1997 Buy-Recycled Series

Non-Paper Office Products

United States 

Environmental Protection 

Agency

EPA530-F-97-033

November 1997

http://www.epa.gov

Solid Waste

and Emergency Response

(5306W)

1EPA

The soda bottle you recycled at

lunch might end up back on your

desk as a recycled binder cover or

pencil holder. Used toner cartridges and

printer ribbons once considered “trash” are

now remanufactured and returned, providing your office with high performing products at considerable savings. 

Through the Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG), the

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designates items that

must contain recycled content when purchased by federal, state,

and local agencies or by government contractors using appropriated

federal funds. Among these items, EPA has designated several nonpaper office products. EPA’s research shows that the items designated in the CPG are of high quality, widely available, and

cost-competitive with virgin products. EPA also issues a non-regulatory companion piece—the Recovered Materials Advisory Notice

(RMAN)—that recommends levels of recycled content for these

items. To make it even easier to buy recycled, EPA updates the CPG

each year.

If you’re involved in purchasing office supplies, you know that

creating an efficient office environment means more than having a

good work force. It also means closing the recycling loop and creating a demand for the materials we collect for recycling each day.

Lead by example—buy recycled office products, such as trash bags,

plastic envelopes, and desktop accessories.

EcoPurchasing means considering attributes 

such as

❖

recycled content

toxicity

reusability

durability

repairability

❖

before you buy 

a product.

2 Printed on paper that contains at least 20 percent postconsumer fiber.
Recycling is more than just dropping off your cans, bottles, and

newspapers at the curb or at a

local collection facility. Diverting recyclables from the waste stream is only the

first step in the recycling process. The

second step occurs when companies use

these recyclables to manufacture new

products. The third step comes when you

purchase products made from recovered

materials. That’s how we close the loop.

To encourage the purchase of recycled

products, the Resource Conservation and

Recovery Act (RCRA) requires agencies to

buy recycled products. In addition,

President Clinton signed Executive Order

12873 in October 1993, which called for

an increase in the federal government’s

use of recycled-content products.

Developed in response to these directives,

the CPG requires federal agencies to give

preference to EPA-designated items made

with recovered materials. This, in turn,

supports recycling markets and allows

recycling to continue to expand. 

Issued in May 1995, the first CPG designated 19 new products in 7 product categories. Procuring agencies are required

to purchase these items with recycled

content. (A procuring agency is any federal, state, or local agency, or government

contractor, that uses appropriated federal

funds to purchase products.) A CPG

update (CPG II) was published in

November 1997, and designated an additional 12 items, including printer ribbons

and plastic envelopes. 

If your agency spends more than

$10,000 per year on a product designated

in the CPG, you are required to purchase

it with the highest recycled-content level

practicable. The CPG also applies to lease

contracts covering designated items. 

By May 1, 1996, your agency was

required to develop an affirmative procurement program (or modify its existing

program) to incorporate buy-recycled

requirements for recycling containers and

waste receptacles, plastic desktop accessories, binders, trash bags, and toner cartridges. It is not too late to develop your

affirmative procurement program if you

have not already done so. This effort

might involve reviewing your specifications for these products and eliminating

provisions that pose barriers to procuring

them with recycled content (such as aesthetic requirements unrelated to product

performance). Your agency also must

revise its affirmative procurement program to add the newly designated items—

printer ribbons and plastic envelopes—by

November 13, 1998. Also be aware that

paper envelopes were designated in CPG

I. Recommended recycled content ranges

for this item are addressed in the RMAN

for paper products.

The CPG acknowledges, however, that

specific circumstances might arise that

preclude the purchase of products made

with recovered materials. You may purchase designated items that do not contain recovered materials if you determine

that: (1) the price of a given designated

item made with recovered materials is

unreasonably high, (2) there is inadequate

competition (not enough sources of supply), (3) unusual and unreasonable delays

would result from obtaining the item, or

(4) it does not meet your agency’s reasonable performance specifications.

The CPG

requires 

federal 

agencies to

buy items

made from

recovered

materials.

What Is The CPG?
How Do I Purchase Recycled-Content Non-Paper Office Products?

To help agencies comply with the buy-recycled

requirements, EPA also issues guidance in

RMANs, which are designed to make it as easy as

possible to buy the designated items. The RMANs recommend recycled-content levels to look for when purchasing office products, as shown in the chart on the

next page. Following the RMANs’ recommended levels

will help ensure that your affirmative procurement program and standards meet the buy-recycled requirements.

Rather than specifying just one level of recycled

content, the RMANs recommend ranges that reflect

actual market conditions. The recommendations are

based on market research identifying recycled-content

products that are commercially available, are competitively priced, and meet buyers’ quality standards.

Refer to EPA’s Non-Paper Office Products

Containing Recovered Materials for a list of sources of

the designated items.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has been using Tyvek® envelopes

with a minimum of 25 percent postconsumer high density polyethylene

(HDPE) plastic ever since the product became available. In a typical year,

USPS spends more than $20 million on 120 million Tyvek® envelopes

nationwide, using them primarily for express mail and priority mail. USPS

staff credit the reliability, superior strength, and lightweight properties of

Tyvek® for its success in the USPS mail distribution network. The U.S.

General Services Administration (GSA) also cites the envelopes’ strength

and weight as reasons for their annual use of almost 2 million envelopes

nationwide at a purchasing cost of more than $400,000. For more information, contact Dick Lee of the USPS at 202 268-4153 or Cathy Ferreira of GSA

at 212 264-2683.

The state of Alabama has used reinked printer ribbons for years. The state

purchasing agency has ordered more than 3,000 reinked ribbons since

November 1991. The Alabama Department of Human Resources alone typically requests approximately 200 reinked ribbons per year. In addition, the

cost of the reinked ribbons is six times less than the cost of buying new ribbons and cartridges. For more information, contact John P. Patterson of the

state of Alabama at 334 242-3243 or Patricia Antle at 334 242-7253.

In 1993, the USPS district in Maine began purchasing reinked printer ribbons, in large part due to the environmental commitment of an individual in

the purchasing department. Today, the district is purchasing more than 150

ribbons a year from a local manufacturer, for both large and small impact

printers. The switch has worked out quite well. The reinked ribbons are onethird to one-half as expensive as virgin ribbons. Maine USPS staff members

are very pleased with the performance of the product, noting that the ribbons last as long, if not longer, than virgin ribbons. For more information,

contact Bob Kearney of the USPS at 207 828-8423.

Plastic Envelopes:

• Used in heavy-duty, 

security-related, and other

specialized mailing applications by the express mail,

banking, legal, and other

industries.

• Lightweight, tear-resistant,

durable, and water-resistant.

CASE STUDY: U.S. Postal Service & U.S. General Services Administration

Printer Ribbons:

• Reinked printer ribbons

are used ribbons in printer

cartridges that are reinked

using electromagnetic

machinery. Ribbons can be

reinked until they reach

the end of their useful life

and begin to fall apart.

• Reloaded printer ribbons

are new fabric ribbons that

are reloaded by vendors

when used ribbons run out

of ink. The printer cartridge is reused.

CASE STUDY: State of Alabama

CASE STUDY: U.S. Postal Service
1EPA’s recommendations do not preclude procuring agencies from purchasing non-paper office products manufactured

using other materials, such as wood or cloth. EPA simply recommends that procuring agencies, when purchasing nonpaper office products designated in the procurement guidelines, purchase these products containing recovered materials.

Recovered Material Content Recommendations

20 – 100% (postconsumer)

25 – 100%

25 – 50% (postconsumer)/25 – 50% (total)

40% (postconsumer)

40 – 80% (postconsumer)/100% (total)

25 – 80% (postconsumer)

25 – 50%

75 – 100% (postconsumer)/90 – 100% (total)

20% (postconsumer)/50% (total)

10 – 100% (postconsumer)

Return used toner cartridges for remanufacturing

and reuse or purchase a remanufactured or 

recycled-content replacement cartridge.

Procure printer ribbon reinking or reloading services or procure reinked or reloaded printer ribbons.

25% (postconsumer)/25 – 35% (total)

EPA’s Recommended Content Levels for Non-Paper Office Products

Non-Paper Office Product1

Recycling Containers and Waste Receptacles:

– Plastic

– Steel

– Paper

– Corrugated

– Solid Fiber Boxes

– Industrial Paperboard

Plastic Desktop Accessories (polystyrene)

including desk organizers, sorters, and trays,

and memo, note, and pencil holders

Binders:

– Plastic-covered

– Paper-covered

– Pressboard

Trash Bags (plastic)

Toner Cartridges

Printer Ribbons

Plastic Envelopes
How Do I Get More Information?

Information Available From EPA

This fact sheet and the following publications on

buying recycled products are available in electronic format on the Internet at

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/

procure.htm. Use Internet e-mail to order paper copies of documents. Include the requestor's name and mailing address on all

orders. Address e-mail to: rcra-docket@epamail.epa.gov. Text

of the following Federal Register notices can be found at

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/search.htm. Search by specific

day, by keywords, or by accessing the Government Printing

Office database.

Paper copies also may be ordered by calling the RCRA

Hotline. Callers within the Washington Metropolitan Area must

dial 703 412-9810 or TDD 703 412-3323 (hearing impaired).

Long-distance callers may call 800 424-9346 or TDD 800 553-

7672. The RCRA Hotline operates weekdays, from 9:00 a.m. to

6:00 p.m., EST.

❖ EPA Issues Comprehensive Procurement Guideline

(EPA530-F-95-010). This 4-page fact sheet provides general

information about the CPG and the development of affirmative

procurement programs.

❖ Federal Register (FR) notices promulgating CPG I (60 FR

21370/EPA530-Z-95-006) and RMAN I (60 FR 21386/EPA530-

Z-95-007), May 1, 1995. Federal Register notices promulgating CPG II (62 FR 60961/EPA530-Z-97-009) and the RMAN II

(62 FR 60975/EPA530-Z-97-010), November 13, 1997.

❖ Non-Paper Office Products Containing Recovered

Materials (EPA530-B-97-011). This list identifies manufacturers

and suppliers of non-paper office products containing recovered materials. (Each listing is based on information provided

by the manufacturer and does not constitute an endorsement

by EPA.)

❖ A Study of State and Local Government Procurement

Practices that Consider Environmental Performance of

Goods and Services (EPA742-R-96-007). This report provides important program elements and case studies of state

and county agencies purchasing environmentally preferable

products and services. For a copy of the report or more information on EPA's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP)

program, contact the Pollution Prevention Information

Clearinghouse at 401 M Street, SW. (7409), Washington, DC

20460. Phone: 202 260-1023. Fax: 202 260-4659. Visit the

EPP homepage at http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/p2home.

Other Sources of Information

❖ Buy Recycled Business Alliance. The

Alliance includes over 3,200 companies and

organizations committed to increasing their use

of recycled-content products and materials in their day-to-day

operations. The Alliance offers educational materials, a quarterly

newsletter, and product-specific guides. Public purchasing entities can join free of charge. For more information, contact Bonnie

Fedchock, National Recycling Coalition, 1727 King Street, Suite

105, Alexandria, VA 22314-2720. Phone: 703 683-9025, Ext.

209. Fax: 703 683-9026.

❖ DLA Environmental Products Catalogue. This document is

an important source of supply information for environmental

products from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). It includes

items from all DLA inventory control points containing recycled

material, including printer toner cartridges. For more information, call 800 352-2852 or fax 800 352-3291. Military customers can call DSN 695-5699 or fax DSN 695-5695. For

information on the CD-ROM version of the catalogue, contact

the DLA Service Center at 616 961-4459 or DSN 932-4459.

Homepage: http://www.dscr.dla.mil.

❖ General Services Administration. GSA publishes various

supply catalogs, guides, and schedules for recycled-content

products available through the Federal Supply Service. For

copies of the following documents and other information, contact GSA, Centralized Mailing List Service (7CAFL), 4900

Hemphill Street, P.O. Box 6477, Fort Worth, TX 76115-9939.

Phone: 817 334-5215. Fax: 817 334-5227. You can also

access GSA Advantage!, GSA’s Internet-based online ordering

system, to order any GSA product at

https://www.fss.gsa.gov/cgi-bins/advwel.

— Recycling Collection Containers and Specialty Waste

Receptacles, Federal Supply Schedule Group 72, Part

7, Schedule B. Lists a variety of containers and receptacles available for purchase. 

— New Item Introductory Schedule. Lists recycled

reloaded printer ribbons for purchase.

— Next Day Delivery Office Supplies, Federal Supply

Schedule Group 75, Part 3, Section A. Lists 25 percent

recovered-content plastic envelopes for purchase for next

day delivery.

— Environmental Products Guide. This guide is designed

to help procurement officials identify environmentally

preferable products and services. It contains nearly 3,000

items, including many recycled-content products.

In addition, GSA makes a limited number of toner cartridges

available through its stock program and most customer supply

centers. For technical information, contact Patricia Miller,

Marketing Director, at 703 305-3044 or fax 703 305-7135.

GSA also offers binders and plastic trash bags that meet EPA

recovered content recommendations, as stock items through

its general catalog. For further information, contact John

Marrone, Engineering Branch, at 212 264-3578.

❖ Greening the Government: A Guide to Implementing

Executive Order 12873. This guide provides detailed information on establishing and implementing federal affirmative procurement plans. Updated in the summer of 1997, it is available

without charge from the Office of the Federal Environmental

Executive, 401 M Street, SW. (Mail Code 1600), Washington,

DC 20460. Phone: 202 260-1297. Fax: 202 401-9503.

Homepage: http://www.ofee.gov.

❖ National Association of State Purchasing Officials

(NASPO). NASPO’s Internet-based Database of Recycled

Commodities (DRC) includes information from states on their

recycled product procurement. Data include product distributors, manufacturers, brand names, recycled and postconsumer

content, “Energy Star” rating, units purchased, unit of measurement, unit price, and type of procurement. Visit the site at

http://fcn.state.fl.us/bpsr/drc_notice.html. For more information, contact George C. Banks, DRC Coordinator, Florida
How Do I Get More Information? (Continued)

1EPA

United States

Environmental Protection Agency

401 M Street, SW. (5306W)

Washington, DC 20460

Official Business 

Penalty for Private Use

$300

Department of Management Services, 4050 Esplanade Way,

Suite 335, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0950. Phone: 850 921-7852.

Fax: 850 921-5979. E-mail: banksg@dms.mail.ufl.edu.

❖ National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP).

NIGP maintains a library of product specifications and sample

bid documents for both virgin- and recycled-content products,

including reinked and reloaded printer ribbons. It also offers

procurement training workshops for members. For more information, contact Fuad Abu-Taleb, 11800 Sunrise Valley Drive,

Suite 1050, Reston, VA 22091. Phone: 703 715-9400, Ext.

241. Fax: 703 715-9897.

❖ Official Recycled Products Guide. This directory lists more

than 5,000 manufacturers and distributors of recycled-content

products, including those of plastic desktop accessories, trash

bags, and plastic envelopes. For more information, contact the

Recycling Data Management Corporation, P.O. Box 577,

Ogdensburg, NY 13669. Phone: 800 267-0707. 

Fax: 315 471-3258.

❖ Recycled Plastic Products Source Book. This booklet lists

more than 1,300 plastic products, including trash bags, binders,

and recycling containers, from approximately 300 manufacturers. For more information, call the American Plastics Council

(APC), 1801 K Street, NW., Suite 7010, Washington, DC

20006. Phone: 202 974-5400. Fax: 202 296-7119. Visit the

APC homepage at http://www.plasticsresource.com.

❖ Resource Guide to Business Products Manufacturers’

Recycling Products and Program. Provides information on

how to purchase recycled-content office products. The guide

costs $20 for members and $40 for nonmembers. To obtain a

copy, contact the Business Products Industry Association, 301

North Fairfax Street, Alexandria VA 22314. 

Phone: 800 542-6672 or 703 549-9040.

❖ Unicor. Provides remanufactured toner cartridges. Contact

Federal Prison Industry, Customer Service Center, P.O. Box

13640, Lexington, KY 40583-3640. Phone: 800 827-3168. 

Fax: 606 254-9692.

Internet Sites

❖ California Recycled-Content Product

Database:

http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/mrt/rcp/rcp.htm.

This site contains information on why to buy recycled-content

products, how to procure them, and provides access to a database with information on products, as well as manufacturers,

distributors, reprocessors, mills, and convertors across the

country who procure or produce these products. 

❖ King County Recycled Product Procurement Program:

http://www.metrokc.gov/oppis/recyclea.html. This site

describes the tools and techniques developed by King County,

Washington, agencies for purchasing recycled products. 

❖ The Procurement Assistance Jumpstation:

http://www.fedmarket.com/procinet.html. This site contains

links to many sites containing procurement information.

❖ Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...Through Procurement:

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/procure.htm. This

site describes EPA’s effort to facilitate the procurement of

products containing recovered materials, including information

on CPG, RMANs, and the Buy Recycled Series.

In addition, contact your state solid waste

management agency for information about

local and regional businesses that produce

or distribute recycled-content products.