[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 219 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60976-60982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29733]
[[Page 60975]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part IV
Environmental Protection Agency
_______________________________________________________________________
Recovered Materials Advisory Notice II; Notice of Availability
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 219 / Thursday, November 13, 1997 /
Notices
[[Page 60976]]
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[SWH-FRL-5909-7]
Recovered Materials Advisory Notice II
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Final Document.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is providing notice of the
availability of the final Recovered Materials Advisory Notice II (RMAN
II) and supporting materials. The final RMAN II contains EPA's
recommendations for purchasing 12 items designated in the final
Comprehensive Procurement Guideline II, which is published elsewhere in
today's Federal Register. This action will promote recycling by using
government purchasing to expand markets for recovered materials. Under
section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, EPA
designates items that are or can be made with recovered materials and
provides recommendations for the procurement of these items. The 12
items for which EPA is making recommendations are shower and restroom
dividers/partitions, consolidated and reprocessed latex paint for
specified uses, parking stops, channelizers, delineators, flexible
delineators, plastic fencing for specified uses, garden and soaker
hoses, lawn and garden edging, printer ribbons, plastic envelopes, and
pallets. The final RMAN II contains recommended recovered materials
content levels for these items and other purchasing recommendations. In
addition, today's final RMAN II clarifies recommendations for floor
tiles previously made in a May 1, 1995 RMAN (60 FR 21392).
EFFECTIVE DATES: The recommendations for purchasing the 12 newly-
designated items are effective November 13, 1998. The clarifications to
the recommendations for purchasing floor tiles are effective upon
publication.
ADDRESSES: The public docket for this notice is Docket F-97-CP2F-FFFFF.
Documents related to today's notice are available for viewing in the
RCRA Information Center (RIC), which is located at U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Crystal Gateway One, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway,
Ground Floor, Arlington, VA 22202. The RIC is open from 9 a.m. to 4
p.m., Monday through Friday, except for Federal holidays. To review
docket materials, it is recommended that the public make an appointment
by calling (703) 603-9230. The public may copy a maximum of 100 pages
from any regulatory docket at no charge. Additional copies cost $0.15/
page. The index and some supporting materials are available
electronically. See Section V of the ``Supplementary Information''
section below for information on accessing the documents
electronically.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General procurement guidelines
information: RCRA Hotline at (800) 424-9346, TDD (800) 553-7672
(hearing impaired) or, in the Washington, DC area at (703) 412-9810 or
TDD (703) 412-3323.
Technical information on individual item recommendations: For paper
and paper products, vehicular products, construction products, non-
paper office products, and pallets: Dana Arnold, (703) 308-7279; for
landscaping products, transportation products, and park and recreation
products: Terry Grist, (703) 308-7257.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Preamble Outline
I. Authority
II. Background
III. Definitions
IV. Agency's Response to Comments
A. Ink Jet Cartridges
B. Comments on Other Items
V. Supporting Information and Accessing Internet
I. Authority
The Recovered Materials Advisory Notice II (RMAN II) is published
under the authority of sections 2002(a) and 6002 of the Solid Waste
Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
of 1976 (RCRA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 6912(a) and 6962; and Executive
Order 12873 (58 FR 54911, October 22, 1993).
II. Background
Section 6002 of RCRA establishes a Federal buy-recycled program.
RCRA section 6002(e) requires EPA to (1) designate items that are or
can be produced with recovered materials and (2) prepare guidelines to
assist procuring agencies in complying with affirmative procurement
requirements set forth in paragraphs (c), (d), and (i) of section 6002.
Once EPA has designated an item, section 6002 requires that any
procuring agency using appropriated Federal funds to procure that item
must purchase it containing recovered materials to the maximum extent
practicable. For the purposes of RCRA section 6002, procuring agencies
include the following: (1) any Federal agency; (2) any State or local
agencies using appropriated Federal funds for a procurement; and (3)
any contractors with these agencies (with respect to work performed
under the contract). The requirements of section 6002 apply to such
procuring agencies only when procuring a designated item where the
price of the item exceeds $10,000 or when the quantity of the item, or
functionally equivalent items, purchased in the previous year exceeded
$10,000.
Executive Order 12873 (58 FR 54911, October 22, 1993) directs EPA
to designate items in a Comprehensive Procurement Guideline (CPG) and
publish guidance that contains EPA's recommended recovered materials
content levels for the designated items in Recovered Materials Advisory
Notices (RMAN). The Executive Order further directs EPA to update the
CPG annually and the RMAN periodically to reflect changes in market
conditions. EPA codifies the CPG designations in the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), but, because the recommendations are guidance, the
RMAN is not codified in the CFR. This process enables EPA to make
timely revisions to its recommendations in response to changes in a
product's availability or recovered materials content.
EPA issued the CPG I and RMAN I on May 1, 1995 (60 FR 21370 and
21386, respectively). CPG I designated 19 items and consolidated five
previous item designations made in earlier EPA procurement guidelines,
and RMAN I recommended purchasing practices for these 24 items. On
November 7, 1996, EPA published CPG II (61 FR 57747), which proposed to
designate an additional 13 items. EPA concurrently published a draft
RMAN II (61 FR 57759). The 13 items proposed for designation were:
shower and restroom dividers, latex paint, parking stops, channelizers,
delineators, flexible delineators, snow fencing, garden and soaker
hoses, lawn and garden edging, printer ribbons, ink jet cartridges,
plastic envelopes, and pallets. The draft RMAN II also provided
clarification of EPA's 1995 recommendations for purchasing floor tiles
containing recovered materials. In today's final RMAN II, EPA is
publishing recommendations for 12 of the 13 items, as well as the floor
tiles clarification. For reasons discussed in subsection A below, EPA
has decided not to designate ink jet cartridges and, therefore, is not
publishing draft recommendations for purchasing this item.
EPA, once again, wants to stress that the recommendations in its
RMAN are just that--recommendations and guidance to procuring agencies
in fulfilling their obligations under section 6002. The designation of
an item as one
[[Page 60977]]
that is or can be manufactured with recovered materials and the
inclusions of recommended content levels for an item in an RMAN do not
compel the procurement of an item when it is not suitable for an
agency's intended purpose. Section 6002 is explicit in this regard when
it authorizes a procuring agency not to procure a designated item which
``fails to meet the performance standards set forth in the applicable
specification or fails to meet the reasonable performance standards of
the procuring agencies.'' Section 6002(1)(B), 42 U.S.C. 6962(c)(B).
Thus, for example, in the final CPG II published elsewhere in
today's Federal Register, EPA is designating shower and restroom
dividers/partitions as items that are or can be produced with recovered
materials. The Agency's research shows that these items are available
in either steel or plastic containing recovered materials. However, the
mere fact that these items are available containing recovered materials
does not require the procurement of steel or plastic dividers/
partitions in every circumstance. The choice of appropriate materials
used in construction remains with building engineers and architects.
The effect of designation (and section 6002) is simply to require the
purchase of items with recovered materials where consistent with the
purpose for which the item is to be used. Procuring agencies remain
free to procure dividers/partitions made of materials other than steel
or plastic (e.g., wood) where the design specifications call for other
materials.
III. Definitions
Today's final RMAN II recommends postconsumer or recovered
materials content levels at which EPA believes the designated items are
generally available. For shower and restroom dividers/partitions,
plastic fencing, lawn and garden edging, and plastic envelopes, the
RMAN II recommends two-part content levels--a postconsumer recovered
materials component and a total recovered materials component. In these
instances, EPA found that both types of materials were being used to
manufacture these products. Recommending only postconsumer content
levels would be contrary to the RCRA mandate to maximize the use of
recovered materials because it would fail to acknowledge the
contribution to solid waste management made by manufacturers using
other recovered materials as feedstock. The terms ``recovered
materials'' and ``postconsumer materials'' are defined in the CPG at 40
CFR 247.3. These definitions are repeated in this notice as a reference
for the convenience of the reader.
Postconsumer materials means a material or finished product that
has served its intended end use and has been diverted or recovered
from waste destined for disposal, having completed its life as a
consumer item. Postconsumer material is part of the broader category
of recovered materials.
Recovered materials means waste materials and byproducts which
have been recovered or diverted from solid waste, but such term does
not include those materials and byproducts generated from, and
commonly used within an original manufacturing process.
IV. Agency's Response to Public Comments
A. Ink Jet Cartridges
EPA received comments opposing the proposed designation of ink jet
cartridges. These comments raised solid waste, performance, quality,
availability, and patent and trademark concerns. After considering the
information submitted by commenters, EPA tentatively concluded that
there was insufficient evidence to support a designation of ink jet
cartridges at this time. On April 14, 1997, EPA published a Notice of
Data Availability in the Federal Register (62 FR 18072) in order to
notify interested parties of the tentative decision not to designate
ink jet cartridges, summarize the information available to the Agency,
and request further public comment.
EPA received only two responses to the April 14 notice--one from a
vendor of ink jet refilling equipment and additional information from
one of the original commenters. The vendor appears to have promising
technology for resolving many of the performance and solid waste issues
raised by commenters. The vendor did not, however, submit sufficient
information to change EPA's earlier conclusion that there is
insufficient information to support designating ink jet cartridges at
this time. Therefore, EPA is not designating ink jet cartridges in the
final CPG II published elsewhere in today's Federal Register. EPA also
is deleting the recommendations for purchasing ink jet cartridges from
today's final RMAN II. EPA will continue to monitor developments in ink
jet cartridge and refilling/remanufacturing technology and will
consider designating ink jet cartridges in the future.
B. Comments on Other Items
EPA received only a few comments on the draft RMAN II. One
commenter recommended that EPA refer to shower and restroom dividers as
``dividers/partitions.'' After researching common industry terminology,
EPA revised the term in the final CPG II and is using the term
``dividers/partitions'' in today's final RMAN II.
Commenters also recommended revisions to the recovered materials
content recommendations for steel shower and restroom dividers, white
and other light-colored reprocessed latex paints, and plastic pallets.
Based on the information provided by these commenters and additional
research, EPA revised the recommendations for these items in today's
final RMAN II. EPA revised the steel content recommendations, added
content recommendations for white and other light-colored reprocessed
latex paint, and distinguished between plastic lumber pallets and
thermoset plastic pallets in recommending content levels for plastic
pallets.
In addition, in the final CPG II published in the final rules
section of today's Federal Register, EPA revised the latex paint
designation from the broad category ``latex paint'' to a more specific
designation of ``consolidated latex paint used for covering graffiti
and reprocessed latex paint used for interior and exterior
architectural applications such as wallboard, ceilings, and trim;
gutter boards; and concrete, stucco, masonry, wood, and metal
surfaces.'' Because the more specific designation includes the
applications that EPA previously had recommended in the draft RMAN II,
EPA has deleted those recommendations from Section C-7 of the final
RMAN II. EPA also added a note to the table of recommended content
levels for reprocessed and consolidated latex paint informing agencies
that the recommendations applied to reprocessed and consolidated latex
paints used for the designated applications.
Similarly, in today's final CPG II, EPA revised the snow fencing
designation to ``plastic fencing containing recovered plastic for use
in controlling snow or sand drifting and as a warning/safety barrier in
construction or other applications.'' In the final RMAN II, EPA added
information about specifications for plastic fencing used for warning
and safety barriers.
Commenters also provided additional information about
specifications and available sources of the designated products. These
comments have been incorporated into today's final RMAN II.
A summary of all of the comments and the Agency's response are
provided in the document entitled ``Final CPG II/RMAN II Background
Document.'' A copy of this document has been placed in the docket for
the final RMAN II. See ADDRESSES above for information
[[Page 60978]]
about reviewing documents in the public docket.
V. Supporting Information and Accessing Internet
The index of supporting materials for today's final RMAN II is
available in the RCRA Information Center (RIC) and on the Internet. The
address and telephone number of the RIC are provided in ADDRESSES
above. The index and the following supporting materials are available
on the Internet:
``Final CPG II/RMAN II Background Document,'' U.S. EPA, Office of
Solid Waste and Emergency Response, September 1997.
Copies of the following supporting materials are available for
viewing at the RIC only:
``Ex Parte Meeting Notes, Meeting Between U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and National Paint & Coatings Association, June 17,
1997.''
``Letter to Dana F. Arnold, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
from National Paint & Coatings Association, July 28, 1997.''
Follow these instructions to access the information electronically:
WWW: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/index.htm#procure.
FTP: ftp.epa/gov
Login: anonymous
Password: your Internet address
Files are located in /pub/epaoswer.
Dated: October 8, 1997.
Carol M. Browner,
Administrator.
Recovered Materials Advisory Notice II
The following represents EPA's recommendations to procuring
agencies for purchasing the items designated today in the Comprehensive
Procurement Guideline II in compliance with section 6002 of the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). These recommendations
are intended to be used in conjunction with the RMAN issued on May 1,
1995 (60 FR 21386) and the Paper Products RMAN issued on May 29, 1996
(61 FR 26985). Refer to the May 1, 1995 RMAN for definitions, general
recommendations for affirmative procurement programs, and
recommendations for previously designated items.
Contents
I. General Recommendations
II. Specific Recommendations for Procurement of Designated Items
Part C--Construction Products
Section C-5--Floor Tiles and Patio Blocks Containing Recovered
Plastic or Rubber
Section C-6--Shower and Restroom Dividers/Partitions Containing
Recovered Plastic or Steel
Section C-7--Reprocessed and Consolidated Latex Paints for Specified
Uses
Part D--Transportation Products
Section D-2--Parking Stops Made from Concrete or Containing
Recovered Plastic or Rubber
Section D-3--Channelizers, Delineators, and Flexible Delineators
Containing Recovered Plastic, Rubber, or Steel
Part E--Park and Recreation Products
Section E-2--Plastic Fencing Containing Recovered Plastic for
Specified Uses
Part F--Landscaping Products
Section F-3--Garden and Soaker Hoses Containing Recovered Plastic or
Rubber
Section F-4--Lawn and Garden Edging Containing Recovered Plastic or
Rubber
Part G--Non-Paper Office Products
Section G-6--Printer Ribbons
Section G-7--Plastic Envelopes
Part H--Miscellaneous Products
Section H-1--Pallets Containing Recovered Wood, Plastic, or
Paperboard
I. General Recommendations
(See the May 1, 1995 RMAN for EPA's general recommendations for
definitions, specifications, and affirmative procurement programs.)
II. Specific Recommendations for Procurement of Designated Items
(See the May 1, 1995 RMAN and the May 29, 1996 Paper Products RMAN for
recommendations for purchasing previously-designated items.)
Part C--Construction Products
Note: Refer to Section E-2--Plastic Fencing Containing Recovered
Plastic for Specified Uses and to Part F--Landscaping Products for
additional items that can be used in construction applications.
Section C-5--Floor Tiles and Patio Blocks Containing Recovered Plastic
or Rubber
Note: Table C-5 contains a clarification of EPA's
recommendations for floor tiles. Table C-5 originally was published
in the May 1, 1995 RMAN and contained EPA's recommendations for
patio blocks, as well as recommendations for floor tiles. For the
convenience of procuring agencies and other interested parties, EPA
is republishing all of Section C-5, including Table C-5, with both
the floor tiles and patio blocks recommendations. Readers should
note that no change has been made to the recommendations for patio
blocks.
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table C-5, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing floor tiles
and patio blocks. The recommended use of floor tiles containing
recovered materials is limited to the applications cited in Table C-5.
Table C-5.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Floor Tiles and Patio Blocks Containing Recovered
Plastic or Rubber
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
Postconsumer recovered
Product Material materials (%) materials
content (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Patio Blocks............................... Rubber or rubber blends............ 90-100 ----
Plastic or plastic Blends.......... ---- 90-100
Floor Tiles (heavy duty/commercial use).... Rubber............................. 90-100 ----
Plastic............................ ---- 90-100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: The use of floor tiles with recovered materials content may be appropriate only for specialty purpose
uses (e.g., raised, open-web tiles for drainage on school kitchen flooring). Such specialty purpose uses
involve limited flooring areas where grease, tar, snow, ice, wetness or similar substances or conditions are
likely to be present. Thus, EPA has no recovered materials content level recommendations for floor tiles made
with recovered materials for standard office or more general purpose uses.
The recommended recovered materials content levels are based on dry weight of the raw materials, exclusive of
any additives such as adhesives, binders, or coloring agent. EPA's recommendation does not preclude agencies
from purchasing floor tiles or patio blocks manufactured from other materials. It simply recommends that
procuring agencies, when purchasing floor tiles or patio blocks made from rubber or plastic, purchase these
items made from recovered materials when these items meet applicable specifications and performance
requirements.
[[Page 60979]]
Section C-6--Shower and Restroom Dividers/Partitions Containing
Recovered Plastic or Steel
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table C-6, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing shower and
restroom dividers/partitions.
Table C-6.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Shower
and Restroom Dividers/Partitions Containing Recovered Plastic or Steel
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total recovered
Material Postconsumer materials content
materials (%) (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steel............................. 16 20-30
Plastic........................... 20-100 20-100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: EPA's recommendation does not preclude agencies from purchasing
shower and restroom dividers/partitions manufactured from another
material, such as wood. It simply recommends that procuring agencies,
when purchasing shower and restroom dividers/partitions made from
plastic or steel, purchase these items made from recovered materials
when these items meet applicable specifications and performance
requirements.
Specifications: EPA recommends that procuring agencies use the
following specifications when procuring shower and restroom dividers/
partitions:
(1) The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has issued guidance
for specifying construction materials, including plastic and steel
dividers/partitions. The AIA guidance is known throughout the
construction industry as the ``Masterspec'' and is available through
the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).
(2) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Guide Specification CEGS-10160,
Toilet Partitions.
Section C-7--Reprocessed and Consolidated Latex Paints for Specified
Uses
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table C-7, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing reprocessed
and consolidated latex paints.
Table C-7.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for
Reprocessed and Consolidated Latex Paints
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Postconsumer
Product latex paint
(%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reprocessed Latex Paint.................................
White, off-white, and pastel colors..................... 20
Grey, brown, earthtones, and other dark colors.......... 50-99
Consolidated latex paint................................ 100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: EPA's recommendations apply to reprocessed latex paints used for
interior and exterior architectural applications such as wallboard,
ceilings, and trim; gutter boards; and concrete, stucco, masonry,
wood, and metal surfaces, and to consolidated latex paints used for
covering graffiti, where color and consistency of performance are not
primary concerns.
EPA's recommendation does not preclude agencies from purchasing paints
manufactured from other, non-latex materials, such as oil-based
paints. It simply recommends that procuring agencies, when purchasing
latex paints, purchase these items made from postconsumer recovered
materials when these items meet applicable specifications and
performance requirements.
Reprocessed and consolidated latex paints are available to Federal
agencies through the GSA Federal Supply Service by ordering the
following stock numbers:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colors FEDSTD 595B Color
National Stock Numbers No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Semi-gloss
------------------------------------------------------------------------
8010-01-380-2400......................... Beige #27769
8010-01-380-2405......................... Blue-gray #26420
8010-01-380-2438......................... Sand-green #26307
8010-01-380-2382......................... Sand-gray #26306
8010-01-380-2331......................... Gray #26134
8010-01-380-2429......................... Dark gray #26081
8010-01-380-2338......................... Green #24491
8010-01-380-2379......................... Sand #23690
8010-01-380-2332......................... Tan #23617
8010-01-380-2417......................... Tan #20372
8010-01-380-2353......................... Sand-yellow #20318
8010-01-380-2363......................... Dark brown #20140
8010-01-380-2447......................... Red brown #20100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flat
------------------------------------------------------------------------
8010-01-380-3293......................... White #37886
8010-01-380-2425......................... Beige #37769
[[Page 60980]]
8010-01-380-2442......................... Blue-gray #36650
8010-01-380-2381......................... Gray #36134
8010-01-380-2367......................... Dark gray #36081
8010-01-380-2396......................... Blue #35526
8010-01-380-2366......................... Green #34491
8010-01-380-2421......................... Sand #33690
8010-01-380-2351......................... Tan #33617
8010-01-380-2416......................... Dark brown #30140
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The GSA Federal Supply Service has a free paint brochure available by
calling 1-800-241-RAIN or FAX requests to (206) 931-7544.
Specifications: (1) EPA recommends that procuring agencies use GSA
specification TT-P-2846, Paint, Latex (Recycled with Post-Consumer
Waste). This specification applies to interior, exterior, and interior/
exterior latex paints intended for use on wallboard, concrete, stucco,
masonry, and wood.
(2) GSA specification TT-P-2846 requires high content levels (50-
90% postconsumer paint). EPA recommends that procuring agencies refer
to the requirements and quality assurance provisions in TT-P-2846 when
purchasing reprocessed latex paint containing lower levels of
postconsumer paint (e.g., whites, off-whites, and pastel colors).
Part D--Transportation Products
Section D-2--Parking Stops Made from Concrete or Containing Recovered
Plastic or Rubber
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table D-2, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing parking
stops.
Table D-2.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Parking
Stops Made from Concrete or Containing Recovered Plastic or Rubber
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recovered
Material Postconsumer materials
content (%) content (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plastic and/or rubber................... 100 -----
Concrete containing coal fly ash........ ----- 20-40
Concrete containing GGBF slag........... ----- 25-70
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: Parking stops made with recovered plastics may also include other
recovered materials such as sawdust, wood, or fiberglass. The
percentage of these materials contained in the product would also
count toward the recovered materials content level of the parking
stops.
ASTM specification C595M-95 Standard Specification for Blended Hydraulic
Cements specifies the appropriate mix design, including recovered
materials content, for concrete containing coal fly ash and GGBF slag.
EPA's recommendation does not preclude a procuring agency from
purchasing parking stops manufactured from another material. It simply
requires that a procuring agency, when purchasing concrete parking
stops or parking stops made with plastic or rubber, purchase these
items made with recovered materials when these items meet applicable
specifications and performance requirements.
Section D-3--Channelizers, Delineators, and Flexible Delineators
Containing Recovered Plastic, Rubber, or Steel
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table D-3, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing channelizers,
delineators, and flexible delineators.
Table D-3.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for
Channelizers, Delineators, and Flexible Delineators Containing Recovered
Plastic, Rubber, or Steel
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Postconsumer
Product Material content (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Channelizers................... Plastic................ 25-95
Rubber (base only)..... 100
Delineators.................... Plastic................ 25-90
Rubber (base only)..... 100
Steel (base only)...... 25-50
Flexible delineators........... Plastic................ 25-85
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: EPA's recommendation does not preclude a procuring agency from
purchasing channelizers, delineators, or flexible delineators
manufactured from another material. It simply requires that a
procuring agency, when purchasing these items made from rubber,
plastic, or steel, purchase them made with recovered materials when
these items meet applicable specifications and performance
requirements.
Specifications: EPA recommends that procuring agencies use the
following specifications when procuring channelizers, delineators, and
flexible delineators:
(1) The Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic
Control Devices contains specifications for the size, shape, mounting,
and placement of temporary traffic control devices.
(2) The States of Florida and North Carolina have specifications
that require the use of recovered materials in their flexible
delineators. The California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) has
specifications for ``Drivable
[[Page 60981]]
Flexible Plastic Guide Marker and Clearance Marker Posts.'' A copy of
these specifications are available from the RCRA Hotline at 1-800-424-
9346.
Part E--Park and Recreation Products
Section E-2--Plastic Fencing Containing Recovered Plastic for Specified
Uses
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table E-2, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing plastic
fencing for use in controlling snow or sand drifting and as a warning/
safety barrier in construction or other applications.
Table E-2.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Fencing
Containing Recovered Plastic
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
Postconsumer recovered
Material content (%) materials
content (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plastic................................. 60-100 90-100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: EPA's recommendation does not preclude a procuring agency from
purchasing fencing manufactured from another material, such as wood.
It simply requires that a procuring agency, when purchasing plastic
fencing, purchase this item made with recovered materials when this
item meets applicable specifications and performance requirements.
Specifications: The State of New York developed a specification for
orange-colored plastic fencing used for snow barriers, warning
barriers, and safety barriers, but discontinued its use because the
state did not purchase enough fencing to warrant maintaining the
specification. Height varied, depending on application, from four to
six feet. Weight varied from 17 pounds per 100 foot section for warning
barriers to 48 pounds per 100 foot section for snow fencing to 66
pounds per 100 foot section for six-foot safety barrier fencing. The
New York specification also addressed mesh size, porosity, service
temperature range, and strength for each application. A copy of this
specification is available from the RCRA Hotline by calling 1-800-424-
9346.
Part F--Landscaping Products
Section F-3--Garden and Soaker Hoses Containing Recovered Plastic
or Rubber
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table F-3, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing garden and
soaker hoses.
Table F-3.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Garden
and Soaker Hoses Containing Recovered Plastic or Rubber
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Postconsumer
Product Material content (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Garden hose.................... Rubber and/or plastic.. 60-65
Soaker hose.................... Rubber and/or plastic.. 60-70
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: EPA's recommendation does not preclude a procuring agency from
purchasing garden and soaker hoses manufactured from another material.
It simply requires that a procuring agency, when purchasing garden and
soaker hoses made from plastic or rubber, purchase these items made
with recovered materials when these items meet applicable
specifications and performance requirements.
The Green Seal specification for watering hoses includes a 50 percent
postconsumer content level. However, all companies from which EPA
obtained information manufacture garden and/or soaker hoses with at
least 60 percent postconsumer content.
Specifications: EPA recommends that procuring agencies use the
following specifications when procuring garden and soaker hoses:
(1) ASTM D3901 Consumer Specification for Garden Hose. The
specification addresses physical and performance characteristics
(pressure, tensile, and ripping strength tests) and states that the
material components are to be agreed upon by the purchaser and seller.
(2) Green Seal GC-2: Watering Hoses. The standard calls for the use
of 50 percent postconsumer rubber material in garden hoses and 65
percent postconsumer rubber material in soaker hoses. EPA recommends
that, when purchasing garden hoses, procuring agencies reference the
technical requirements of this specification but set a higher content
standard. Section F-4--Lawn and Garden Edging Containing Recovered
Plastic or Rubber
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table F-4, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing lawn and
garden edging.
Table F-4.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Lawn and
Garden Edging Containing Recovered Plastic or Rubber
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
Postconsumer recovered
Material content (%) materials
content (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plastic and/or rubber................... 30-100 30-100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: EPA's recommendation does not preclude a procuring agency from
purchasing lawn and garden edging manufactured from another material,
such as wood. It simply requires that a procuring agency, when
purchasing lawn and garden edging made from plastic and/or rubber,
purchase these items made with recovered materials when these items
meet applicable specifications and performance requirements.
[[Page 60982]]
Part G--Non-Paper Office Products
Section G-6--Printer Ribbons
Preference Program: Minimum content standards are not appropriate
for remanufactured items, such as printer ribbons, because a core part
of the item is reused in the new product, even though certain
components of a printer ribbon may contain recovered materials. In lieu
of content standards, EPA recommends that procuring agencies adopt one
or both of the following approaches: (1) procure printer ribbon
reinking or reloading services or (2) procure reinked or reloaded
printer ribbons. EPA further recommends that procuring agencies
establish policies that give priority to reinking or reloading their
expended printer ribbons. If reinking and reloading services are
unavailable, procuring agencies should attempt to purchase reinked or
reloaded printer ribbons. GSA offers remanufactured printer ribbons on
the New Item Introductory Schedule (NIIS).
Specifications: The State of Alabama has a specification for
reinked ribbons which requires the ribbons to be vacuum cleaned,
reinked, and rewound to proper tension. A copy of this specification is
available from the RCRA Hotline at 1-800-424-9346.
Section G-7--Plastic Envelopes
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table G-7, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing plastic
envelopes.
Table G-7.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Plastic Envelopes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total recovered
Material Postconsumer materials
content (%) content (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plastic..................................................................... 25 25-35
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: EPA's recommendation does not preclude a procuring agency from purchasing envelopes manufactured from
another material, such as paper. It simply requires that a procuring agency, when purchasing envelopes made
from plastic, purchase these items made with recovered materials when these items meet applicable
specifications and performance requirements. Procuring agencies should note, however, that paper envelopes
fall within the scope of EPA's previous designation of paper and paper products. EPA issued postconsumer and
recovered materials content recommendations for paper products, including envelopes, in the Paper Products
RMAN, which was issued in the Federal Register on May 29, 1996 at 61 FR 26985. A copy of the Paper Products
RMAN is available from the RCRA Hotline at 1-800-424-9346 and electronically via EPA's Public Access Server at
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/search.htm.
Specifications: (1) GSA, the Government Printing Office (GPO), and
the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) all currently purchase plastic envelopes
made from Tyvek containing recovered HDPE. GSA specifies
``DuPont Tyvek or equal.'' USPS requires ``DuPont
Tyvek.'' GPO requires ``white spunbonded polyethylene with
the characteristics of DuPont's product no. 1073;'' the title of the
solicitation, however, states ``Tyvek envelopes or
similar.''
(2) The Navy requests that plastic envelopes not be sent to ships
in order to minimize onboard disposal of plastic.
Part H--Miscellaneous Products
Section H-1--Pallets Containing Recovered Wood, Plastic, or Paperboard
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table H-1, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing pallets.
Table H-1.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Pallets
Containing Recovered Wood, Plastic, or Paperboard
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Postconsumer
Product Material content (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wooden pallets................. Wood................... 95-100
Plastic pallets:
Plastic lumber............. Plastic................ 100
Thermoformed............... Plastic................ 25-50
Paperboard pallets............. Paperboard............. 50
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: EPA's recommendation does not preclude a procuring agency from
purchasing pallets manufactured from another material. It simply
requires that a procuring agency, when purchasing pallets made from
wood, plastic, or paperboard, purchase these items made with recovered
materials when these items meet applicable specifications and
performance requirements.
Specifications: EPA recommends that procuring agencies use the
following specifications when procuring pallets:
(1) The Grocery Manufacturers of America issued a widely used
standard for 48 by 40-inch stringer pallets known as the ``GMA spec.''
A copy of this specification is available from the RCRA Hotline at 1-
800-424-9346.
(2) The National Wooden Pallet and Container Association is
developing a standard through the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) for repairable 48 by 40-inch lumber-deck pallets. Contact NWPCA
at (703) 527-7667 for current information about the availability of
this standard.
(3) U.S. Postal Service specification USPS-P-1108, ``Pallet,
Nestable, Plastic, Thermoformed (Item No. 3919B)'' is for thermoformed
HDPE pallets. A copy of the current version, USPS-P-1108E, is available
from the RCRA Hotline at 1-800-424-9346.
[FR Doc. 97-29733 Filed 11-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P