Morro Bay, CA Recycled Product Purchasing Policies

Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted on 3/28/94

Vote: Unanimous

Source File: http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/LGLibrary/Innovations/Procurement/MorroRes.htm

Text:

Resolution No. 08-94
A resolution approving Waste Diversion and Recycled Product Purchasing policies

WHEREAS, sanitary landfill capacity is an increasingly scare resource in California and throughout the nation and must be preserved; and

WHEREAS, it is difficult and costly to site new landfills; and

WHEREAS, much of the material entering the waste stream can be recycled, reused, or incorporated into manufacturing new products; and

WHEREAS, City participation in and promotion of recycling and other waste diversion and reduction strategies conserves valuable resources, is the sustainable way to conduct business, and significantly reduces the volume of material disposed at a landfill, thereby extending its life and minimizing disposal costs; and

WHEREAS, the development of markets for recyclable materials is essential to effective waste diversion programs and it is therefore necessary to close the recycling loop by developing markets for products which contain recycled materials or are reusable or recyclable; and

WHEREAS, the City entered into a Curbside Recycling Franchise Agreement with Rock Solid Recycling dated October 25, 1993 to operate a comprehensive residential and commercial curbside recycling program, which was implemented on January 3, 1994 and all City departments are participating in said program; and

WHEREAS, Morro Bay Municipal Code Section 3.08.100E(1) established a recycled product purchasing policy and related price preference for products which contain recycled materials or are reusable or recyclable; and

WHEREAS, it is in the public interest to formalize existing waste diversions practices within the City organization and provide additional guidance to City departments regarding the implementation of the existing recycled product purchasing policy.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Morro Bay as follows:

1. The City of Morro Bay Waste Diversion Policy, attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference is hereby approved.

2. The City of Morro Bay Recycled Products Purchasing Policy, attached hereto as Exhibit B and incorporated herein by reference, is hereby approved.

Attachment A

City of Morro Bay Waste Diversion Policy

It is the policy of the City of Morro Bay for all departments and divisions to divert and reduce waste to the greatest extent possible in all aspects of City operations. This policy formalizes existing practices and establishes an internal structure to help achieve this goal.

1. All city employees in all departments and divisions shall make waste diversion and reduction a routine part of their respective jobs whenever feasible to the extent it does not adversely affect health, safety, or operational efficiency and effectiveness as determined by each department. This includes but is not limited to full participation in and support for the City’s new expanded curbside recycling program implemented by Rock Solid Recycling on January 3, 1994. Employees not resident in Morro Bay may bring recyclables from their homes to recycle through the City’s curbside recycling program. Recommended waste reduction strategies include but are not limited to the following:

• Double-sided copying whenever feasible.
• Eliminate duplicate subscriptions and duplicate incoming and outgoing mail whenever feasible.
• Consolidate orders and order in bulk whenever feasible, especially with regard to office supplies.
• Use durable containers for coffee and other drinks at the workplace whenever feasible instead of disposable or recyclable containers.
• Purchase and use reusable/refillable products whenever feasible instead of disposable products.
• Computer networking and "paperless"offices whenever feasible.

2. A City-wide waste diversion and reduction coordination function is hereby established. This function is initially assigned to the Department of Public Works, which manages the Curbside Recycling Franchise Agreement and represents the City regarding solid waste management issues at the regional level. The finance Department and the Recreation and Parks Department are directed to provide support to this function as needed. The City Administrator may re-assign this function in the future.

3. Each department shall appoint a departmental waste diversion coordinator to assure maximum participation in the City’s curbside recycling program in the workplace, to serve as liaison to the City wide waste diversion coordinator and the City’s curbside recycling contractor, and to promote waste reduction strategies.

4. A Waste Diversion Reduction Task Force is hereby established and shall be compromised of the above representatives and chaired by the City-wide waste diversion coordinator. The purpose of the Task Force is to encourage coast-effective waste diversion and reduction strategies, to monitor the City’s progress in this regard, identify and resolve related problems, and to make recommendations as appropriate.

5. The City’s waste diversion and reduction ethic and related policies and practices shall be included in the orientation of all new City employees.

Attachment B

City of Morro Bay Recycled Products Purchasing Policy

Pursuant to Morro Bay Municipal Code Section 3.08.100E(1), it is the policy of the City of Morro Bay to purchase products which are recyclable or reusable or contain recycled materials if the quality and fitness of such products are equal to unrecycled products, including a price preference not to exceed ten percent over the lowest price for quoted by suppliers of comparable unrecycled products. To continue its leadership role in diverting and reducing waste, as well as closing the recycling loop by purchasing recycled products whenever technically and economically feasible, the City Council hereby establishes a new policy to provide additional guidance to City departments with regard to implementation of existing policy.

1. Each Department shall make every reasonable effort to purchase and use recycled products or those with recycled content whenever feasible to the extent such use does not adversely effect health, safety, or operational efficiency and effectiveness as determined by each department, including but not limited to the items indicated on Attachment 1, attached hereto and incorporated by reference. The term "recycled products" shall be construed to mean products which contain recycled materials or are reusable or recyclable, provided however, that recycled paper products must contain recycled materials.

2. Each department shall review purchasing specifications and contract requirements and--where feasible--revise such specifications and contact requirements to encourage the use of recycled products. Each department shall consider--where feasible--the ability of products and\or their packaging to be reused, reconditioned, or recycled. Each department shall purchase--where feasible--products which minimize waste and toxic by-products in their manufacture, use, recycling, and disposal. Each department shall also purchase/lease--where feasible--capital equipment which is compatible with the use of products containing recycled materials.

3. The ten percent price preference allowed pursuant to existing policy may be granted only if the fitness and quality of recycled products are at least equal to unrecycled products as determined solely by the buying department. Product price comparison shall include life cycle cost considerations, when applicable.

4. When recycled products are used, vendors shall make reasonable efforts to label such products to indicate they contain recycled materials. All departments shall use for their masthead stationery, envelopes, and business cards, recycled paper that includes post-consumer recycled content and some indication they contain recycled material. Other recycled products used by the City shall also indicate they contain recycled material.

5. The City will cooperate to the greatest extent practicable with other local governments in an effort to develop a comprehensive, consistent and effective procurement effort intended to stimulate the market for recycled products, including cooperation with the proposed Regional Integrated Waste Management Authority when it is formed.

6. When the City acquires appropriate computer equipment and software, the Finance Department shall prepare and submit to the City Council an annual report summarizing the results of implementing this policy. This annual report shall include but not be limited to the City purchase by type during the preceding fiscal year, the quantity and cost of products, and recommendations for the exclusion or addition of specific products pursuant to this policy.

7. All departments shall work cooperatively to further the purpose of this policy. The City’s economic development activities shall strive to promote the markets for recycled material whenever feasible.