EPA revisits SCM in procurement guidelines assessment

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; CP staff

EPA has opened a public comment period through July 6 on the Agency’s current list of 61 items that are or can be made from recovered materials in eight Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG) categories, plus recommendations to federal agencies on purchasing such items. The largest category, Construction Products, includes cement or concrete containing fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag and silica fume. 

EPA seeks input regarding whether the right products are listed; if any should be deleted, added or modified; and, whether current recycled-content and procurement specifications are appropriate. CPG updates would be the first since 2007. 

“Through Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines, EPA is furthering our ‘America Recycles’ work, and responding to stakeholder input to help increase demand for recycled-content materials, by promoting government programs to purchase recycled materials,” says Office of Land and Emergency Management Assistant Administrator Peter Wright. “Buying recycled-content products fosters markets for materials from the recycling stream and ensures that these materials will be used in the manufacture of new products, strengthening the United States’ recycling system.”

The federal government’s buy-recycled program uses federal purchasing power to stimulate the demand for products made with recovered materials. EPA designates recycled-content items and publishes recommendations to assist procuring agencies using federal funds, in meeting their obligations under this program. CPG background and comments on the recovered materials inventory and product categories can be obtained or submitted here.

 

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