RESOURCES ABOUT BUYING RECYCLED PRODUCTS United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5305W) EPA530-B-98-007 September 1998 THE RCRA HOTLINE The RCRA Hotline is a publicly accessible service that provides current information on the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and several other U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs. The Hotline responds to factual questions on federal EPA regulations as well as requests for relevant documents. The Hotline responds to questions from a broad audience of callers with diverse backgrounds and varying degrees of regulatory knowledge. Callers can obtain regulatory information from a Hotline staff member who specializes in the RCRA program, or they can order EPA publications pertaining to any RCRA program area. The Hotline also provides information on EPA's electronic resources, which include public access Internet servers, electronic mailing lists, and bulletin board systems. RCRA information specialists try to answer every question. Some questions, however, are not within the scope of the Hotline's services. Information specialists cannot answer questions that require interpretation of EPA regulations or policies, demand legal analysis, involve unresolved issues, or pertain to state-specific requirements. Such questions are referred to the appropriate EPA office, federal or state agency, or other source. The RCRA Hotline operates Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., eastern time. For information or to order a publication, call the RCRA Hotline at 800 424-9346 (TDD 800 553-7672) or, in the Washington, DC, area, call 703 412-9810 (TDD 703 412-3323). ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO THE OFFICE OF SOLID WASTE The Office of Solid Waste (OSW) provides a wide variety of information about hazardous and nonhazardous waste on the Internet and on certain bulletin board systems. OSW materials are located at . Selected OSW documents also can be found at ; Login: Anonymous; Password: Your e-mail address. Federal Register notices are arranged by date, from October 1994, and can be found at: . Agencywide information is available at . ACCESSING ELECTRONIC MAILING LISTS (LISTSERVERS) To receive a list of all EPA listservers, send an e-mail request to: . The message should read: LISTS. To subscribe to a listserver, send an e-mail to: . The message should read: SUBSCRIBE (for example, SUBSCRIBE EPA-WASTE JOHN SMITH). ************************************************************ BUYING RECYCLED IN THE GOVERNMENT As part of its continuing program to promote the use of products containing recovered materials, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issues Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG) and Recovered Materials Advisory Notices (RMAN) each year. The CPG is the basis of the federal government buy-recycled program and designates products containing recovered materials for government agencies to purchase.Federal, state, and local government agencies or their contractors that purchase more than $10,000 a year worth of these products must evaluate the feasibility of purchasing these designated products. The product designations are organized into eight product categories. The RMANs provide recommendations for purchasing the products designated in the CPG. Along with the CPG and RMANs published each year, EPA publishes eco-purchasing fact sheets, lists of manufacturers or vendors of the designated products, and technical background and supporting documents that provide more detailed information about each of the designated items. Through use of the guidelines and related information, the federal government hopes to expand its use of products containing recovered materials and to help develop markets for them in other sectors of the economy. The products currently designated in the CPG are: PAPER AND PAPER PRODUCTS * Printing and writing fiber (cotton fiber, text and cover, papeteries, offset, reprographic, forms bond, tablet, envelope, supercalendered, machine finished groundwood, check safety, coated, carbonless, file folders, dyed filing products, index and card stock, pressboard, and tags and tickets) * Newsprint * Commercial sanitary tissue products (bathroom tissue, paper towels, paper napkins, facial tissue, and general purpose industrial wipers) * Paperboard and packaging products (corrugated containers, solid fiber boxes, folding cartons, industrial paperboard, miscellaneous, padded mailers, carrierboard, and brown papers) * Miscellaneous paper products (tray liners) VEHICULAR PRODUCTS Engine Coolants Re-refined Lubricating Oils Retread Tires CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS Building Insulation Products Carpet Cement and Concrete Containing Coal Fly Ash Cement and Concrete Containing Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag Consolidated and Reprocessed Latex Paints Floor Tiles Laminated Paperboard Patio Blocks Shower and Restroom Dividers/Partitions Structural Fiberboard TRANSPORTATION PRODUCTS Channelizers Delineators Flexible Delineators Parking Stops Traffic Barricades Traffic Cones PARK AND RECREATION PRODUCTS Plastic Fencing Playground Surfaces Running Tracks LANDSCAPING PRODUCTS Garden and Soaker Hoses Hydraulic Mulch Lawn and Garden Edging Yard Trimmings Compost NON-PAPER OFFICE PRODUCTS Binders Office Recycling Containers Office Waste Receptacles Plastic Desktop Accessories Plastic Envelopes Plastic Trash Bags Printer Ribbons Toner Cartridges MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS Pallets ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT This document provides abstracts of the fact sheets and other nonregulatory, informational resources relevant to the Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines. Recent Federal Register notices, fact sheets, technical background documents, and supporting documents can be found on the Internet at . HOW TO ORDER PUBLICATIONS All publications are available at no charge from EPA. To order a publication, call the RCRA Hotline at 800 424-9346 (TDD 800 553-7672) or, in the Washington, DC, area, call 703 412-9810 (TDD 703 412-3323). When ordering, please mention the order numbers. You also can order documents via e-mail by sending a request to or via regular mail by writing to RCRA Information Center (5305W), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460-0002 (this address is for mailing purposes only). Finally, many of these documents are available on the Internet through EPA's Office of Solid Waste Web site at . FOR MORE INFORMATION For a more comprehensive list of solid and hazardous waste publications, order the Catalog of Hazardous and Solid Waste Publications, Eleventh Edition (EPA530-B-98-001) from the RCRA Hotline or the RCRA Information Center (see above). ************************************************************ BUY-RECYCLED SERIES 1997 Buy-Recycled Series A series of fact sheets discussing the comprehensive procurement guidelines, which require federal, state, and local agencies and government contractors using appropriated federal funds to give preference to buying products made from recovered materials. The publications also describe Recovered Materials Advisory Notices, which recommend recycled-content levels for such purchases. Handy tables are included that list the specific recovered material content to look for when purchasing products covered under the guidelines. Case studies and sources for additional information also are included. Construction Products: Structural fiberboard, laminated fiberboard, rock wool insulation, fiberglass insulation, cellulose insulation (loose-fill and spray-on), perlite composite board insulation, rigid foam insulation (plastic rigid foam, polyisocyanurate/polyurethane), foam-in-place insulation, glass fiber reinforced insulation, phenolic rigid foam insulation, floor tiles (heavy duty/commercial use), patio blocks, polyester carpet fiber face, latex paint (consolidated, reprocessed), and shower and restroom dividers and partitions. 11/15/1997 Order Number: EPA530-F-97-035 Landscaping Products: Hydraulic mulch (paper, wood/paper), yard trimmings compost, garden hose, soaker hose, lawn and garden edging. 11/15/1997 Order Number: EPA530-F-97-034 Non-Paper Office Products: Recycling containers and waste receptacles, plastic desk-top accessories, binders, plastic trash bags, toner cartridges, printer ribbons, and plastic envelopes. 11/15/1997 Order Number: EPA530-F-97-033 Pallets (Miscellaneous Products): Wood, plastic, and paperboard pallets. 11/15/1997 Order Number: EPA 530-F-97-031 Park and Recreation Products: Playground surfaces, running tracks, and plastic fencing. 11/15/1997 Order Number: EPA530-F-97-032 Transportation Products: Traffic cones, traffic barricades, parking stops, and traffic control devices. 11/15/1997 Order Number: EPA530-F-97-036 Vehicular Products: Re-refined oil, retread tires, and engine coolants. 11/15/1997 Order Number: EPA530-F-97-037 1996 Buy-Recycled Series: Paper Products This document discusses the comprehensive procurement guideline, which requires federal agencies and their contractors to give preference to buying certain items made from recovered materials, including some paper products. The document also describes Recovered Materials Advisory Notices, which recommend recycled-content levels for such purchases. An easy-to-use table lists the specific recovered-material content to look for when purchasing paper products covered under the guideline. Sources for additional information also are included. Paper products covered include printing and writing fiber (cotton fiber, text and cover, papeteries, offset, reprographic, forms bond, tablet, envelope, supercalendered, machine finished groundwood, check safety, coated, carbonless, file folders, dyed filing products, index and card stock, pressboard, and tags and tickets), newsprint, commercial sanitary tissue products (bathroom tissue, paper towels, paper napkins, facial tissue, and general purpose industrial wipers), paperboard and packaging products (corrugated containers, solid fiber boxes, folding cartons, industrial paperboard, miscellaneous, padded mailers, carrierboard, and brown papers), and miscellaneous paper products such as tray liners. 04/15/1996 Order Number: EPA530-F-96-014 GENERAL BUY-RECYCLED RESOURCES Environmental Fact Sheet: EPA Expands Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG) This fact sheet discusses items that must contain recycled content when purchased by government agencies and contractors. It discusses 12 new products added to the CPG: consolidated and reprocessed latex paint, shower and restroom dividers and partitions, channelizers, delineators, flexible delineators, parking stops, plastic fencing, garden and soaker hoses, lawn and garden edging, plastic envelopes, printer ribbons, and pallets. The fact sheet also helps purchasers understand the government's guidelines for buying recycled products. 11/15/1998 Order Number: EPA530-F-97-049 Environmental Fact Sheet: EPA Guideline for Purchasing Building Insulation Containing Recovered Materials This fact sheet, which refers to EPA's guideline issued February 17, 1989, recommends that procuring agencies use minimum-content standards for the amount of recovered materials in insulation products. An EPA standards table is included. 06/15/1991 Order Number: EPA530-SW-91-044 Environmental Fact Sheet: EPA Guideline for Purchasing Cement and Concrete Containing Fly Ash This fact sheet, which refers to EPA's guideline issued January 28, 1983, recommends that coal fly ash is not to exceed a maximum ratio of water to cementitious material (e.g., w/c+f, where w, c, and f represent weights of water, Portland cement, and fly ash, respectively.) 01/15/1992 Order Number: EPA530-SW-91-086 Environmental Fact Sheet: EPA Guideline for Purchasing Paper and Paper Products This fact sheet, which refers to EPA's guideline issued June 22, 1988, recommends that procuring agencies review paper specifications to remove subtle barriers for purchasing paper containing recovered materials. Minimum standards tables are included. 06/15/1991 Order Number: EPA530-SW-91-046 Environmental Fact Sheet: EPA Guideline for Purchasing Re-Refined Lubricating Oil This fact sheet, which refers to EPA's guideline issued June 30, 1988, recommends that procuring agents not require lubricating oils containing re-refined oil meet any performance standard higher than that required of virgin lubricating oil. American Petroleum Institute and military specifications are included. 06/15/1991 Order Number: EPA530-SW-91-043 Environmental Fact Sheet: EPA Guideline for Purchasing Retread Tires This fact sheet refers to EPA's guideline, issued November 17, 1988, for purchasing retread tires. It covers recommended retread preference, obtaining retreading services, purchasing retread tires, federal regulation of retread tires, and principal federal procuring agencies. 06/15/1991 Order Number: EPA530-SW-91-045 Environmental Fact Sheet: EPA Issues Comprehensive Procurement Guideline A listing of the government's guidelines for recycled-product purchasing. It includes 24 products that must contain recycled content when purchased by government agencies and contractors. The fact sheet also describes ways to create, promote, and evaluate an effective buy-recycled program. 04/15/1995 Order Number: EPA530-F-95-010 Environmental Fact Sheet: Municipal Solid Waste Prevention in Federal Agencies This fact sheet highlights waste prevention opportunities in federal agencies. It explains the principles of waste prevention and provides examples of successful federal programs. 10/15/1992 Order Number: EPA530-F-92-016 Environmental Fact Sheet: Purchasing and Maintaining Retread Passenger Tires This fact sheet describes how fleet managers and vehicle operators can help reduce the quantity of scrap tires generated annually through waste prevention, proper tire maintenance, and tire retreading. It includes tips for proper tire maintenance. 09/15/1995 Order Number: EPA530-F-95-019 WasteWise Tip Sheet: Buying or Manufacturing Recycled Products Defines "buying recycled" and recycled content terms. Discusses the benefits of buying or manufacturing goods with recycled content. Addresses how the purchase of recycled products and recovered raw materials fits into EPA's WasteWise program. Lists types of products available with recycled content. Treats cost and quality of recycled products and recovered raw materials. Cites sources of additional information. 01/15/1994 Order Number: EPA530-F-94-005 WasteWise Update (Issue #6: Remanufactured Products: Good as New) Focuses on remanufactured products. Assists WasteWise partners in becoming knowledgeable about the variety of remanufactured goods available and introduces issues to consider when purchasing them. Lists remanufacturing trade associations and related businesses. Includes furniture, toner cartridges, copiers, medical sensors, street lights, and tires. 01/15/1997 Order Number: EPA530-N-97-002 WasteWise Update (Issue #8: Closing the Loop) Explores the purchase and manufacture of recycled-content products. Dispels common myths about buying recycled and offers "getting started" tips from veteran WasteWise partners. In addition, provides suggestions on how to track the purchase of recycled-content products. Includes special feature that discusses government purchasing issues. 12/15/1997 Order Number: EPA530-N-97-008 WasteWise Update (Issue #9: Building Supplier Partnerships) Contains spotlight section on government purchasing. Consists of tips and advice for local and state governments on starting and maintaining a successful environmental purchasing program. Includes success stories and a list of publications and Internet resources. 04/15/1998 Order Number: EPA530-N-98-003 LISTS OF MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS Construction Products Containing Recovered Materials A list of manufacturers and suppliers of building insulation, plastic rigid foam insulation, structural fiberboard and laminated paperboard, cement and concrete with coal fly ash, cement and concrete with granulated blast furnace slag, carpet, floor tiles, patio blocks, shower and restroom dividers, and reprocessed and consolidated latex paint. Information such as the company names, address, contact name, phone number, and fax number are included. The listings are based on information provided by the manufacturer and do not represent an endorsement by EPA. 10/15/1997 Order Number: EPA530-B-97-014 Landscaping Products Containing Recovered Materials Lists manufacturers and suppliers of recovered-content landscaping products (hydraulic mulch, yard trimmings compost, garden and soaker hoses, and lawn and garden edging). It includes each company's name, address, contact person, phone number, and fax number. The listings are based on information provided by the manufacturer and do not represent an endorsement by EPA. 10/15/1997 Order Number: EPA530-B-97-012 Mills That Manufacture Printing and Writing Paper, Computer Paper, Office Paper, Envelopes, Bristols, and Coated Printing and Writing Papers, Using Recovered Paper A list of mills that use recovered paper to manufacture printing and writing paper, computer paper, office paper, envelopes, bristols, and coated printing and writing papers. Arranged alphabetically by corporate name, the listings include a main address, contact person, phone number, fax number, and recycled-content brands manufactured, including paper grade, and total, preconsumer, and postconsumer recovered paper content. 10/15/1997 Order Number: EPA530-B-97-008 Mills That Produce Newsprint Containing Postconsumer Recovered Paper A list of mills that produce newsprint containing postconsumer recovered paper, arranged alphabetically by corporate name. The listings include a main address, contact person, phone number, fax number, and total and postconsumer recovered-paper content of products. The listings are based on information provided by the manufacturer and do not represent an endorsement by EPA. 10/15/1997 Order Number: EPA530-B-97-010 Mills That Produce Tissue Products Containing Postconsumer Recovered Paper A list of tissue mills that use postconsumer recovered paper. The listings are arranged alphabetically by corporate name, and include a main address, contact person, phone number, fax number, and total and postconsumer recovered-paper content of products. The document also includes a list of definitions. The listings are based on information provided by the manufacturer and do not represent an endorsement by EPA. 10/15/1997 Order Number: EPA530-B-97-009 Miscellaneous Products (Pallets) Containing Recovered Materials A list of manufacturers and suppliers of miscellaneous products (pallets) that contain recovered materials. It includes company names, address, contact name, phone number, and fax number. The listings are based on information provided by the manufacturer and do not represent an endorsement by EPA. 10/15/1997 Order Number: EPA530-B-97-007 Non-Paper Office Products Containing Recovered Materials This document lists manufacturers and suppliers of non-paper office products (office recycling containers and office waste receptacles, plastic desktop accessories, toner cartridges, binders, plastic trash bags, printer ribbons, and plastic envelopes) containing recovered materials. It includes company name, address, contact person, phone number, and fax number. The listings are based on information provided by the manufacturer and do not represent an endorsement by EPA. 10/15/1997 Order Number: EPA530-B-97-011 Park and Recreation Products Containing Recovered Materials This document lists manufacturers and suppliers of park and recreation products (playground surfaces, running tracks, and plastic fencing) that contain recovered materials. It includes company name, address, contact name, phone number, and fax number. The listings are based on information provided by the manufacturer and do not represent an endorsement by EPA. 10/15/1997 Order Number: EPA530-B-97-006 Transportation Products Containing Recovered Materials A list of manufacturers and suppliers of transportation products (traffic barricades, traffic cones, parking stops, and traffic control devices) containing recovered materials. It includes company name, address, contact name, phone number, and fax number. The listings are based on information provided by the manufacturer and do not represent an endorsement by EPA. 10/15/1997 Order Number: EPA530-B-97-013 Vehicular Products Containing Recovered Materials A list of manufacturers and suppliers of vehicular products (re-refined lubricating oils, retread tires, and engine coolants) containing recovered materials. It includes company name, address, contact name, phone number, and fax number. The listings are based on information provided by the manufacturer and do not represent an endorsement by EPA. 10/15/1997 Order Number: EPA530-B-97-005 ************************************************************ ORDERING PUBLICATIONS To order a publication, call the RCRA Hotline or send an e-mail to . Phone: You can call the RCRA Hotline, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., eastern time. The national toll free number is 800 424-9346, TDD 800 553-7672 (hearing impaired); in Washington, DC, the number is 703 412-9810, TDD 703 412-3323. Fax: 703 603-9234 or Mail to: RCRA Information Center (RIC) Office of Solid Waste (5305W) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 401 M Street, SW, Washington DC 20460-0002. THE RCRA INFORMATION CENTER Each time RCRA is modified, EPA develops regulations that spell out how to implement the statute's broad policies. The RCRA Information Center (RIC) houses documents used in writing the RCRA regulations as well as EPA publications produced for public guidance on solid waste issues. The publications stored in the RIC include the following: General Documents/Collections The RIC's collection includes guidance documents, which provide directions for implementing the regulations for disposal and treatment of hazardous and solid wastes; brochures, booklets, and executive summaries of reports concerning waste reduction and disposal issues surrounding hazardous and nonhazardous wastes; and Health and Environmental Effects Profiles and Health and Environmental Effects Documents. The annual Catalog of Hazardous and Solid Waste Publications lists OSW's most popular documents. Rulemaking Dockets Dockets include files generated from RCRA-related rulings. Each file is composed of technical support documents that were used to develop a particular rule, along with comments from companies, individuals, environmental organizations, and various levels of government; reprints of Federal Register notices containing RCRA-related issues; and administrative records, which are rulemaking dockets that have undergone litigation. To view documents, please make an appointment by calling 703 603-9230. The RIC is located at Crystal Gateway I, First Floor, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, in Arlington, Virginia. Patrons who live outside the Washington, DC, metropolitan area can call this number to request documents or can send a request by regular mail to 401 M Street, SW (5305W), Washington, DC 20460-0002, or e-mail to . The photocopying and microfilming fee is the same as for walk-in patrons. If an invoice is necessary, the RIC staff will mail one with the order.