Fact Sheet: Procuring Recycled Products

Office of Waste Reduction Services
Environmental Services Division
State of Michigan
Departments of Commerce and Natural Resources

Education/Outreach Recycling/Energy Site Reuse & Redevelopment
Small Business Clean Air Assistance
Waste Reduction Services
P.O. Box 30004
Lansing, MI 48909

517-335-1178
1-800-662-9278
FAX: (517) 335-4729

Rev. January 1994
#8909B

"A Partnership to Benefit Both Economic Development and the Environment"

The long-term health of recycling efforts depends on the markets for the paper, glass, metal and other materials that are being recycled. The health of these markets also depends upon the demand for items with recycled content. Accordingly, it is critical to complete the recycling "loop" by purchasing recycled products.

How to Buy Recycled Products

Recycled products are usually bought through standard purchasing channels or directly from the manufacturer. Purchasing agents are probably unfamiliar with the sources of recycled products. The following four-step process will help both the generator and buyer make the transition to recycled products.

Step 1: Review Current Products and Product Specifications. Examine items such as paper and containers. Which items could be made of recycled content, but aren't? There may be many outdated or unnecessary product specifications, which do not affect product quality but do impede purchase of recycled products.

Step 2: Develop a Corporate Purchasing Policy for Recycled Products. Establish company-wide purchasing rules for recycled products. The likelihood of purchasing recycled products is much greater if top management of the company wants the entire firm to purchase recycled products.

Step 3: Develop Minimum Content Standards and Price Preferences for Recycled Products. In general, manufacturers must still be convinced to produce recycled products at a competitive price. The technology is available, but the demand is still developing. Requiring that certain items have a minimum percentage of recycled content helps convince manufacturers to produce products with recycled content. Giving a five or 10 percent price preference to products with recycled content helps convince a purchasing department to pay a little more for recycled products.

Complete the Loop By Purchasing These and Other Recycled Products

[(See Source Document for Chart)]

Step 4: Modify Product Bidding Procedures. Several simple modifications to bidding procedures will encourage suppliers to look for recycled products. Restructure bidding systems to:

Additional Procurement Tips

Work Closely with Procurement Agents and Suppliers. Purchasing recycled products will require the cooperation of procurement agents and suppliers. They should be informed about intentions to buy recycled products from the start. In addition, at least one purchasing agent should be specifically assigned to research the markets for recycled products. Request samples from recycled product vendors, test them and make any necessary operational modifications, such as adjusting copiers to accommodate recycled paper.

Use Recycled Materials in Production. Incorporate the use of recycled materials in manufacturing and retailing operations. This type of "input substitution" will probably lower input costs and will strengthen recycling markets.

Cooperate with Other Businesses. In many cases, businesses can "pool" their purchasing needs to buy bulk volumes of recycled materials. Businesses can also cooperate through informal or formal waste exchanges.

Cooperative purchasing can mean price breaks because of the ability to order larger quantities. If warehousing space is part of a cooperative arrangement, this may create an opportunity for small businesses that could not otherwise order products due to quantity-space considerations. For example, one business might be donating bulky foam packaging "peanuts" to another business that will reuse them. Listings for materials brokers and scrap dealers may also be found in the telephone book. The Michigan Waste Report is run by a non profit organization that links businesses that produce usable solid and hazardous waste with other businesses that can recycle or reuse the waste.

Use these available resources:

Michigan Recycled Products Directory 1-800-662-9278

Federal Procurement Guidelines Hotline (703) 941-4452

Michigan Waste Report (616) 363-3262

Michigan Department of Management and Budget, Office of Purchasing (517) 373-6327

Recycled Products Guide 1-800-267-0707

Developed by: Resource Recycling Systems, Inc.

Funded by: The Clean Michigan Fund, Michigan Department of Natural Resources

For more information on the subject of waste reduction for businesses, contact:

Office of Waste Reduction Services
Environmental Services Division
Michigan Departments of Commerce and Natural Resources
P.O. Box 30004
Lansing, Michigan 48909
(517) 335-1178
Toll Free in Michigan: 1-800-NO-2-WASTE

The Office of Waste Reduction Services is a partnership between the Environmental Services Division, Michigan Department of Commerce and the Waste Management Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources.


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Last Updated: November 10, 1995