Strategic Plan

To Implement Executive Order 13101

Greening the Government Through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition

March 12, 1999

White House Task Force on Greening the Government
Through Waste Prevention and Recycling

Table of Contents

I. Executive Summary

II. Vision, Mission, and Goal.

III. Strategies

IV. Actions

V. Stakeholders

VI. Performance Measures

VII. Major Milestones

VIII. Appendices/Definitions

Acronyms

I. Executive Summary

Section 301 of Executive Order (EO) 13101, Greening the Government Through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition, requires that the Task Force on Greening the Government Through Waste Prevention and Recycling (the "Task Force") develop a government-wide Strategic Plan (Plan) to implement the Order. Beyond merely fulfilling the paperwork requirements to do a strategic plan, the Task Force recognizes its responsibilities to Federal agencies, the public, and other stakeholders to clearly articulate why "greening" the Federal government is important and what we together need to do to accomplish that objective.

Development of a strategic plan is a tool to think through where the Federal government is, where it needs to be at a certain point in the future, and what steps and resources are required to get there. It should be useful to all who are participating in implementation of the Executive Order.

This Plan provides a vision and a roadmap for future waste prevention, recycling, and Federal acquisition initiatives across the government. The Plan describes strategies and actions to achieve the goal and identifies the stakeholders and the performance measures that will be utilized to measure agency progress. An implementation schedule with specific milestones is also contained within the Plan.

There is one major goal which defines the Plan: to improve waste prevention, recycling and the purchase and use of recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services in the Federal government.

This Plan further defines the course the Task Force and its Chair have charted to meet the challenges of implementing the stated goal.

Through implementation of the Plan, Federal agencies will:

• Prevent and reduce the generation of non-hazardous waste.
• Create and strengthen markets for recovered materials and recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services.
• Spur competition.
• Create business and employment opportunities for green industries.
• Strengthen the economy at the local, state, regional, and national level.
• Improve and enhance the environment.
• Transfer successful affirmative procurement and environmentally preferable purchasing techniques between the Federal, state and local governments, and industry.
• Set an example for other governments, individuals, and the private sector.

A clearly defined goal and a plan for waste prevention, recycling, and acquiring recycled content or environmentally preferable products and services can create a government that not only works better and costs less, but also improves the environment for all of us. The Task Force will provide leadership in implementing the strategies and actions outlined in this plan and work actively with agencies to find common solutions to accomplish the goal. Lessons learned from implementing the Strategic Plan will form the basis for updating and expanding future commitments, strategies, actions, and milestones.

The Plan was prepared by the Task Force in collaboration with an interagency work group consisting of representatives from various Federal agencies.

The Plan can be found on the Web at http://www.ofee.gov

II. Vision, Mission, and Goal

Vision

By promoting efficient use of our natural resources and protecting the environment for ourselves and future generations, the Federal government will be recognized as a world leader in waste prevention, recycling, and acquisition of recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services.

Mission

The mission is to increase (1) waste prevention, (2) recycling, and (3) the acquisition of recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services for the benefit of the American people.

Background

Legislation and Presidential direction requiring the purchase of recycled content products has been evolving since 1976, when Congress established a buy-recycled law. In Section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Congress directed government agencies to promote recycling by increasing their purchases of products containing recovered materials.

Since 1989, executive orders have sought to stimulate Federal progress in these areas. For example, Executive Order 12873, Federal Acquisition, Recycling, and Waste Prevention, issued in October, 1993, was designed to foster and strengthen Federal response to existing RCRA mandates to reduce solid waste, build markets for recycled content products, encourage new technologies, and protect the environment by increasing purchases of recycled content products. On September 14, 1998, Executive Order 13101, Greening the Government Through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition, was signed by the President. The new EO is designed to further expand and strengthen the Federal government's commitment to recycling and buying recycled content and environmentally preferable products, (including biobased products). Since the signing of EO 12873, the Federal government has more than quadrupled its purchases of recycled content paper and increased purchases of other recycled content products having moved from 39 percent in fiscal year (FY94) to 50 percent in FY96. EO 13101 will take the Federal government to the next level.

EO 12873 created the position of the Federal Environmental Executive (FEE). The FEE is designated by the President to take all actions necessary to ensure that agencies comply with the requirements of the EO. Under EO 13101, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) chartered the Task Force, with the FEE as its chair. The Task Force is directed by a Steering Committee comprised of the FEE, the Chair of the CEQ, and the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The purpose of the Task Force is to advise and assist the Steering Committee and the Federal agencies, make recommendations concerning policy, facilitate implementation, provide a centralized focal point for assistance and direction, and communicate and enhance knowledge of the provisions of EO 13101.

In addition, there are other related activities such as pollution prevention, energy-efficient products and services, and climate change initiatives that are directly and indirectly related to, but not a part of, the immediate mission of the Task Force. The Task Force will coordinate, as appropriate, with other organizations and CEQ chartered Task Forces with respect to other Greening the Government activities.

Participation by all Federal agencies will be necessary in order to accomplish the mission set forth in EO 13101. Requirements of EO 13101 do not apply to facilities and posts abroad except for purchases made in the United States for shipments overseas.

To accomplish the mission, a wide range of expertise and skills need to be involved:

• Agency Environmental Executives (AEEs) are essential because they provide the direction, integration, and coordination of the EO requirements in their agencies. EO 13101 recognizes the importance of the AEEs by requiring the head of each major procuring agency to designate an AEE at a level no lower than the Assistant Secretary level or equivalent. The EO specifically directs the AEEs to: (1) translate this Government-wide Strategic Plan into specific agency and service plans; (2) implement their specific agency and service plans; (3) report to the FEE on the progress of plan implementation; (4) work with the FEE and the Task Force on furthering implementation of the EO; (5) track agencies' purchases of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-designated guideline items and report agencies' purchases to the FEE; and (6) one year after a product is placed on the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Biobased Products List, estimate their agency's purchases of products on the list and report them to the Secretary of Agriculture.
• Facility managers are involved because they can promote aggressively the use of a larger array of recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services in their facilities. This will help them effectively carry out their basic mission and reach their environmental goals at the same time.
• Contracting and supply personnel -- including everyone involved in all aspects of acquisition -- are important to accomplish the mission because the $200 billion/year purchasing power of the Federal government can create and stimulate markets and promote technologies for recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services.
• Agency contractors, (e.g., technical support, management and operating, and support services contractors), also are affected by EO 13101. 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 Federal agencies shall include provisions that obligate contractors to comply with the requirements of the EO.
• Program/project personnel are critical to accomplish the mission because they are the end users of the products and services acquired by contracting and supply offices. Furthermore, by incorporating the use of recycled content products when developing specifications and requirements, and by using their credit cards to procure recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services, program/project personnel are critical to creating and stimulating markets.
• Recycling coordinators are important because they can identify commodities suffering from limited markets and can expand collection of commodities that experience an increase in demand. They are also instrumental in creating a "clean" supply of raw materials to facilitate cost-effective manufacturing from recovered materials.

Goal

The primary goal is to improve waste prevention, recycling, and the purchase and use of recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services in the Federal government.

In order to meet the primary goal, Federal agencies must:

• Improve and expand diversion of solid waste through waste prevention, reuse, and recycling.
• Facilitate the development and expansion of markets for recycled content and environmentally preferable products through greater Federal government acquisition and use of these products and services, research and development programs, assistance programs, and other appropriate programs.
• Facilitate the development and expansion of technology for waste prevention, recycling (including design for disassembly), and manufacture of recycled content and environmentally preferable products.
• Expand waste prevention and recycling in the daily operation of the Federal government.
• Implement cost-effective procurement programs favoring the purchase of environmentally preferable products and services.

The following sections discuss various strategies and actions the Federal Environmental Executive, the Task Force, and Federal agencies will take to achieve the goal and the objectives of EO 13101.

III. Strategies

All Federal agencies have primary responsibility for:

• Improving acquisition planning by (1) revising product standards and specifications to reflect RCRA section 6002 and EO 13101 requirements; (2) including consideration of waste prevention; product or materials reuse; and recycling; and (3) the implementation of affirmative procurement programs to increase the use and purchase of recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services.
• Developing and implementing new technologies that improve Federal recycling and waste prevention programs, or facilitate the manufacturing or remanufacturing of recycled content or environmentally preferable products.
• Developing tracking and monitoring systems to demonstrate compliance with section 6002 of RCRA.
• Establishing quantitative goals, to be achieved by the end of FY 2000, 2005, and 2010, and beyond, for waste prevention, recycling or solid waste diversion; affirmative procurement of products made with recovered materials; and procurement of environmentally preferable products and services for which agencies have completed pilot programs.
• Identifying opportunities to establish model facilities and promote their success.
• Implementing cost-effective waste prevention and recycling programs at all Federal facilities, including retention and use of recycling revenues.
• Procuring printing and writing paper containing no less than 30 percent postconsumer fiber.
• Developing an internal agency-wide awards program as appropriate to reward its most innovative waste prevention, recycling, and affirmative procurement efforts.

The Task Force, in consultation with the Federal agencies, has responsibility for:

• Developing streamlined reporting requirements that reflect progress in attaining goals.
• Preparing biennial "Greening the Government" reports to the President on actions taken by agencies to comply with EO 13101 and other applicable environmental EOs.
• Updating the Strategic Plan as appropriate.

The Task Force and the Federal agencies are responsible for:

• Developing outreach and training on acquisition of recycled content and environmentally preferable products for agency procurement officials, program management, and requesting activities; the public and private sectors; and states and local governments.

USDA, in consultation with the EPA and the FEE, is responsible for:

• Publishing a Biobased Products List with biannual updates, ensuring that listed products provide environmental benefits.

EPA, in consultation with the FEE, is responsible for:

• Developing Federal facility inspection guidance for use in determining compliance with section 6002 of RCRA.
• Publishing final guidance on purchasing environmentally preferable products and services.
• Assisting Federal agencies in designing, implementing, and documenting the results of pilot projects to purchase environmentally preferable products and services, which will be used to update the guidance.

Section IV of the Strategic Plan discusses the specific actions that can be undertaken to implement these strategies. The actions are organized by action categories. The following matrix identifies the action categories applicable to each strategy.

IV. Actions

EO 13101 establishes multiple tasks and objectives. Given the diversity of Federal agencies' size and missions, a variety of strategies and actions should be used to meet these tasks and objectives. The Task Force intends that these strategies and actions provide a flexible framework to encourage Federal agencies to apply their uniqueness and strengths to achieving the goals of the EO.

Actions have been developed to help agencies overcome barriers and obstacles to implementation identified over the years. Following is a list of possible barriers and obstacles to implementation, but are by no means the entire roster and are not listed in any prioritized order:

• Resistance to culture change within agencies, offices, facilities, and suppliers.
• Lack of awareness, training, and education in the Federal workforce.
• Lack of integration, involvement, and coordination across agency programs (procurement, technical, regulatory, etc.).
• Competing budgetary and program priorities.
• Lack of information on product price, performance, and availability.

As new barriers are identified, additional targeted actions to address them will be included in future revisions to the Plan.

With the implementation of the following actions, the Federal agencies and offices are expected to budget the necessary resources including personnel, funding, and other policy and programmatic support in order to achieve the desired goals of EO 13101. For agencies not already doing so, these resources and funding requests should be set forth in the agencies' submission of their annual budgetary request to OMB, beginning with the FY01 budget call.

Improving and Expanding Waste Prevention and Recycling Programs

Action 1 Waste Prevention Work Group

The Task Force will convene an interagency work group to identify waste prevention practices and procedures that can be disseminated to other Federal agencies, such as expanded usage of electronic communication, electronic commerce, and double-sided copying. The work group will also assess the need for development of waste prevention policies.

Action 2 On-site Recycling Programs, including Designation of Recycling Coordinators

While the EO recognizes that it is critical to have recycling coordinators at each Federal facility, this requirement may not be feasible for very small or remote facilities. It is recommended that agencies explore the utilization of Regional/Geographic Recycling Coordinators to oversee and assist these very small or remote facilities. Based on the tasks and objectives of the EO, a substantial portion of the recycling coordinator's time should be devoted to waste prevention and recycling activities. In multi-tenant buildings, each agency must designate a recycling coordinator. The facility recycling coordinator, while employed by the agency or primary agencies housed in the facility, will coordinate with the General Services Administration (GSA), the facility owner or manager or whomever has primary responsibility for waste removal.

In coordination with the Task Force, AEEs of major procuring agencies and heads of other agencies who have not done so, should create agency web sites and list servers to facilitate discussion and information sharing by agency recycling coordinators.

Implementation of EO 13101 will require the active participation of many personnel from different agency management areas. It is recommended that each agency create an agency environmental coordinating council to assist the heads of installations/bureaus with the implementation of the EO. The agency environmental coordinating council could consist of procurement, environmental, energy, real property/engineering personnel, and recycling coordinators.

The Task Force and the Federal agencies will work to improve training courses that are available to recycling coordinators.

Action 3 Recycling in Federally Owned and Leased Buildings

The Task Force will convene an interagency work group to identify the different ways in which recycling occurs in Federally owned and leased buildings. Opportunities to collect data on recycling in these buildings will also be examined.

Identifying Recycled Content and Environmentally Preferable Products (EPP)

Designation of Recycled Content Products

Action 1 Additions to Comprehensive Procurement Guideline (CPG)

EPA will complete the designation of recycled content products in CPG 3 and designate additional products, including products containing plastics and materials recovered from construction and demolition debris, in CPG 4. Thereafter, EPA will designate additional recycled content products at least every other year.

EPA will maintain a list of the designated products and related technical, performance, and source information on the CPG web pages within the EPA web site. EPA also will periodically publish fact sheets discussing the designated products and lists of suppliers of those products. The Task Force will provide a link to the CPG web pages from the FEE web page and the Acquisition Reform Network.

Where practicable, GSA and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) will review their current vendors and products offered in all new and proposed CPG product categories and distinguish which of these vendors and products are compliant with EPA's recommended recovered materials content standards. All schedules and sales venues will clearly identify which product brands are compliant and which product brands are not compliant. This review should be completed within 90 days of EPA's designation of a new CPG item.

Where practicable, all agencies establishing new electronic catalogs should incorporate mechanisms for identifying CPG items as catalogs are developed.

Action 2 Review of CPG Designation Criteria

The buy-recycled requirement of RCRA Section 6002 applies to all Federal agencies, the Government Printing Office (GPO), state and local agencies using Federal funds, and government contractors. Therefore, EPA has designated products such as paper that are purchased directly by Federal agencies and products such as concrete that are purchased primarily by recipients of assistance funding (e.g., Federal Highway Trust Fund monies) and their contractors. However, only direct purchases are tracked and reported to OFPP for inclusion in the biennial report to Congress. EPA, the Task Force and members of the Executive Order Inter-agency Advisory Group (EOIAG) will meet to discuss plans for future CPG designations and ways to foster compliance by contractors and recipients of assistance funding.

Acquisition of Environmentally Preferable Products and Services

Action 1 Purchasing Guidance

EO 13101 directs EPA to develop guidance on purchasing environmentally preferable products and services. The Task Force will coordinate with EPA to ensure that the EPA guidance on environmentally preferable purchasing: (i) is developed and made available to agencies, (ii) applies government-wide, (iii) targets products and services that have the most effect on the environment, and (iv) describes the training necessary for each user to understand and carry out the guidance. The guidance will be incorporated by each agency into its affirmative procurement plan. This guidance will be updated at least every two years to reflect the experience from EPP pilots, identification of preferable items, and/or life-cycle analyses.

Action 2 Database for EPP Pilot Projects

EPA will develop and maintain a database of the EPP pilot projects; their office of origin and/or implementation (including where additional information may be found); the EPP criteria to be tested; the project schedule; and the results of the pilot project. This database will be available to add value to any best practices guide that is developed, to allow identification of projects for other agencies to consider, and to identify new environmentally preferable products, services, or processes. The Task Force will provide a link to the EPP pilot projects web pages from the FEE web page.

Action 3 Other Information Sources

In order to provide information to government purchasers, the Task Force will work with the Small Business Administration (SBA), GSA, DLA, and other applicable agencies to identify companies selling or providing environmentally preferable products and services.

Designation of Biobased Items

Action 1 Development of Biobased Products List

USDA's Biobased Products Coordination Council (BPCC), in consultation with EPA and the FEE, will draft a list of biobased products for promotion under the EO. The draft list of biobased products will be coordinated through the Task Force with the EOIAG for comment.

The draft list of biobased products will be published in the Federal Register with an explanation and a request for comments from public and private sectors. After the draft list of biobased products has been circulated for comment, the BPCC will finalize the list and publish it as a final list in the Federal Register. This will not be published as a final USDA rule but as a working tool. Reconsideration of the list will then occur on a biannual basis as the need arises to add to or revise the list. The USDA Internet will be expanded to incorporate new products as they are reviewed.

Implementing Acquisition Planning and Affirmative Procurement

Acquisition Planning

Action 1 Federal Acquisition Regulation Revisions

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) was amended (62 FR 44809, August 22, 1997) to implement the requirements of section 6002 of RCRA and the directives of EO 12873. If necessary, Federal agencies will initiate additional revisions to the FAR and agency supplements to the FAR, as appropriate, to implement the waste prevention, recycling, and affirmative procurement directives of EO 13101. The Task Force will coordinate and work with the FAR Council to ensure that appropriate language is developed for publication in the FAR.

Action 2 Model Language

The Task Force will convene a working group to identify points of contact for standards and specifications, provide model language on products containing recovered materials for incorporation into agency standards and specifications, and identify model contracts/specifications that have government-wide utility. Such contracts may include such examples as a model contract for green building custodial operations or a model contract for waste collection and disposal services. Federal agencies are encouraged to then incorporate the model language into their standards and specifications wherever appropriate.

Action 3 Additional Procurement Tools

The Task force, in consultation with USDA, will disseminate information to the agencies regarding the price preference and set-aside tools found in 7 U.S.C. 5909 and used by USDA to develop markets for biobased products. To the extent permitted by law and in keeping with good business practices, agencies will use these tools in acquisitions of recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services.

Action 4 Federal Agency Policy/Procedure Enhancements

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) and the Task Force will, in coordination with agency representatives, review language in acquisition plans to identify model language valuable to all sectors of the government and identify acquisition language needed for agency implementation. Pilot projects, best practices, EPP guidance, statutory changes, and listings of recycled content, or biobased products will be continually monitored by the Task Force to ensure that the policy and regulatory language are current and accurate.

Federal agencies will develop internal procurement and supply procedures, such as agency directives and revisions to agency contracts and grants manuals, if necessary, to provide assistance and direction in achieving the goals of EO 13101 and RCRA section 6002.

Action 5 Real Property Acquisition and Management

The Task Force will work with GSA's Public Building Service and the Federal agencies to identify tools for incorporating the EO directives into real property acquisition and management (i.e., Federal owned/leased space, government owned/contractor operated space, contractor owned/contractor operated space, tenant-maintained space, rehabilitation, renovation and maintenance, and new construction). The Task Force will work with GSA and the agencies to provide these tools to agency real property acquisition and management programs.

Affirmative Procurement

Action 1 Revision to Affirmative Procurement Programs

In accordance with RCRA section 6002 and EO 13101, within one year after EPA designates additional recycled content products in the CPG, Federal agencies shall revise their affirmative procurement programs to incorporate the newly designated products. Such revisions shall include amendments to applicable standards, specifications, and product solicitation documents to allow the purchase of products containing the highest levels of recovered materials practicable.

Action 2 Pilot Projects

The EPP principles and guidance developed by EPA should be tested by Federal agencies through pilot acquisitions of products or services. Similarly, Federal agencies can use pilot acquisitions of EPA-designated recycled content products as well as recycled content products not yet designated by EPA. Each major procuring agency should engage in a pilot project, alone or in cooperation with other agencies. Each AEE will be asked by the Task Force to carry out one or more pilot projects illustrating the EPP requirements of the EO. As appropriate, these pilot projects can be used to test product performance, innovative contracting strategies, or internal models to follow in meeting the agency's EPP purchasing goals. The results of these pilot projects will be used to provide practical information for further updating of the EPP guidance as directed by the EO.

It is anticipated that state and local government agencies or private sector purchasers interested in purchasing environmentally preferable products or services also will conduct pilot acquisitions. In addition, third-party certification organizations are developing criteria for certifying products as "environmentally preferable." EPA, in conjunction with the Task Force, will facilitate the coordination with state and local governments, third-party certification organizations, and private industry to test and evaluate EPP principles.

Action 3 Substitution Policies

To meet the EO 12873 directive to purchase paper containing 20% postconsumer fiber, Federal agencies successfully used a strategy of requesting that GSA substitute recycled content copier paper when orders for virgin copier paper were submitted. Federal agencies will identify additional EPA-designated recycled content products for which substitution strategies may be appropriate and request that GSA, DLA, or their local procurement office substitute a recycled content product when a virgin product is ordered.

The Departments of Justice (DOJ) and the Interior (DOI) have requested that DLA substitute re-refined lubricating oil when orders for virgin oil are submitted by Justice or Interior fleets. The Task Force will encourage other Federal agencies to follow the lead of DOJ and DOI in instituting re-refined oil substitution programs.

Action 4 Biobased Oils Assessment

DoD and USDA should continue to assess the viability of adding biobased lubricating oils to DoD's lubricating oil program. After determining that biobased lubricating oils satisfy applicable commercial or military lubricating oil specifications and warranty certifications and are available, DLA should solicit for these oils in keeping with good business practices.

Action 5 Expansion of Retread Tire Program

GSA's Federal Tire Program provided specifications, qualification testing, and schedules for retread tires for trucks, buses, light trucks, and passenger vehicles. The U.S. Army's Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) now manages the Federal tire program and is currently offering retread tires for trucks. The Task Force will work with TACOM to expand the scope of the retread tire program to non-tactical vehicular tires, including light truck and passenger vehicle tires.

Ensuring Federal Facility Compliance and Establishing Tracking Mechanisms

Federal Facility Compliance

Action 1 Federal Facility Compliance Inspection Guidance

In order to assure Federal facility compliance with the buy-recycled requirements of section 6002 of RCRA, EO 13101 directs EPA to prepare guidance for use by Federal inspectors in determining Federal facility compliance with section 6002. The EO further states that EPA should encourage states that are authorized to administer the RCRA provisions to use the guidance during RCRA compliance inspections at Federal facilities.

EPA, in consultation with the FEE, will prepare guidance for use by EPA and state inspectors in determining Federal facility compliance with section 6002 of RCRA and the related requirements of EO 13101. EPA will report the results annually to the FEE not later than February 1st for those inspections conducted during the previous fiscal year.

Action 2 Compliance Budgets

In accordance with EO 12088, Federal Compliance with Pollution Control Standards, and EO 12856,Federal Compliance with Right-to-Know Laws and Pollution Prevention Requirements, Federal agencies will place a high priority on obtaining and obligating funding and resources needed to implement all aspects of EO 13101. Agencies must make funding requests through the program planning process under EO 12088 and through agency or program budget requests.

Action 3 Monitoring of Recycled Paper Purchasing Data

The Task Force will continue monitoring data received from GSA, GPO, and the agencies regarding agency purchases of printing and writing paper containing 30% post-consumer fiber. The Task Force will use the data to disseminate success stories and to educate agencies with unsatisfactory purchasing records about the EO recycled paper purchasing provisions.

Action 4 Re-refined Oil

In order to comply with the RCRA section 6002 and EO 13101 requirements to purchase re-refined lubricating oils, Federal agencies and their contractors with internal vehicle maintenance operations will implement policies of acquiring and using re-refined lubricating oils or DLA's re-refined oil closed-loop contracts. Agencies that contract for vehicle maintenance will require contractors to supply re-refined lubricating oils. Agencies that have or enter into vehicle leases, where the lease provides for vehicle maintenance, will require contractors to supply re-refined lubricating oils during vehicle maintenance. Agencies also will educate credit card holders about the requirements to use re-refined lubricating oil.

Tracking Mechanisms

Action 1 Acquisition Tracking Mechanisms

 Section 6002 of RCRA requires OFPP to report to Congress every two years on the actions taken by Federal agencies to implement the statute. In addition, EO 13101 requires that the FEE submit biennial Greening the Government reports to the President. To provide input to both the RCRA Report to Congress and the Greening the Government Reports, Federal agencies shall track their purchases of designated EPA guideline items and report on them. GSA and DLA will report to the FEE and all Federal agencies annually on the purchasing of EPA-designated items through their agencies. For any given CPG commodity, agencies will then have data on compliance for those purchases that were made through GSA and DLA. OFPP and the FEE will issue calls for data for the previous fiscal year by December of each year. Agencies will provide the data no later than the following April.

EO 13101 directs the establishment of a working group to develop recommendations for tracking and reporting requirements. The primary emphasis of this working group will be to develop recommendations for establishing a cost-effective reporting system for procurement of recycled content products.

The working group will evaluate options and alternatives for retrieving data and streamlining and simplifying reporting and tracking while at the same time meeting the requirements of the law and the EO.

The working group will attempt to reduce manual reporting. Reporting will be automated to the extent practicable and whenever cost effective. Existing agency systems, such as those used by the Department of Energy (DOE) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), will be closely evaluated for government-wide use.

The working group will examine the feasibility of whether information on purchases of recycled content products can be obtained from credit card reports. Discussions will be held with OMB, GSA, and various bankcard companies to ascertain whether data on these purchases can be obtained now or in the future with some revisions.

The working group will review commercial and state and local reporting practices that could be emulated by the Federal government.

Action 2 Waste Diversion Measurement

The Recycling Task Force will convene a working group to investigate the feasibility of establishing a cost-effective reporting system for waste diversion (waste prevention and recycling). The Department of Defense (DoD) automated system for waste diversion will be closely examined for possible application to other agencies.

Identifying Model Facilities

Action 1 Model Facility Demonstration Programs

The Task Force will issue a report identifying model facility programs. Existing model facility programs at agencies like the Tennessee Valley Authority, DoD, and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will serve as examples and will be publicized to other agencies.

AEEs of major procuring agencies and heads of other agencies will be strongly encouraged to add model facilities as a category in internal agency award programs.

AEEs of major procuring agencies and heads of other agencies will be encouraged to increase information sharing concerning their model facility demonstration programs. An area will be added to the FEE web site where information on model facility programs can be communicated.

The EOIAG will identify industry model facilities that can be showcased so that the Federal government can identify additional improvements or practices that could be added to their model facility programs.

Developing and Enhancing Technologies for Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Recycled Content and Environmentally Preferable Products

Action 1 Agency Programs/Centers

AEEs of major procuring agencies and heads of other agencies will identify specific assistance programs that could be targeted to develop or improve recycling technologies. The Task Force will look into the feasibility of coordinating the various agency technology programs in respect to recycling technology and encourage the development and dissemination of new technologies through the use of:

• Agency-specific Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) programs.
• The National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Advanced Technology Program.
• Intra-governmental as well as public-private partnerships.

In addition, Federal agencies will access government centers (e.g., Electronic Commerce Resource Centers (ECRCs), NIST manufacturing centers, SBA centers, GSA commodity centers) for promotion of new technologies.

Action 2 Financing

Federal agencies will identify and advocate existing and new financing options, such as grants and loans, for manufacturers of recycled content and environmentally preferable products. Such mechanisms as targeting funding within various assistance, demonstration, and research and development programs could be explored.

Developing and Promoting Outreach and Training Programs

Action 1 Agency Environmental Executives and Executive Order Inter-Agency Advisory Group

The FEE will convene the AEEs at least biannually to identify proposed improvements, enhance visibility of waste prevention, recycling, and purchasing of recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services, clarify roles and responsibilities, assess and improve accountability, assess goal progress, and share best practices. The FEE will prepare, with the input of the AEEs, a calendar of events through which publicity can be offered to further the goals of EO 13101.

Under EO 12873, the FEE convened monthly meetings of representatives of Federal agencies, known as the Executive Order Inter-agency Advisory Group, to discuss issues and share information pertaining to implementation of the EO. The FEE will continue to convene monthly meetings of the EOIAG to facilitate implementation of EO 13101. One or more meetings of the EOIAG will be dedicated to sharing communications tools and strategies. Examples of successful tools and strategies will be included in the Greening of the Government Report required by EO 13101.

Action 2 Communication Tools

The FEE web site, www.ofee.gov, will be maintained to disseminate information pertinent to implementation of EO 13101, including the Greening the Government publication, the Recycling for the Future: Consider the Benefits publication, the Recycling for the Future: It's Everybody's Business publication, Closing the Circle News, agency success stories, links to related web sites, and upcoming events. The Task Force will provide links from the FEE web page to appropriate agency and other web sites.

The Task Force will develop articles on waste prevention, recycling, and affirmative procurement of recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services. The Task Force also will publicize achievements and progress in recycling in five major newspapers and magazines in addition to Trade Publications by 2000.

The Task Force will request that publishers of commercial calendars mark America Recycles Day along with holidays and other special events.

The Task Force, in conjunction with an inter-agency steering committee, will continue to sponsor Federal agency sessions on waste prevention, recycling, affirmative procurement, and other EO-related topics to be presented during the annual National Recycling Congress (i.e., the NRC-FEE Confluence sessions).

The Task Force and the EOIAG will identify other appropriate conferences and seek opportunities to present sessions to target Federal audiences. The Task Force will convene a work group on an annual basis to explore (1) an appropriate series of informational and educational sessions, in addition to the annual NRC-FEE Confluence; and (2) a theme or otherwise coordinated series of exhibition floor presentations to optimally present to Federal, state, and local governmental officials the "state of the Order". These talks, speakers, booth assets, and concepts will be made available for presentation at other events.

The Task Force will sponsor a traveling exhibit on recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services and offer the exhibit to Federal agencies on a temporary basis for use at conferences to uniformly promote and advertise products and activities related to EO 13101.

The Task Force, in consultation and collaboration with Federal agencies, will conduct educational sessions on the attainment of goals, success stories, and lessons learned. The Task Force also will publicize success stories on agencies that have aggressive goals, i.e., USPS and DoD, to other Federal agencies. These success stories will be disseminated via the Internet, newsletters, conferences, seminars, and educational and training sessions.

The Task Force will periodically sponsor a meeting for the purpose of evaluating progress on the implementation of EO 13101 and recommending changes to this Plan.

The Task Force will work with GSA and GPO to obtain data on performance testing of paper containing 30% postconsumer fiber. The Task Force will educate agencies about performance and availability through outreach and education programs.

In addition to DLA's current advertising processes, and through sessions developed for conferences and events promoting other aspects of EO 13101, the Task Force will, in coordination with DLA, continue to promote the availability and use of re-refined oils.

TACOM will prepare and disseminate information on its retread tire program. The Task Force will help TACOM to publicize its retread tire activities. Presentations will be made by TACOM representatives at conferences, seminars, and events such as the Federal sessions during the National Recycling Congress.

EPA will post information about the EPP pilot projects and their goals, along with periodic progress updates, on the Internet to make the information available to the widest possible audience. Presentations, project videos, or project tours, as appropriate, will be offered at conferences and events during the year in order to disseminate information about the pilots to other Federal agencies. The Task Force will disseminate information about the pilot projects through such mechanisms as the "Closing the Circle" Newsletter and the Internet in order to recognize the most effective/progressive/innovative projects.

USDA will work with the Task Force to conduct workshops to educate the Federal community on the benefits of using and purchasing biobased products, including educational sessions, conferences, seminars, and events such as the annual Federal sessions during the National Recycling Congress.

Action 3 Agency Communication Initiatives

The key to the development and subsequent implementation of improved affirmative procurement programs for recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services is through comprehensive awareness and training provided to acquisition and procurement personnel as well as program personnel. The Federal community must be made aware that it is the responsibility of both entities to ensure the success of an affirmative procurement program.

AEEs of major procuring agencies and heads of other agencies will ensure that their agencies develop and implement internal/external communication programs to educate agency personnel and contractors about complying with EO 13101. Agencies must use one or more of the following tools, and others, as appropriate:

• Electronic broadcast messages.
• Articles in agency newsletters.
• Upgrade and improve agencies' main web sites to provide information and notices on waste prevention, recycling, and affirmative procurement of recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services.
• Publications, speeches, commitments, and presentations in association with agency and national events such as "America Recycles Day" and the "National Recycling Challenge."
• Educational and outreach sessions at conferences and seminars, such as the annual NRC-FEE Confluence sessions, the annual DoD and DOE Pollution Prevention (P2) conferences, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition conference. The topics will include the environmental and economic benefits of waste prevention, recycling, and affirmative procurement of recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services.
• Best Practices Guides.

Action 4 Training

Acquisition, procurement, supply, and program personnel receive training from various sources, specifically, the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI), the Defense Acquisition University (DAU), and in general, through agency provided training programs. The Task Force will work with FAI and DAU to develop or modify courses to reflect EO 13101 and other environmentally-related EO directives. The Task Force will:

• Develop curriculum required to satisfy Section 801 of EO 13101.
• Review, analyze, and evaluate the existing training courses and materials from each training facility. Emphasis shall be placed on those courses deemed appropriate for immediate modification in order to satisfy the requirements of the curriculum developed.
• Identify courses for modification.
• Evaluate course content as it relates to the established curriculum.
• Submit recommendations for curriculum changes.

The Task Force, when invited, will train contracting officers in the DoD Contracting 301 Course starting in January 1999.

Each agency will use training to educate the relevant program and acquisition personnel such as credit card holders about the requirements of EO 13101 and section 6002 of RCRA. Training can consist of agency-sponsored workshops, electronic training, manuals, contracting officer warrant maintenance programs, or training offered by FAI, DAU, or other organizations.

The Task Force will coordinate with the FAI and the DAU to incorporate the buy-recycled requirements and the EPP guidance into the training plans for buyers, supply/logistics personnel, and program managers responsible for activities which use or incorporate EPA-designated recycled content products and services and products and services targeted by the EPP guidance. The training will include use of EPA's recycled content product procurement guidelines, EPA's EPP guidance, and acquisition of products and services labeled by self-certification or third-party certification organizations as environmentally preferable products or services.

The Task Force, in consultation and collaboration with Federal agencies, will prepare training materials for credit card holders concerning the requirements of EO 13101 and section 6002 of RCRA. The Task Force will publicize success stories and lessons learned associated with credit card holders and their purchases of recycled and environmentally preferable products and services.

Additionally, the Task Force will work with GSA and TACOM to develop for agency fleet managers detailed guidance on the acceptability and availability of re-refined oils, biobased oils, and retread tires. Presentations will be made at conferences, seminars, and meetings aimed at fleet managers such as GSA's Fedfleet and events such as the Federal sessions during the NRC-FEE Confluence, the DOE and DoD P2 conferences, and meetings of the National Defense Industries Association.

Action 5 Summits

Under EO 12873, the FEE sponsored recycled paper summits to disseminate information about the performance, price, and availability of copier paper containing 20% postconsumer fiber. The FEE also sponsored a re-refined lubricating oils summit, which helped to dispel myths about re-refined oil performance, including the belief that use of re-refined oil would void engine warranties. The summits resulted in Federal agency usage of tools, such as substitution policies, that greatly increase compliance with EO 12873. The Task Force will identify the need for additional paper summits to address specific issues associated with the EO 13101 directive to purchase paper containing 30% postconsumer fiber (i.e., progress in production and sales or declines in sales). The Task Force, in consultation with the EOIAG, will identify additional recycled content or environmentally preferable product areas for which summits will be useful in providing performance, availability, and other pertinent information.

Action 6 Partnering

The Task Force will partner with industry and non-governmental organizations to identify and examine additional way to achieve the goals of EO 13101.

Establishing Goals for Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Affirmative Procurement

Action 1 Agency Goals

Federal agencies will establish specific goals for (1) waste prevention and recycling or solid waste diversion, (2) affirmative procurement of products that are made with recovered materials, and (3) procurement of environmentally preferable products and services for which a pilot project has been successfully completed. On an annual basis, agencies will evaluate their progress toward attaining these goals.

Progress on attaining goals will be reported by the Federal agencies to the FEE for incorporation into the Greening of the Government Report required by EO 13101.

The Task Force will publicize agency goals and progress. Agency goals should be incorporated into each agency's strategic plan.

Action 2 Government Performance and Results Act Goals

Federal agencies are strongly encouraged to incorporate these goals into their Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) plans. The Task Force will develop model language on GPRA goals that will be disseminated to the Federal agencies to use as deemed appropriate.

Sponsoring Awards Programs

Action 1 Agency Awards Programs

Federal agencies will have internal awards programs as appropriate to reward/recognize progress in implementing the provisions of EO 13101.

Federal agencies will publicize examples of established agency award programs.

Action 2 White House Closing the Circle Awards

The Task Force will maintain the White House Closing the Circle Awards Program established under EO 12873. The Program was developed to recognize federal employees and their facilities for efforts which resulted in significant contributions to, or have made a significant impact on, the environment in specific categories. The categories are: waste prevention, environmental preferability, recycling, model facility demonstrations, affirmative procurement, and sowing the seeds for change. The Task Force is assessing the expansion of an additional category to address outreach programs/activities by Federal facilities (i.e., Earth Day, America Recycles Day). The White House Closing the Circle Awards Program also recognizes individual awards for outstanding recycling practices under EO 12856, Federal Compliance with Right-to-Know Laws and Pollution Prevention Requirements.

Action 3 Other Awards/Recognition

As appropriate, the FEE will recognize individuals or organizations that contribute to achieving the goals of EO 13101.

V. Stakeholders

For the purposes of the Strategic Plan, stakeholders are those individuals or groups interested or who should be interested in the issues of waste prevention, recycling, and Federal acquisition of recycled content products and services and environmentally preferable products and services. Stakeholders include: Federal agencies, including relevant supporting contractors; state and local governments; Congress; the public; environmental non-governmental organizations; manufacturers and vendors; farmers and ranchers; and the recovered materials collection, processing, and manufacturing industries.

Federal agencies, including support contractors, are responsible for complying with the EO. This Administration has committed to lead by example in maximizing waste reduction, improving recycling practices, and increasing the procurement of recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services.

State and local governments are faced with many of the same opportunities and challenges that the Federal government encounters in the areas of waste prevention, recycling, and acquisition of recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services. State and local governments are looking for strong and pro-active Federal leadership and outreach in these areas. In addition, state and local government agencies that receive appropriated Federal funds and use those funds to purchase EPA-designated recycled content products, are required by RCRA section 6002 to purchase recycled content products.

The Congress authorizes and appropriates funds, and provides oversight for Federal programs. The Congress also is responsible for authoring and approving RCRA, the legislation which establishes the framework for the Federal buy-recycled program.

The public is the ultimate beneficiary of EO 13101. The EO outlines ways in which Federal agencies will take important steps to protect the environment through the purchase of recycled content and other green products and services and prevent pollution. These activities develop and stimulate markets thus creating jobs and providing a positive impact on local and regional economies.

Environmental non-governmental organizations are affected because their objectives are furthered by the work performed in the areas of waste prevention, recycling, and acquisition of recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services.

Manufacturers and vendors of recycled content and environmentally preferable products, including Federal service contractors, will see a positive effect in the marketplace through the creation of new manufacturing jobs, increased opportunities, and expanded competition.

Farmers and ranchers who provide the raw material for biobased industrial products are stakeholders. Creating new markets for industrial (non-food, non-feed) uses of agricultural raw materials has the desired effect of stabilizing sometimes volatile commodity prices. By adding new industrial crops to the raw materials mix, new business opportunities for farmers and ranchers are also created well beyond the cultivation of conventional crops.

The recovered materials collection, processing, and manufacturing industries, including municipalities, waste haulers, processors, and brokers are affected because more value is added to the commodities they collect. Higher value for recovered materials will ultimately creates profitable recycling programs. Consequently, to generate more revenue, there is an impetus to further expand the recycling infrastructure and increase collection efforts to recover more materials.

There is a need to initiate and cultivate strong relationships with stakeholders to facilitate and maximize the implementation of the EO through the Strategic Plan and achieve the goals associated with waste prevention, recycling, and acquisition of recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services, including biobased products.

VI. Performance Measures

Performance measures assess the progress made toward achieving established goals. These outcome-based performance measures are to be achieved over roughly a five year period. The following performance measures specifically and quantitatively define the level of performance to be achieved in accomplishing the strategies and actions discussed in this Strategic Plan to implement EO 13101. Since many of the performance measures reflect several strategies and actions, there is no one-to-one correlation.

• In accordance with the EPA National Goal, the National Recycling Goal for the federal government is 35% waste diversion by 2005 by increased recycling and waste prevention efforts. All Federal agencies are expected to advance the attainment of this national goal with their respective waste diversion rates.

A. All Federal agencies are expected to demonstrate significant increases in procurement of recycled content products from each preceding year through 2005.

B. By the end of FY99, all Federal agencies will revise their agency policies and procedures to require, during acquisition planning, consideration of waste prevention; reuse; recycling; and the use of recycled content and environmentally preferable products including biobased products. In addition, agencies will have six months to implement changes to their acquisition supplements pursuant to the government-wide final FAR revisions.

C. All Federal agencies will establish and meet agency goals for affirmative procurement of recycled content products, including the following measures:

Paper (EO 13101, section 505)

100% procurement of printing and writing paper products containing the required postconsumer content levels beginning January 1, 1999.

Procurement Guideline Items (40 CFR part 247 and EO 13101, sections 402 and 507)

Demonstrate full compliance with procurement of products meeting EPA's recovered materials content recommendations by the end of FY99, considering product performance, price, and availability.

D. By the end of FY99, all Federal agencies will implement recycling programs at all Federal facilities. This will include programs to recycle, reuse, or refurbish pallets; collect toner cartridges for manufacturing; and reduce or recycle, as appropriate, batteries, scrap metal, and fluorescent lamps and ballasts. By the end of FY99, each Federal facility shall consider and implement five agency-wide waste prevention strategies, including two-sided copying and increased usage of electronic messaging.

E. By the end of FY99, all Federal agencies will have developed an awards program as appropriate to recognize its most innovative waste prevention, recycling, and affirmative procurement efforts.

F. Within 90 days after EPA issues the final guidance on environmentally preferable products and services, all Federal agencies should begin implementation of environmentally preferable products pilot projects.

G. By the end of FY99, all Federal agencies will contribute to three Greening the Government outreach programs, such as America Recycles Day and the NRC-FEE Confluence, that include the private sector, states, and local governments.

H. By the end of FY99, all Federal agencies will have revised their internal environmental compliance assessment programs to include RCRA 6002 compliance review protocols.

I. The Task Force, in consultation with all Federal agencies, will define the requirements for a cost-effective reporting system for procurement of recycled content products by the end of FY00; make recommendations for a cost-effective reporting system for waste diversion or waste prevention and recycling by the end of FY01; and examine the feasibility of reporting on procurement of biobased products.

J. The Task Force, in consultation with all Federal agencies, will produce a Biennial Greening the Government Report in 2000, including data from all major procuring agencies and information from other applicable EOs.

K. The Task Force, in consultation with all Federal agencies, will publish a report identifying the model facility demonstration programs at each agency by the end of FY00.

L. The Task Force, in consultation with all Federal agencies, will coordinate the research and development of 25 new or modified environmentally significant technologies to reduce waste, allow reuse of products, facilitate materials collection and processing, and facilitate the manufacture of products using recovered materials.

M. The Task Force and all Federal agencies will identify appropriate training courses to include EO 13101 requirements by the end of FY99. Modifications shall be completed by the end of FY00.

N. By the end of FY00, the Task Force and all Federal agencies will have begun to train procurement officials, credit card holders, program management, facility/maintenance, and supply/logistics personnel and requesting activities, as needed with regard to the requirements of EO 13101 and related agency policies and revisions to the FAR.

O. USDA, in consultation with the FEE and EPA, will publish a Biobased Products List by the end of the second quarter of FY99, produce semi-annual updates to the Biobased Products List, and maintain a website to provide immediate updates on new products.

P. In the first half of FY99, EPA, in consultation with the FEE, will publish guidance on acquisition of environmentally preferable products and services.

Q. In FY99, EPA, in consultation with the FEE, will develop Federal Facility guidance on RCRA inspections and compliance with RCRA Section 6002. EPA will include RCRA section 6002 requirements in all RCRA multimedia inspections conducted at Federal facilities.

R. In FY99, EPA, in consultation with the FEE, will begin assisting agencies to design, implement, and document pilot acquisitions of environmentally preferable products and services.

S. By the end of FY99, EPA will designate additional recycled content products and, thereafter, additional products as appropriate.

T. On an annual basis or other appropriate time frame, agencies that manage specifications shall revise 35% of their specifications for EPA designated items to reflect RCRA Section 6002 and EO 13101. requirements.

Performance measures generate data for program assessment and evaluation. These measures will be analyzed, evaluated, and incorporated into the biennial Greening the Government Report to the President and the RCRA Report to Congress.

VII. Major Milestones

IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE WITH MAJOR MILESTONES, Performance, Responsible Party/Agency, Expected Time lines

VIII. Appendices

Definitions

Acquisition means acquiring by contract with appropriated funds for supplies or services (including construction) by and for the use of the Federal government through purchase or lease, whether the supplies or services are already in existence or must be created, developed, demonstrated, and evaluated.

Affirmative Procurement is an agency's strategy for maximizing its purchase of recycled content products in accordance with Section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The buy recycled requirement applies to Federal agencies, state and local agencies using federal monies, and their contractors.

Agency means an executive agency as defined in 5 U.S.C. 105. Military departments, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 102 are covered under the auspices of the Department of Defense.

Biobased Product means a commercial or industrial product (other than food or feed) that utilizes biological products or renewable domestic agricultural (plant, animal, or marine) or forestry materials.

Closing the Circle means Closing the Recycling Loop.

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.

EPA-Designated Item means a product or category of products containing recovered materials that has been designated by EPA in the Comprehensive Procurement Guideline.

Executive Order 13101 is entitled, "Greening the Government Through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition".

Executive Order Inter-Agency Advisory Group is an inter-agency group that serve as advisors to and coordinate with the FEE on EO implementation.

Major Procuring Agencies means any executive agency that procures over $50 million per year in goods and services.

Model Facility is an organization or activity who has made an outstanding contribution to waste prevention, recycling, and affirmative procurement through its leadership, investment in resources, and change in culture.

Paper Summit means a gathering of subject experts from private and public sectors to assess the state of recycled content paper in the Federal government and to improve purchasing practices in regard to paper.

Pilot Project means a trial of a waste prevention, recycling or affirmative procurement practice.

Pollution Prevention means "source reduction" as defined in the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 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.

Procuring Agencies means Federal, state, and local agencies, and their contractors, that use appropriated Federal funds to purchase EPA-designated items.

Postconsumer material means a material or finished product that has served its intended use and has been discarded for disposal for recovery, and is part of the broader category of recovered material.

Recovered materials means waste materials and by-products that have been recovered or diverted from solid waste, but such item does not include those materials and by-products generated from, and commonly reused within, an original manufacturing process (42 U.S.C. 6903 (19)).

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 materials in the manufacture of new products other than fuel for producing heat or power by combustion.

Waste Prevention means any change in the design, manufacturing, purchase, or use of materials or products (including packaging) to reduce their amount or toxicity before they are discarded. Waste prevention also refers to the reuse of products or materials.

Acronyms

AEE - Agency Environmental Executive

BPCC - Biobased Products Coordination Council

CEQ - Council on Environmental Quality

CPG- Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines

DAU - Defense Acquisition University

DLA- Defense Logistics Agency

DoD - Department of Defense

DOE- Department of Energy

DOI - Department of the Interior

DOJ - Department of Justice

ECRC - Electronic Commerce Resource Centers

EOIAG - Executive Order Inter-Agency Advisory Group

EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

EPP - Environmentally Preferable Products

EO - Executive Order

FAI - Federal Acquisition Institute

FAR - Federal Acquisition Regulation

FEE - Federal Environmental Executive

FFCA - Federal Facility Compliance Act

FY - Fiscal Year

GPO - Government Printing Office

GPRA - Government Performance and Results Act

GSA - General Services Administration

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NIST - National Institute of Standards and Technology

NRC-FEE - National Recycling Coalition - Federal Environmental

Executive Confluence

OFPP - Office of Federal Procurement Policy

OMB - Office of Management and Budget

P2 - Pollution Prevention

RCRA - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

SBA - Small Business Administration

SBIR - Small Business Innovative Research

TACOM - U.S. Tank Automotive and Armaments Command

USDA - U. S. Department of Agriculture

USPS - U.S. Postal Service