[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Linwood
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Claims approval — See Ch. 7.
[Adopted 12-14-2011 by Ord. No. 17-2011]
It is the policy and practice of the City of Linwood to:
A.
Endeavor to institute practices that reduce waste by increasing product
efficiency and effectiveness; and
B.
Endeavor to purchase products that minimize environmental impacts,
toxics, pollution, and hazards to worker and community safety to the
greatest extent practicable; and
C.
Endeavor to purchase products that include recycled content, are
durable and long-lasting, conserve energy and water, use agricultural
fibers and residues, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, use unbleached
or chlorine-free manufacturing processes, are lead-free and mercury-free,
and use wood from sustainably harvested forests (FSC) when and where
possible.
A.
The goal of this policy is to encourage and increase the use of environmentally
preferable products and services whenever and where practicable in
the City of Linwood. By including environmental considerations in
purchasing decisions, the City of Linwood can promote practices that
improve public and worker health, conserve natural resources, and
reward environmentally conscious manufacturers, while remaining fiscally
responsible.
B.
The policy objectives are, whenever and where practicable, to:
(1)
Conserve natural resources;
(2)
Minimize environmental impacts such as pollution and use of water
and energy;
(3)
Eliminate or reduce toxics that create hazards to workers and our
community;
(4)
Support strong recycling markets;
(5)
Reduce materials that are routinely landfilled or disposed of;
(6)
Increase the use and availability of environmentally preferable products
that protect the environment;
(7)
Identify environmentally preferable products and associated distribution
systems;
(8)
Reward manufacturers and vendors with contracts that reduce environmental
impacts in their production and distribution systems or services;
(9)
Collect and maintain up-to-date information regarding manufacturers,
vendors and other sources for locating/ordering environmentally preferable
products;
(10)
Create a model for successfully purchasing environmentally preferable
products that encourages other purchasers in our community to adopt
similar goals.
A.
The City of Linwood Finance Department and members of the Green Team,
which shall be composed of representatives from various City departments/divisions,
commissions/committees and volunteer organizations, shall attempt
to research, evaluate, and implement the environmental purchasing
objectives. The Green Team Committee shall focus its research, evaluation
and the implementation of the Green Policy in the following areas:
(1)
Recycled content products (e.g. paper products, playground/recreation
equipment, toner/printer cartridges, motor oils and lubricants, furniture,
carpets and flooring materials, matting, plastic/composite lumber/building
materials, trash bags, parking stops, ceiling tiles, etc.)
(2)
Less harmful and nontoxic materials and processes (e.g., janitorial/cleaning
products, pest management chemicals, phosphates, paint, solvents,
fuels and lubricants, etc.)
(3)
Energy- and water-efficient products and processes (e.g., solar applications,
energy-efficient lighting, ENERGY STAR® appliances, water-saving
devices, vehicles and motorized equipment, etc.)
(4)
Natural resource and landscaping management (e.g., integrated pest
and vegetation management, drought-tolerant/indigenous plants and
shrubs, recycled mulches and natural composts, etc.)
(5)
Renewable products (e.g., FSC-certified forest products, renewable
energy resources, etc.)
(6)
Disposal and pollution reduction (e.g., integrated waste management,
duplex copies, retread tires, reusable holiday trees, recycling programs
for used ceiling tiles and flooring materials, etc.)
(7)
Packaging (e.g., bulk packaging, reusable boxes, recycled packing
materials, shipping pallets, etc.)
(8)
Green Building Program (e.g., using recycled products in construction
and renovation, disposal of building materials in an environmentally
sensitive manner, designing and renovating for energy and resource
conservation).
B.
The Committee is aware that the evaluation and implementation phases
of the project will require changes in awareness, behaviors, practices
and operating procedures. To the extent possible, it is the Committee's
intention to have a participative process as it researches, evaluates
and implements the policy recommendations. It is also the Committee's
intention to meet annually after implementation to monitor and evaluate
the City of Linwood's progress in this area.
A.
Source reduction.
(1)
To the extent practicable, the City of Linwood shall institute practices
that reduce waste and result in the purchase of fewer products whenever
practicable and cost-effective, but without reducing safety or overall
workplace quality.
(2)
To the extent practicable, the City of Linwood shall purchase remanufactured
products such as toner/printer cartridges, retread tires, furniture,
equipment and automotive parts whenever practicable, but without reducing
safety, quality or effectiveness.
(3)
To the extent practicable, the City of Linwood shall require all
equipment bought after the adoption of this policy to be compatible
with source reduction goals as referred to in the policy, when and
where practicable.
(4)
All buyers shall consider short-term and long-term costs in comparing
product alternatives, when feasible. This includes the evaluation
of the total costs expected during the lifetime of the product, including,
but not limited to, acquisition, extended warranties, operation, supplies,
maintenance, disposal costs and expected lifetime compared to other
alternatives.
(5)
Products that are durable, long lasting, reusable or refillable shall
be preferred whenever available and practicable.
(6)
To the extent practicable the City of Linwood requests vendors to
eliminate excess packaging or to utilize the minimum amount necessary
for product protection, to the greatest extent practicable.
(7)
Packaging that is reusable, recyclable or compostable shall be preferred,
when suitable uses and programs readily exist.
(8)
Vendors shall be encouraged to take back and reuse wooden pallets
and other shipping and packaging materials when and where practicable.
(9)
Suppliers of electronic equipment, including but not limited to computers,
monitors, printers, fax machines and photocopiers, shall be required
to take back the equipment for reuse or environmentally safe recycling
when the City of Linwood discards or replaces such equipment, whenever
and where practicable.
(10)
To the extent practicable, the City of Linwood shall consider
provisions in contracts with suppliers of nonelectronic equipment
that require suppliers to take back equipment for reuse or environmentally
safe recycling when the City discards or replaces such equipment,
whenever practicable.
(11)
All documents shall be printed and photocopied on both sides
(duplex) to reduce the use and purchase of photocopy paper, whenever
and where practicable.
B.
Recycled content products.
(1)
All products for which the United States Environmental Protection
Agency (U.S. EPA) has established minimum recycled content standard
guidelines in the Agency's Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines,
such as those for printing paper, photocopy paper, janitorial paper
products, construction, landscaping, parks and recreation, transportation,
vehicles, miscellaneous and nonpaper office products, shall contain
the highest postconsumer content practicable to the application, but
no less than the minimum recycled content standards established by
the U.S. EPA guidelines.
(2)
Photocopiers and printers purchased or leased by the City of Linwood
shall be compatible with the use of recycled content and remanufactured
products whenever and where practicable.
(3)
To the extent practicable, the City shall purchase re-refined lubricating
and industrial oil for use in its vehicles and other motorized equipment,
as long as it is certified by the American Petroleum Institute (API)
as appropriate for use in such equipment.
(4)
When specifying asphalt concrete, aggregate base or portland cement
concrete for road construction projects, the City shall utilize recycled,
reusable or reground materials when and where practicable.
(5)
To the extent practicable, the City shall specify and purchase recycled
content transportation products, including signs, traffic cones, parking
stops, delineators, channelizers and barricades, which shall contain
the highest postconsumer content practicable, but no less than the
minimum recycled content standards established by the U.S. EPA Comprehensive
Procurement Guidelines.
(6)
All preprinted recycled content papers intended for distribution
that are purchased or produced shall contain a statement that the
paper is recycled content of a minimum of 30% recycled postconsumer
content. Whenever feasible, the statement should indicate the percentage
of postconsumer recycled content that the paper contains.
C.
Energy and water savings.
(1)
Where applicable and feasible, energy-efficient equipment shall be
purchased with the most up-to-date energy efficiency functions. This
includes, but is not limited to, high-efficiency space heating systems
and high-efficiency space cooling equipment.
(2)
When practicable and feasible, the City shall replace inefficient
interior lighting with energy-efficient equipment and bulbs.
(3)
When practicable and feasible, the City shall replace inefficient
exterior lighting, streetlighting and traffic signal lights with energy-efficient
equipment and bulbs. Exterior lighting shall be minimized when and
where possible to avoid unnecessary lighting of architectural and
landscape features while providing adequate illumination for safety
and accessibility.
(4)
All products purchased by the City and for which the U.S. EPA ENERGY
STAR® certification is available shall meet ENERGY STAR® certification,
when practicable and available. When ENERGY STAR® labels are not
available, the City of Linwood shall choose energy-efficient products
that are in the upper 25% of energy efficiency as designated by the
Federal Energy Management Program.
(5)
To the extent practicable, the City shall purchase water-saving/conservation
products. This includes, but is not limited to, high-performance fixtures
such as toilets, low-flow faucets and aerators, and upgraded landscape
irrigation systems.
D.
Green buildings and LEED IM ratings. All building and renovations
undertaken by the City shall follow green building practices for design,
construction, and operation, where appropriate and practicable, as
described in the LEED IM rating system. Architects and engineers procured
for said work shall be required to have LEED-certified members on
their staff assigned to the project when and where practicable.
E.
Landscaping and hardscaping.
(1)
All landscape renovations, construction and maintenance performed
by the City, including workers and contractors providing landscaping
services for the City, where practicable, shall employ sustainable
landscape management techniques for design, construction and maintenance
whenever and where possible, including, but not limited to, integrated
pest management (IPM), grass recycling, drip irrigation, composting,
and the procurement and use of mulch and compost that give preference
to those products produced from regionally generated plant debris
and/or food and sludge waste programs.
(2)
Plants should be selected to minimize waste by choosing species for
purchase that are appropriate to the microclimate, species that can
grow to their natural size in the space allotted to them, and perennials
rather than annuals for color variations should be utilized. Native
and drought-tolerant plants that require no or minimal watering once
established are preferred over others when and where practicable.
(3)
Hardscapes and landscape structures constructed of recycled content
materials are encouraged to be utilized. The City shall limit the
amount of impervious surfaces in the landscape, when and where practicable.
Permeable substitutes, such as permeable asphalt or pavers, are encouraged
for walkways, patios and driveways.
F.
Toxics and pollution.
(1)
To the extent practicable, the City shall purchase, or require janitorial
contractors to supply, industrial and institutional cleaning products
that meet and/or exceed the Green Seal Certification Standards for
environmental preferability and performance.
(2)
To the extent practicable, the City shall purchase, or require janitorial
contractors to supply, vacuum cleaners that meet the requirements
of the Carpet and Rug Institute "Green Label" Testing Program —
Vacuum Cleaner Criteria, are capable of capturing 96% of particulates
0.3 microns in size, and operate with a sound level less than 70 dBA.
Where possible and as applicable, other janitorial cleaning equipment
shall be capable of capturing fine particulates, removing sufficient
moisture so as to dry within 24 hours, operate with a sound level
less than 70 dBA, and use high-efficiency, low-emissions engines.
(3)
The use of chlorofluorocarbon-, Halon- and Freon-containing refrigerants,
solvents and other products shall be phased out, and new purchases
of heating/ventilating/air conditioning, refrigeration, insulation
and fire suppression systems shall not contain them.
(4)
All surfactants and detergents shall be readily biodegradable and,
where practicable, shall not contain phosphates.
(5)
When maintaining buildings and landscapes, the City, when practicable,
shall manage pest problems through prevention and physical, mechanical
and biological controls. The City may either adopt and implement an
organic pest management policy and practices or adopt and implement
an integrated pest management (IPM) policy and practices using the
least toxic pest control method as a last resort.
(6)
When maintaining buildings, the City, when practicable, shall utilize
products with the lowest amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
highest recycled content, and low or no formaldehyde or lead when
practicable when purchasing materials such as paint, carpeting, flooring
materials, adhesives, furniture, filing cabinetry, ceiling tiles,
coving, moldings and casework.
(7)
To the extent practicable, the City shall reduce or eliminate its
use of products that contribute to the formation of dioxins and furans.
This includes, but is not limited to:
(a)
Photocopier paper, paper products, and janitorial paper products
that are unbleached or that are processed without chlorine or chlorine
derivatives, whenever and where possible and that possess a minimum
of 30% recycled postconsumer waste content.
(b)
Prohibiting purchase of products that use halogens, polyvinyl
chloride (PVC), lead, phthalates and asbestos such as, but not limited
to, office binders, chair/floor mats, casework, moldings, furniture,
carpeting, flooring materials, ceiling tiles and medical supplies
whenever and where practicable.
(8)
To the extent practicable, the City shall purchase products and equipment
with no lead or mercury whenever possible. For products that contain
lead or mercury, the City shall give preference to those products
with lower quantities of these metals and to vendors with established
lead and mercury recovery programs.
(9)
To the extent practicable, the City shall specify that desktop computers,
notebooks and monitors purchased shall meet, at a minimum, all electronic
product environmental assessment tool (EPEAT) environmental criteria
designated as "required," as contained in the IEEE 1680 Standard for
the Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products, whenever
practicable.
(10)
To the extent practicable, when replacing vehicles, the City
shall consider less-polluting alternatives to diesel, such as bio-based
fuels, hybrids, electric batteries, and fuel cells, as may be available
for the application.
G.
Forest conservation.
(1)
To the extent practicable, the City shall not procure wood products
such as lumber and paper that originate from forests harvested in
an environmentally unsustainable manner. When possible, the City shall
give preference to wood products that are certified to be sustainably
harvested by a comprehensive, performance-based certification system.
The certification system shall include independent third-party audits,
with standards equivalent to, or stricter than, those of the Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.
(2)
To the extent practicable, the City encourages the purchase or use
of previously utilized and/or salvaged wood and wood products whenever
practicable and where available.
H.
Bio-based products.
(1)
Vehicle fuels made from non-wood, plant-based contents such as vegetable
oils are encouraged whenever practicable and available.
(2)
Paper and construction products made from non-wood, plant-based contents
such as agricultural crops and residues are encouraged whenever practicable.
(3)
Bio-based plastic products that are biodegradable and compostable,
such as bags, film, food and beverage containers, and cutlery, are
encouraged whenever practicable.
(4)
Compostable plastic products purchased shall meet American Society
for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards as found in ASTM D6400-04.
Biodegradable plastics used as coatings on paper and other compostable
substrates shall meet ASTM D6868-03 standards.
(5)
Proof of compliance with ASTM standards for compostable, biodegradable
and degradable plastic products shall be provided by vendors of such
products, upon request. One acceptable proof of compliance for compostable
plastic products shall be the certification by the Biodegradable Products
Institute (BPI).
A.
The health and safety of workers and citizens is of the utmost importance
and takes precedence over all other policies and practices.
B.
To the extent practicable, the City has made significant investments
in developing a successful recycling system and recognizes that recycled-content
products are essential to the continuing viability of that recycling
system and for the foundation of an environmentally sound production
system. Therefore, to the greatest extent practicable, recycled content
shall be included in products that also meet other specifications,
such as chlorine free or bio-based.
C.
Nothing contained in this policy shall be construed as requiring
a department, purchaser or contractor to procure products that do
not perform adequately for their intended use, exclude adequate competition,
or are not available at a reasonable price in a reasonable period
of time.
D.
Nothing contained in this policy shall be construed as requiring
the City, department, purchaser or contractor to take any action that
conflicts with local, state or federal requirements.
A.
The Chief Financial Officer, Director of Public Works and other responsible
directors/managers shall implement this policy in coordination with
other appropriate City personnel.
B.
As applicable, successful bidders shall certify, in writing, that
the environmental attributes claimed in competitive bids are accurate.
In compliance with New Jersey State law, vendors shall be required
to specify the minimum or actual percentage of recovered and postconsumer
material in their products, even when such percentage is zero.
C.
Upon request, buyers making the selection from competitive bids shall
be able to provide justification for product choices that do not meet
the environmentally preferable purchasing criteria in this policy.
D.
Vendors, contractors and grantees shall be encouraged to comply with
applicable sections of this policy for products and services provided
to the City, where practicable.
The Chief Financial Officer, the Green Team Committee and other
positions responsible for implementing this policy shall periodically
meet and evaluate the success of this policy's implementation.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ASTM International, an open forum for the development of
high-quality, market-relevant, international standards use around
the globe.
Commercial or industrial products (other than food or feed)
that utilize agricultural crops or residues, but does not include
products made from forestry materials.
The degradation of the plastic must occur as a result of
the action of naturally occurring microorganisms.
A multi-stakeholder association of key individuals and groups
from government, industry and academia that promotes the use and recycling
of biodegradable polymeric materials (via composting). The BPI does
not create standards but certifies products that demonstrate they
meet the requirements in ASTM D6400 or D6868, based on testing in
an approved laboratory.
Anyone authorized to purchase or contract for purchases on
behalf of the City or its subdivisions.
The national trade association representing the carpet and
rug industry. The CRI has developed and administered the "Green Label"
indoor air quality testing and labeling program for carpet, adhesives,
cushion materials and vacuum cleaners.
Products processed without chlorine or chlorine derivatives.
Plastic that is biodegradable during composting to yield
carbon dioxide, water and inorganic compounds and biomass, at a rate
consistent with other known compostable materials, and leaves no visually
distinguishable or toxic residues.
Any person, group of persons, business, consultant, designing
architect, association, partnership, corporation, supplier, vendor
or other entity that has a contract with the City or serves in a subcontracting
capacity with the City or with an entity having a contract with the
City for the provision of any goods or services.
Plastic that undergoes significant changes in its chemical
structure under specific environmental conditions.
A group of chemical compounds that are classified as persistent,
bioaccumulative, and toxic by the United States Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
A procurement tool to help institutional purchasers in the
public and private sectors evaluate, compare and select desktop computers,
notebooks and monitors based on their environmental attributes.
A product that is in the upper 25% of energy efficiency for
all similar products, or that is at least 10% more efficient than
the minimum level that meets federal standards and guidelines.
The U.S. EPA's energy efficiency product labeling program.
A program of the Department of Energy that issues a series
of product energy efficiency recommendations that identify recommended
efficiency levels for energy-using products.
A global organization that certifies responsible, on-the-ground
forest management according to rigorous standards developed by a broad
variety of stakeholder groups.
A whole-systems approach to the design, construction, and
operation of buildings and structures that helps mitigate the environmental,
economic, and social impacts of construction, demolition, and renovation.
Green building practices, such as those described in the LEED IM rating
system, recognize the relationship between natural and built environments
and seek to minimize the use of energy, water, and other natural resources
and provide a healthy productive environment.
An independent, nonprofit environmental labeling organization.
Green Seal standards for products and services meet the U.S. EPA's
criteria for third-party certifiers. The Green Seal is a registered
certification mark that may appear only on certified products.
An ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention
of pests or their damage through a combination of techniques such
as biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural
practices, and use of resistant varieties. Pesticides are used only
after monitoring indicates they are needed according to established
guidelines, and treatments are made with the goal of removing only
the target organism. Pest control materials are selected and applied
in a manner that minimizes risks to human health, beneficial and non-target
organisms, and the environment.
The most recent version of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEEDTM) Commercial Green Building
Rating System, or other related LEED IM rating system, approved by
the United States Green Building Council and designed for rating new
and existing commercial, institutional, and high-rise residential
buildings.
Prohibits the use and application of toxic chemical pesticides
and strives to prevent pest problems through the application of natural,
organic horticultural and maintenance practices. All pest control
products shall be in keeping with, but not limited to, those products
on the approved list of New Jersey certified organic foods (NJOF).
A finished material which would normally be disposed of as
a solid waste, having reached its intended end-use and having completed
its life cycle as a consumer item, and does not include manufacturing
or converting wastes.
Whenever possible and compatible with local, state and federal
law, without reducing safety, quality, or effectiveness and where
the product or service is available at a reasonable cost in a reasonable
period of time.
Material or by-products generated after manufacture of a
product is completed but before the product reaches the end-use consumer.
Preconsumer material does not include mill and manufacturing trim,
scrap or broke that is generated at a manufacturing site and commonly
reused on site in the same or another manufacturing process.
Fragments of products or finished products of a manufacturing
process has converted a resource into a commodity of real economic
value, and includes preconsumer and postconsumer material but does
not include excess resources of the manufacturing process.
The percentage of recovered material, including preconsumer
and postconsumer materials, in a product.
The minimum level of recovered material and/or postconsumer
material necessary for products to qualify as recycled products.
A product that meets the City's recycled content policy
objectives for postconsumer and recovered material.
Any product diverted from the supply of discarded materials
by refurbishing and marketing said product without substantial change
to its original form.
Any product designed to be used many times for the same or
other purposes without additional processing except for specific requirements
such as cleaning, painting or minor repairs.
Refers to products that result in a net reduction in the
generation of waste compared to their previous or alternate version
and includes durable, reusable and remanufactured products; products
with no, or reduced, toxic constituents; and products marketed with
no, or reduced, packaging.
The Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines established by the
United States Environmental Protection Agency for federal agency purchases
as of May 2002 and any subsequent versions adopted.
Those that are in the upper 25% of water conservation for
all similar products, or at least 10% more water-conserving than the
minimum level that meets the federal standards.
