Buy Recycled, Iowa!
The Buy Recycled, Iowa! Program offers resources to help you close the recycling loop while supporting a valuable industry in the state.
Getting started:
Starting a buy recycled program at your place of business is an easy activity. Many purchasing guides recommend the following steps to implement a buy recycled program. For further guidance, visit the Purchasing Guides section.
Suggested Buy Recycled Program steps:
- Learn the buy recycled vocabulary.
- Set purchasing goals for your organization.
- Identify opportunities for long-term savings by exploring lifecycle analysis for your purchases.
- Get your purchasing plan in order:
- Make it a priority
- Move beyond paper: identify other opportunities for recycled-content purchases.
- Foster ownership of program activities – put someone in charge.
- Use successful models from other purchasing plans – no need to reinvent the wheel!
- Investigate cooperative efforts – work with your vendors wherever possible.
- Train staff at all levels.
- Complete pilot projects – test materials to ensure they meet your company standards.
- Keep track of your efforts and program success.
- Incorporate activities into existing company policy.
- Learn the myths associated with buying recycled and how to combat them.
- Explore case studies & review additional resources.
- Communicate your success – let your clients and community know about your achievements.
- American Plastics Council [www.americanplasticscouncil.org] — APC works to promote the benefits of plastics and the plastics industry.
- Buy Recycled Business Alliance (National Recycling Coalition affiliate) [www.nrc-recycle.org/] — The BRBA is a group of organizations committed to increasing the procurement of recycled content products through education and leadership by example.
- Conservatree [www.conservatree.com] — Comprehensive information on recycled, tree-free, and chlorine-free papers including information about new papers, environmental characteristics of papers, political and legislative issues, frequently asked questions, and manufacturing and distribution information.
- Environmental Defense [www.environmentaldefense.org/home.cfm] — Non-profit membership organization that links various resources to explore environmental issues.
- General Services Administration [http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/channelView.do?pageTypeId=8211&channelPage=%2Fep%2Fchannel%2FgsaOverview.jsp&channelId=-12989]
- Global Recycling Network [www.grn.com/] — Recycled content product and recycling information.
- Grass Roots Recycling Network [www.grrn.org/] — GRRN seeks to achieve corporate accountability for waste and public policies to eliminate waste, and to build sustainable communities.
- Green Seal [www.greenseal.org/] — Site lists recycled and environmentally preferable products evaluated through life cycle assessment and qualified for the Green Seal label.
- Steel Recycling Institute [www.recycle-steel.org/] — SRI is an industry association that promotes and sustains the recycling of all steel products.
- US Conference of Mayors [www.usmayors.org/uscommunities/] — Promotes the development of effective national urban/suburban policy.
- US Environmental Protection Agency [www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/index.htm]
- US Government Printing Office [www.access.gpo.gov/qualitycontrol/paperspecs/index.html] — Paper Specification Standards
- Directories — Regional & National Recycled Products Directories.
To Learn More:
For information on public buy recycled activities, visit the Iowa Department of Natural Resources [www.iowadnr.com/waste/recycling/buyrecycled.html].
Phone: 515.242.4906
E-mail: recycleiowa@iowalifechanging.com
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