federal government recycling

The recycling coordinator shall implement or maintain waste prevention and recycling programs in the agencies' action plans. The law specifically states, "High-grade paper generated by office facilities of over 100 office workers shall be separated at the source of . In April 2022, EPA stated that it had taken steps to develop an implementation plan and that it had initiated a study regarding the necessity and method of imposing disposal or other charges on packaging, containers, vehicles, and other manufactured goods to reflect the cost of final disposal, the value of recoverable components of the the item, and any social costs associated with nonrecycling or uncontrolled disposal, as required by RCRA. 403. According to the strategy, the implementation plan will identify the resources and investments needed, balancing the risk reductions with costs; clarify the roles and responsibilities of participating entities; and articulate EPA's role in implementing the strategy and integrating new activities into the agency's existing programs and activities, as recommended by GAO. For the purpose of this order, military departments, as defined in 5 U.S.C. We need a federal funding model to level the system up., No silver bullet is going to fix all of this, added Scott DeFife, president of the Glass Packaging Institute, Arlington. So, theyre not speaking the same language.. The author is the editor of Construction & Demolition Recycling magazine and can be reached at aredling@gie.net. National Science Foundation The Task Force shall have the duty of assisting the FEE and the agencies in implementing this order, subject to policy direction provided by the Steering Committee. These operations will invariably lead to a fire over time. (a) (1) Each executive agency that has not already done so shall initiate a program to promote cost-effective waste prevention and recycling of reusable materials in all of its facilities. The Winchendon Landfill, says the firm, is situated on a 14-acre portion of a larger 88-acre property. (2) Agencies shall designate a recycling coordinator for each facility or installation. Sec. The EPA may provide information and technical assistance to the States to enable them to include such considerations in their inspection. The GSA and other executive agencies are directed to identify, evaluate, and revise or eliminate any standards or specifications unrelated to performance that present barriers to the purchase of paper or paper products made by production processes that minimize emissions of harmful byproducts. Government agencies as well as recycling contractors benefit from GSA's centralized contract administration. Sec. But we need a massive acceleration in order to achieve meaningful change, said Dana Gunders, executive director of ReFED. (a) Within 6 months of the date of this order, the Administrator of the EPA shall, in consultation with the Federal Environmental Executive, prepare guidance for use in determining Federal facility compliance with section 6002 of RCRA and the related requirements of this order. These levels shall be updated periodically, after opportunity for public comment, to reflect changes in market conditions. Sec. We will update the status of this recommendation after we have an opportunity to review EPA's implementation plan and other activities. Department of Homeland Security (2) In addition to white paper, mixed paper/cardboard, aluminum, plastic, and glass, agencies should incorporate into their recycling programs efforts to recycle, reuse, or refurbish pallets and collect toner cartridges for remanufacturing. Unsorted recyclable plastic, paper, and metal at a material recovery facility. (c) Where inspections of Federal facilities are carried out by authorized States pursuant to RCRA and the Federal Facility Compliance Act, the Administrator of the EPA will encourage those States to include evaluation of facility compliance with section 6002 of RCRA in light of EPA guidance prepared pursuant to subsection (a), where appropriate, similar to inspections performed by the EPA. United States Trustee Program (3) In coordination with the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the General Services Administration (GSA), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA), convene a group of acquisition/procurement managers and environmental State, and local government managers to work with State and local governments to improve the Federal, State, and local governments' use of recycled products and environmentally preferable products and services. 997, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Public Law 94-580, 90 Stat. (b) As an alternative to meeting the standards in sections 505(a), for all printing and writing papers, the minimum content standard shall be no less than 50 percent recovered materials that are a waste material byproduct of a finished product other than a paper or textile product that would otherwise be disposed of in a landfill, as determined by the State in which the facility is located. He says that beyond having a plan, the right equipment is essential. The GSA and other executive agencies shall also include environmental and recycling provisions in the acquisition and management of all leased space and in the construction of new Federal buildings. (Recommendation 1), The Director of EPA's Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery should develop an implementation plan for conducting a study and developing recommendations for administrative or legislative action regarding the necessity and method of imposing disposal or other charges on packaging, containers, vehicles, and other manufactured goods to reflect the cost of final disposal, the value of recoverable components of the item, and any social costs associated with nonrecycling or uncontrolled disposal, as required by RCRA. (4) The EPA, in coordination with other executive agencies, shall develop a database of information about these projects, including, but not limited to, the number and status of pilot projects, examples of agencies' policy directives, revisions to specifications, solicitation procedures, and grant/contract policies that facilitate adoption of environmentally preferable purchasing practices, to be integrated on a commonly available electronic medium (e.g., Internet Web site). Regardless of the operation, business owners can help ensure their C&D facility is purpose-built for their needs by spending time with experienced design build specialists, architects and equipment providers. Sec. 13102), and other practices that reduce or eliminate the creation of pollutants through: (a) increased efficiency in the use of raw materials, energy, water, or other resources; or (b) protection of natural resources by conservation. ReFED says it offers a granular analysis of the causes and impacts of food waste in the United States at a national level and by state and food industry sector, along with the investment required and the potential return on investment for food waste reduction solutions. The GSA shall also compile any information or market studies that may be necessary to accomplish the objectives of this provision. Millennium Challenge Corporation (a) The Biobased Products List shall be published in the Federal Register by the USDA within 180 days after the date of this order and shall be updated biannually after publication to include additional items. Social Security Administration According to the Insights Engine, in 2019 35 percent of food went uneaten or unsoldthe equivalent of throwing away $408 billion dollars, or 1.9 percent of U.S. GDP. 6901-6907), section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and in order to improve the Federal Government's use of recycled products and environmentally preferable products and services, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 101. Community budgets have always been tight, he said. (b) If an agency is able to revise an inconsistent specification but cannot do so within 60 days, it is the responsibility of that AEE to monitor and implement the plan for revising it. Waste prevention also refers to the reuse of products or materials. The Recycling Economic Information (REI) Report found that, in a single year, recycling and reuse activities in the United States accounted for 757,000 jobs, $36.6 billion in wages and $6.7 billion in tax revenues. (e) Progress on attaining these goals should be reported by the agencies to the FEE for the biennial report specified in section 302(a)(2) of this order. By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Solid Waste Disposal Act, Public Law 89-272, 79 Stat. (a) The Federal Environmental Executive. Inter-American Foundation By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Solid Waste Disposal Act, Public Law 89-272, 79 Stat. Funding must be dedicated to the systems themselves, such as enhancing recycling infrastructure or educating consumers, according to the report. In April 2022, EPA stated that each fiscal year, as part of annual program planning, EPA will identify how it will implement the strategy and the resources and investments needed to implement EPA's actions while balancing risk reductions with costs. 2022 GIE Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Recycling Leadership Council believes that recycling needs federal action. Located in Smithville, Ontario, Niagara Pallet is a rural, family-run company that manufactures and repairs wood-related shipping materials, including wood pallets, for suppliers and distribution centres. Priorities regarding which product and service categories to pilot shall be developed by the individual agencies and the EPA, in consultation with the OFPP, the FEE, and the appropriate agency procurement executives. Smithsonian Institution The federal government regulates the use of food scraps in animal feed by setting requirements which largely concern the type of animals that may be fed food scraps and the kind of food scraps that may be fed to them. Contracts that provide for contractor operation of a Government-owned or -leased facility and/or contracts that provide for contractor or other support services at Government-owned or -operated facilities awarded by executive agencies after the date of this order, shall include provisions that obligate the contractor to comply with the requirements of this order within the scope of its operations. 203. That investment would result in $73 billion in annual net economic benefit for the country, avoid 75 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year (equivalent to 16 million cars), save 4 trillion gallons of water (more than used by the entire state of Colorado), rescue the equivalent of 4 billion meals annually for the 50 million Americans who are food insecure, create 51,000 jobs over ten years and achieve the 2030 reduction goal. (5) Establish committees and work groups, as needed, to identify, assess, and recommend actions to be taken to fulfill the goals, responsibilities, and initiatives of the FEE. Congress may need to act to clarify Commerce's responsibilities under RCRA or assign responsibility for stimulating domestic markets to another agency. (b) Agencies in non-GSA managed facilities, to the extent permitted by law, should develop a plan to retain the proceeds from the sale of materials recovered through recycling or waste prevention programs. (c) Once items containing recovered materials have been designated by the EPA in the CPG, agencies shall modify their affirmative procurement programs to require that, to the maximum extent practicable, their purchases of products meet or exceed the EPA guidelines unless written justification is provided that a product is not available competitively, not available within a reasonable time frame, does not meet appropriate performance standards, or is only available at an unreasonable price. The U.S. According to the EPA, "RCRA establishes the framework for a national system of solid waste control." Real Property Acquisition and Management. The Steering Committee shall consult with the AEEs before approving these recommendations. 704. This will allow builders to show the vehicle movement so the owner-operator can vet that there wont be space constraints once the actual facility is designed. 803. The Recycling Leadership Councils Blueprint for Americas Recycling System stresses three areas for federal action. US Elections Assistance Commission Each executive agency shall establish a model demonstration program incorporating some or all of the following elements as appropriate. Waste Reduction & Recycling Agency clients at the Denver Federal Center can count on GSA to seek cost effective and sustainable solutions to the challenges of waste management and recycling. "Recycling" means the series of activities, including collection, separation, and processing, by which products or other materials are recovered from the solid waste stream for use in the form of raw materials in the manufacture of new products other than fuel for producing heat or power by combustion. The Australian researchers say their study demonstrated that about one kilometer (.62 miles) of a two-lane road would use up about 3 million shredded masks, preventing 93 metric tons of waste from going to landfill. For example, federal law bans feeding of animal-based waste in some cases, or requires that such food waste be heat-treated in . This initial study looked at the feasibility of recycling single-use face masks into road, and we were thrilled to find it not only works, but also delivers real engineering benefits, says Saberian, who indicates the study was the first of its kind to investigate potential civil construction applications of disposable surgical face masks. On November 15, 2021, EPA released its final National Recycling Strategy. While stormwater mitigation systems can offer some relief from environmental threats, Egosi says moving all materials and operations under a roof is a more comprehensive solution. "Pollution prevention" means "source reduction" as defined in the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. The Federal Government's Recycling Modernisation Fund will provide grants for investments in sorting, processing and remanufacturing infrastructure for recyclable materials, including glass waste. 507. Excavating firm purchases landfill in Winchendon, Massachusetts. Accompanied by ReFEDs Roadmap to 2030: Reducing U.S. Food Waste by 50 percent, the Insights Engine is a centralized data and solutions hub with the information and insights needed to take meaningful action to address the problem. The Environmental Protection Agency is developing a national recycling strategy and set a goal of a 50% recycling rate by 2030. Agencies shall ensure that responsibilities for preparation, implementation, and monitoring of affirmative procurement programs are shared between the program personnel and acquisition and procurement personnel. While Americans agree that the federal government is best positioned to lead on recycling, all stakeholders must be at the table to find a solution. 207. Egosi says more C&D recyclers may follow suit with indoor operations rather than deal with mounting legal and regulatory challenges, as well as increasing costs. All plastic must be clean, dry and free of food residue. Agency acquisition and procurement personnel shall justify in writing to the file and to the AEE the rationale for not purchasing such items, above the micropurchase threshold (as set out in the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act at 41 U.S.C. Program and acquisition managers should take an active role in these activities. 302. Sec. If the Consumer Brands Association wants to be seen as constructive and relevant in discussions about waste, plastic packaging and recycling, it will need to do better than rehashing decades-old ideas that have repeatedly failed. The Strategic Plan should include, but is not limited to, the following elements: (a) direction and initiatives for acquisition of recycled and recyclable products and environmentally preferable products and services; (b) development of affirmative procurement programs; (c) review and revision of standards and product specifications; (d) assessment and evaluation of compliance; (f) outreach programs to promote adoption of practices endorsed in this order; and (g) development and implementation of new technologies that are of environmental significance. National Labor Relations Board The RLC is calling on Congress to write and pass comprehensive recycling legislation this year and says it will deliver copies of the Blueprint for Americas Recycling System to members of Congress and the Biden administration. (a) The head of each executive agency shall develop and implement affirmative procurement programs in accordance with section 6002 of RCRA (42 U.S.C. (a) If an inconsistency with section 6002 of RCRA or this order is identified in a specification, standard, or product description, the FEE shall request that the Environmental Executive of the pertinent agency advise the FEE as to why the specification cannot be revised or submit a plan for revising it within 60 days. The White House Awards Program will be administered jointly by the FEE and the CEQ. On the national level, EPA is working to build an economy that keeps materials, products, and services in circulation for as long as possible, what's known as a "circular economy." Reduce and Reuse Reduce and reuse basics and benefits 401. This strategy committed EPA to conducting a study of different policies to determine their effectiveness toward addressing the challenges facing the recycling system. EPA has taken several actions to plan and coordinate national efforts to advance recycling, such as releasing a draft national recycling strategy in October 2020. U.S. policymakers also joined the RLC on the call. The Steering Committee shall charter a Task Force on Greening the Government through Waste Prevention and Recycling ("Task Force"), which shall be chaired by the FEE and composed of staff from the major procuring agencies. (5) track agencies' purchases of EPA-designated guideline items and report agencies' purchases of such guideline items to the FEE per the recommendations developed in subsection 302(a)(5) of this order. Sec. The federal government can support states with targeted infrastructure investments, tax credits and grants. "Life cycle assessment" means the comprehensive examination of a product's environmental and economic aspects and potential impacts throughout its lifetime, including raw material extraction, transportation, manufacturing, use, and disposal. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives You have to think, How can I still operate profitably? because theres more variability in C&D than there is in a single-stream MRF or solid waste facility.. Part 7Applicability and Other Requirements. In addition, recycling proceeds must be available until expended. (d) Agencies are encouraged to incorporate into their Government Performance Results Act annual performance plans the goals listed in subsections (a), (b), and (c) above, starting with the submittal to the Office of Management and Budget of the plan accompanying the FY 2001 budget. 501. Agencies can use recycling proceeds for "other employee as authorized by law or as deemed appropriate by the head of the federal agency," according to Public Law 107-67. The President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency shall request that the Inspectors General periodically review agencies' implementation of this order. The engineer is experienced with site builds, but neither one of them typically interact with the other on daily basis. Within 90 days after the date of this order, the head of each major procuring agency shall designate an AEE from among his or her staff, who serves at a level no lower than the Assistant Secretary level or equivalent, and shall notify the Chair of CEQ and the FEE of such designation. Recycling facilities can be dangerous places for both customers and workers due primarily to traffic, heavy machine operation and visual obstructions. This order creates a Steering Committee, a Federal Environmental Executive (FEE), and a Task Force, and establishes Agency Environmental Executive (AEE) positions within each agency, to be responsible for ensuring the implementation of this order. "Recyclability" means the ability of a product or material to be recovered from, or otherwise diverted from, the solid waste stream for the purpose of recycling. While this demonstrates that food waste reduction efforts are starting to make a difference, the organization says more needs to be done to achieve the United States national goal to reduce food loss and waste by 50 percent by the year 2030especially as the continued changes to the food system from COVID-19 make avoiding food waste even more difficult. In 1976, Congress sought to reduce solid waste and encourage recycling as part of RCRA, which gave primary responsibility for recycling to states and municipalities but requires EPA and Commerce to take specific actions. Fleet and commodity managers shall take immediate steps, as appropriate, to procure these items in accordance with section 6002 of RCRA. The Strategic Plan should be initially developed within 180 days of the date of this order and revised as necessary thereafter. 703. Within the past year, the RMIT School of Engineeringalso has explored techniques for using scrap tiresand steelmaking slagin concrete and paving materials. Designation of Items that Contain Recovered Materials. (202) 512-4800 Topics Natural Resources and Environment Computer monitors E-waste Electronic equipment Environmental monitoring Environmental policies Federal regulations Hazardous substances Recycling Solid waste management Strategic planning Television Toxic substances Waste disposal Waste management Landfills "Major procuring agencies" shall include any executive agency that procures over $50 million per year of goods and services. Sec. Internal Agency Awards Programs. The RLC says it looks forward to working with the leadership of the Senate Recycling Caucus, Sens. Duties. The recycling programs implemented pursuant to this section must be compatible with applicable State and local recycling requirements. On November 15, 2021, EPA released its final National Recycling Strategy. (2) Agencies are encouraged to use all of the options available to them to determine the environmentally preferable attributes of products and services in their pilot and demonstration projects, including the use of technical expertise of nongovernmental entities such as labeling, certification, or standards-developing organizations, as well as using the expertise of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The USDA Biobased Products Coordination Council shall, in consultation with the FEE, issue a Biobased Products List. A Government-wide award will be presented annually by the White House to the best, most innovative programs implementing the objectives of this order to give greater visibility to these efforts so that they can be incorporated Government-wide. Department of Health and Human Services Battery recycling bins are located in the Forrestal and Germantown Paperclips Supply Stores. In April 2022, EPA notified GAO that it had taken steps to develop an implementation plan and that it had initiated a study to examine the likely effect of modifying or eliminating various policies and develop recommendations for administrative or legislative action, as required by RCRA. Federal Recycling Program Welcome GSA NCR procures recycling contracts that are used by over 100 federal agencies from the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. There is hereby established a Steering Committee on Greening the Government through Waste Prevention and Recycling ("Steering Committee"). It is time to abandon throwaway packaging, especially plastics, and incentivize systems of reuse. 997, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Public Law 94-580, 90 Stat. This equates to 1.57 jobs, $76,000 in wages and $14,101 in tax revenues for every 1,000 tons of material recycled. Furthermore, recent international import restrictions have reduced demand for U.S. exports of recyclables. Sec. Commerce officials stated that their work to stimulate international markets fulfills Commerce's obligations under RCRA. In addition, Commerce is not fully meeting its RCRA requirement to stimulate the development of markets for recycled materials because it has not taken actions to stimulate domestic markets, as GAO recommended in 2006. In its written agency comments, EPA agreed that the identified actions in GAO's recommendations can help improve the recycling system. MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. These factors should be considered in acquisition planning for all procurement and in the evaluation and award of contracts, as appropriate. Within 90 days after the date of this order, and to the extent permitted by law and where economically feasible, executive agencies shall ensure compliance with the provisions of this order in the acquisition and management of Federally owned and leased space. In Forrestal, used toner cartridges may be dropped off at the Distribution Center room GL-084. Environmental Protection Agency Batteries accepted for recycling are: Alkaline, Lithium Ion, Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel-Iron, and Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH). This can lead to space constraints if not factored into the buildings layout. (b) Agencies are encouraged to immediately test and evaluate the principles and concepts contained in the EPA's Guidance on the Acquisition of Environmentally Preferable Products and Services through pilot projects to provide practical information to the EPA for further updating of the guidance. Fires are a major threat to C&D recycling facilities. UNICOR is a wholly owned government corporation whose mission is to train and employ inmates housed in Federal prisons. Sec. 6962) and this order and consider use of the procurement tools and methods described in 7 U.S.C. Sec. The Task Force shall report through the FEE to the Chair of the Steering Committee. In the suit number FHC/L/CS/2283/2022 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is asking the court to "direct and compel President Buhari to promptly and thoroughly investigate the spending of Ecological Fund by governments at the Federal, state and local government levels from 2001 to date.". (d) The EPA shall report annually to the Federal Environmental Executive on the results of inspections performed by the EPA to determine Federal facility compliance with sections 6002 of RCRA not later than February 1st for those inspections conducted during the previous fiscal year. Its important that the trucks that are arriving to be weighed on the scale have enough room that traffic is queuing off of the public road, Egosi says. This can range from traditional sprinkler systems to the latest remote-monitored fire suppression equipment that can identify and put out fires even when no one is at the site. Education Next, v4 n1 p34-40 Win 2004. . It is the national policy to prefer pollution prevention, whenever feasible. In FY 2017, DOE Headquarters recycled350 tons of waste which earned over $5,400 in GSA credits that were provided to the Sheila Jo Watkins Memorial Child Development Centers. Solutions at the national level are vital to improve and advance the system, so that more packaging and more types of packaging are recycled. Economic and Environmental Benefits: Sec. On November 15, 2021, EPA released its final National Recycling Strategy. September 14, 1998. The report calls for the federal government to establish national goals and minimum performance standards for recycling programs, recognize top-performing material recovery facilities (MRFs) and harmonize recycling across the federal government by 2030. (a) The EPA shall develop guidance within 90 days from the date of this order to address environmentally preferable purchasing. (3) Upon request and to the extent practicable, the EPA shall assist executive agencies in designing, implementing, and documenting the results of these pilot and demonstration projects. (6) one year after a product is placed on the USDA Biobased Products List, estimate agencies' purchases of products on the list and report agencies' estimated purchases of such products to the Secretary of Agriculture. Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Among others, winners of agency-wide awards will be eligible for the White House Awards Program. (a) Agencies shall implement the EPA procurement guidelines for re-refined lubricating oil and retread tires. GMA issued its strong support of the Save Our Seas Act 2.0's proposals to improve the country's current waste management system and recycling infrastructure. 211. As philanthropic funders and commercial investors, we have an opportunity to solve food waste. The individual who is doing the design should be in very close interaction with the operator, whos very experienced in the vehicles that will be entering the building, he says. Official Agency Assets Contractors submit all paperwork-the pickup slips-to GSA instead of to each of the dozens of facilities, a procedure that saves the companies a substantial amount of administrative time. The federal government can develop national standards and definitions across the nations nearly 10,000 recycling systems, providing clear guidance to states and municipalities and taking the confusion out of the process for consumers and packaging producers. Sec. )The proposed funding covers a range of industrial activities, from geoscience and exploration to mineral processing, manufacturing and recycling applications, including support for research, development and technological deployment. This strategy committed EPA to conducting a study on reflecting environmental and social costs in product prices. The Steering Committee shall be composed of the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the Federal Environmental Executive (FEE), and the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP). In developing plans, drawings, work statements, specifications, or other product descriptions, agencies shall consider, as appropriate, a broad range of factors including: elimination of virgin material requirements; use of biobased products; use of recovered materials; reuse of product; life cycle cost; recyclability; use of environmentally preferable products; waste prevention (including toxicity reduction or elimination); and ultimate disposal. The Department of Energy Headquarters has instituted several recycling programs, starting with standard, solid waste recycling in 1991, and has expanded to include carpeting, batteries, and toner cartridges. Analysis shows the face masks help to add stiffness and strength to the final product, designed to be used for base layers of roads and pavements, states RMIT. (a) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the FEE and OFPP should evaluate the training courses provided by the Federal Acquisition Institute and the Defense Acquisition University and recommend any appropriate curriculum changes to ensure that procurement officials are aware of the requirements of this order. 903. Real solutions start with an honest assessment of the problem, which goes well beyond waste and will require far more than recycling to solve. US House of Representatives 210. Internal Revenue Service 6903 (19)). EPA stated that it anticipates completing the study by December 2022. The Dudley Reclamation Project opened in 2016 and is the largest < RCS-1/< RCS-2 facility in the state of Massachusetts, with more than 12 million tons of airspace. Sec. Those facilities can accept what are termed reuse soils under MassDEP Policy Number COMM-15-01. If there isnt enough room, then that truck is actually going to be in the same area where the operators are working with the C&D, which is a problem.. EPA stated that it anticipates completing the study by December 2022. Model Facility Programs. United States Postal Service "Executive agency" or "agency" means an executive agency as defined in 5 U.S.C. For decades, the U.S. recycling industry relied on selling recyclables in international markets. "Postconsumer material" is a part of the broader category of "recovered material.". California Statutes: A table of contents of California laws related to waste management.Links to the Legislative Counsel's office, which maintains all the statutes on line. 705. Department of Commerce The group says addressing recycling at the federal level has bipartisan support. Egosi also says that operators need to have a fire plan in place because if you have a C&D site, and specifically if youre taking in wood, youre probably shredding and youre probably grinding. We suggested that Congress consider clarifying which agency is responsible for stimulating the development of domestic markets, and recommended ways for the EPA to make progress on its strategy. Proper signage is a must for ensuring an orderly operation. 208. "Environmentally preferable" means products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose. Learn more about the federal #ZeroPlasticWaste agenda to #BeatPlasticPollution, including Canada's actions to keep plastics in the economy and out of the environment. Sec. 706. Review of Implementation. Why is less than 25% of U.S. waste collected for recycling? Executive Order 12873 of October 20, 1993, is hereby revoked. 506. (2) Prepare a biennial report to the President on the actions taken by the agencies to comply with this order. William J. Clinton By taking action, Congress can ensure a federal response to the reduction in international demand for U.S. recyclables. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) most recent data show that less than a quarter of the waste generated in the United States is collected for recycling (69 million of 292 million tons) and is potentially available, along with new materials, to make new products (see fig.). When designing a C&D recycling site, ample room for queuing is imperative for preventing logjams within the facility and for ensuring residential traffic isnt affected by trucks coming and going. We can do it philanthropically, we can do it commercially, we can do it in our own backyard, or we can do it nationally. He says because facility designers are often unfamiliar with industry-specific vehicles, they may not understand their respective turning radiuses. By better incorporating such characteristics as it finalizes and implements its draft strategy, EPA will have greater assurance of the strategy's usefulness in making resource and policy decisions and will better ensure accountability for its implementation. Recycling Programs. Acceptable plastics are; Statutes and Regulations. Since the battery recycling program started in 2005 over 9,700 pounds of batteries have been collected and recycled. John Hocevar, Greenpeace USA Oceans campaign director, released a statement that reads in part: It should come as no surprise that the association representing the worlds largest plastic polluters wants to double down on individual responsibility and recycling efforts to solve the pollution crisis. The recycled carpeting is made into other carpeting, car parking blocks, flooring, and other consumer products, closing the loop in the recycling process and fulfilling the goal of reusing materials. The Winchendon Landfill began accepting materials in early January 2021, with hours of operation set as Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. W. L. French also works in partnership with Dudley, Masachusetts-based Rampco Construction Co. to help operate two soil reclamation facilities in the Bay State: Fish Road Reclamation Project and Dudley Reclamation Project, which are both located in Dudley. US Pretrial Services Agency, Are you recycling Official Agency or your personal property? Although there are some universal design best practices, what makes sense for one facility may not make sense for another. Personally Owned Employee Property. Recycling in our country is in dire need of new policies and solutions. White House Awards Program. GSA recycling contractors pick up paper, cardboard, cans, glass/plastic bottles and printer cartridges from 120 federally-owned buildings housing over 110,000 employees in the Washington, DC area. The Federal Recycling Program allows participating government service agencies to recycle empty printer cartridges and various small electronics. The guidance may also address the issues of use of the technical expertise of nongovernmental entities and tools such as life cycle assessment in decisions on environmentally preferable purchasing. According to ReFEDs Insights Engine, the total amount of food waste per capita has decreased two percent over the last three years. Sec. Contractor Applicability. Stasz said fixing recycling in the U.S. is a catalyst for ending the linear economy in this country. We require that 100% of the carpet removed be recycled into carpet products and other by products and not be sent to landfills. Sec. U.S. policymakers also joined the RLC on the call. (c) Exclusive of the biobased products described in section 504, for the EPA-designated guideline items, which are contained in 40 CFR part 247, and for all future designated guideline items, agencies shall ensure that their affirmative procurement programs require 100 percent of their purchases of products to meet or exceed the EPA guideline unless written justification is provided that a product is not available competitively within a reasonable time frame, does not meet appropriate performance standards, or is only available at an unreasonable price. This strategy committed EPA to developing an implementation plan with more specificity about this action and the organizational lead. L. French has established itself as a leader in our regions soil and waste disposal industry, says W. L. French President Bill French Jr. We are looking forward to expanding our capabilities and services with this acquisition. It does not, however, include construction projects. Grant Opportunities Search Grants.gov Regional Grants Information UNICOR These professionals can help ensure a facility is built not only to meet an owners current needs, but also, able to accommodate forthcoming changes to the business. Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the Arlington, Virginia-based CBA, said in the press conference that the RLC and the suggestions it offers in its blueprint illustrate phenomenal collaboration between wide-ranging interests and how the federal government can be a positive force in fixing recycling in the U.S., He added, We all have responsibility for the success of the U.S. recycling system but cant fix what ails recycling in America without help from the federal level.. Based on GAO analysis of stakeholder views, five cross-cutting challenges affect the U.S. recycling system: (1) contamination of recyclables; (2) low collection of recyclables; (3) limited market demand for recyclables; (4) low profitability for operating recycling programs; and (5) limited information to support decision-making about recycling. ReFED estimates that an annual investment of $14 billion over the next ten years to implement prevention, rescue, and recycling solutions can reduce food waste by 45 million tons annually. 212. "Waste reduction" means preventing or decreasing the amount of waste being generated through waste prevention, recycling, or purchasing recycled and environmentally preferable products. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Between the stormwater] and other issues that can come with open-air operations such as aesthetic issues, noise, dust and other things that can cause environmental and community relation problems, ultimately, a business owner is going to say, I just need to put a roof over this thing. Of course, what often follows is automation to reduce the building size with a corresponding reduction in operating costs and quicker material movements to reduce pile sizes.. The collection bin is located at the front door, inside the Town Hall. The policies and direction expressed in the EPA guidance to be developed pursuant to section 503 of this order shall be implemented and incorporated in the Federal Acquisition Regulation within 180 days after issuance of the guidance. The Insights Engine also provides a comprehensive review of more than 40 food waste solutions to address these issues and more based on their impact potential (net economic benefit, food waste diverted, greenhouse gas emissions reduced, meals recovered and jobs created). GSA separates solid waste from clients into hazardous waste, recyclable materials, construction waste, and municipal waste. (Earlier post. Acquisition begins at the point when agency needs are established and includes the description of requirements to satisfy agency needs, solicitation and selection of sources, award of contracts, contract financing, contract performance, contract administration, and those technical and management functions directly related to the process of fulfilling agency needs by contract. While every type of material should have its place, these holding areas need not be uniform. You may have some roofing shingles that come in, but you may not get a lot of them, so maybe the shingles can go into a smaller area that is not as frequented as other areas where youre getting a lot of material, such as wood.. Evaluating federal, state and local laws that provide barriers to compost infrastructure Compiling a list of the current status of state and local composting and recycling programs An assessment of land needed and cost of expanding infrastructure of composting Study of compostable products and potential labeling and education needs (b) Executive agencies shall provide training to program management and requesting activities as needed to ensure awareness of the requirements of this order. The success of a C&D recycling operation is determined, at least in part, long before the doors of the facility are first opened. This guidance should encourage consideration of aggregating purchases when this method would promote economy and efficiency. (b) Once the Biobased Products List has been published, agencies are encouraged to modify their affirmative procurement program to give consideration to those products. Egosi says that one of the ways recyclers can deal with this runoff is investing in a stormwater collection system where the water that comes into contact with the C&D can be managed, contained, collected and then treated. If you have any questions about the recycling program please call: Forrestal (202) 586-6100 Guidance on Acquisition of Environmentally Preferable Products and Services. Prior to the capping project, the site has been permitted by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to accept up to 800,000 tons of COMM-97 Unlined Landfill grading and shaping materials. The GSA shall complete the review and revision of such specifications within 6 months after the date of this order, and shall consult closely with the Joint Committee on Printing during such process. Used cartridges may also be sent via internal mail to Forrestal Distribution, Room GL-084. Its just a question of what is your method of dealing with that?. Posted on: December 5, 2022 - 8:12am. 2795, as amended (42 U.S.C. Recycling Reforms. Sec. Recycling rates for common recyclables, such as paper, plastics, glass, and some metals, remain low. This comparison may consider raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, or disposal of the product or service. (4) Coordinate appropriate Government-wide education and training programs for agencies. General Services Administration 103. The Consumer Brands Associations (CBAs) RLC, which was formed in early 2020, includes that association as well as the American Cleaning Institute; PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies; the Household & Commercial Products Association; the nonprofit Ocean Conservancy; the Recycling Partnership; and Closed Loop Partners, among others. Department of the Interior Sec. 6901-6907), section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and in order to improve the Federal . Egosi also says operators should design their facility for fluctuating tonnages and volumes, which can shift based on seasonality, recessions, and local construction and demolition activity. (c) Each agency shall set a goal for increasing the use of environmentally preferable products and services for those products and services for which the agency has completed a pilot program. The Government of Canada on Friday released its Critical Minerals Strategy, backed by up to $3.8 billion in federal funding allocated in Budget 2022. In these cases, two-way scales can be utilized to make the most out of the space at the site. EPA, the Departments of Commerce (Commerce) and Energy, and the Federal Trade Commission have taken actions that advance recycling, such as collecting data and awarding grants for research on recycling technologies. Sec. This order is intended only to improve the internal management of the executive branch and is not intended to create any right, benefit, or trust responsibility, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law by a party against the United States, its agencies, its officers, or any other person. 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