered from either
industrial or consumer waste streams, including post-industrial,
pre-consumer, and post-consumer content.

[9. GENERAL CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS]{.underline}

All Contractors in each category **must** agree to:

-   Provide products which meet all specified minimum recycled content
    requirements; recycled content shall be based on the dry weight of
    the raw materials, exclusive of any additives such as adhesives,
    binders, coloring agents, or UV inhibitors.

It is **desirable** that:

-   Bidders offer recycling options to collect damaged or out-of-date
    products and recycle them into new product

-   Bidders offer decals, plaques, plates, or other types of products
    which can be affixed to or imprinted on products sold by the Bidder
    which identifies products as containing recycled plastic and other
    relevant information.

-   Bidders describe on a separate sheet any environmental efforts being
    undertaken other than those directly associated with this Contract.