[Adopted 3-24-1998 (Ch. 2, Art. XIV, of the 2010 Code)]
The purpose of environmentally preferred procurement is to permit
the City of Taunton to efficiently utilize natural resources by means
of recycling, prevention of waste and toxicity, and utilization of
recycled and environmentally preferred products so as to encourage
private sector development of new technologies to develop such products,
the creation of new business and employment opportunities associated
with such technologies, and reduction of the volume and toxicity of
solid and liquid waste so as to reduce the treatment and disposal
cost thereof to the City.
A.Â
The City of Taunton and its departments, divisions, boards, agencies
and commissions, however designated, shall incorporate in their daily
operations the prevention or reduction of waste and toxicity and the
recycling and use of recycled products. They shall strive to increase
and expand the market for recovered materials and products that minimize
waste and toxicity to the environment. They shall regularly review
purchasing decisions and shall purchase products which have a maximum
recycled content and/or environmentally preferred impact, if such
product is equivalent in quality, price and administrative requirements
to a product which contains no or less recycled content or has a less
preferable environmental impact. Each such entity is required to:
(1)Â
Meet, at a minimum, the federal recycled paper standard.
(2)Â
Test and evaluate at least two recycled and/or environmentally preferable
products.
(3)Â
Record and report the purchase of recycled and environmentally preferred
products and submit plans for evaluating recycled and environmentally
preferred products for the coming fiscal year by June 30 of each year.
B.Â
The Mayor, with the approval of the Municipal Council, may adopt
rules and regulations regarding material purchasing, construction
standards, waste and toxicity reduction, and related provisions necessary
to implement this article.
