Buy Recycled, Iowa!

The Buy Recycled, Iowa! Program offers resources to help you close the recycling loop while supporting a valuable industry in the state.

Getting started:

Starting a buy recycled program at your place of business is an easy activity. Many purchasing guides recommend the following steps to implement a buy recycled program. For further guidance, visit the Purchasing Guides section.

Suggested Buy Recycled Program steps:

1. Learn the buy recycled vocabulary.
2. Set purchasing goals for your organization.
3. Identify opportunities for long-term savings by exploring lifecycle analysis for your purchases.
4. Get your purchasing plan in order:
   • Make it a priority
   • Move beyond paper: identify other opportunities for recycled-content purchases.
   • Foster ownership of program activities – put someone in charge.
   • Use successful models from other purchasing plans – no need to reinvent the wheel!
   • Investigate cooperative efforts – work with your vendors wherever possible.
   • Train staff at all levels.
   • Complete pilot projects – test materials to ensure they meet your company standards.
   • Keep track of your efforts and program success.
5. Incorporate activities into existing company policy.
6. Learn the myths associated with buying recycled and how to combat them.
7. Explore case studies & review additional resources.
8. Communicate your success – let your clients and community know about your achievements.

Additional Resources:

• American Plastics Council [www.americanplasticscouncil.org] — APC works to promote the benefits of plastics and the plastics industry.
• Buy Recycled Business Alliance (National Recycling Coalition affiliate) [www.nrc-recycle.org/] — The BRBA is a group of organizations committed to increasing the procurement of recycled content products through education and leadership by example.
• Conservatree [www.conservatree.com] — Comprehensive information on recycled, tree-free, and chlorine-free papers including information about new papers, environmental characteristics of papers, political and legislative issues, frequently asked questions, and manufacturing and distribution information.
  
• Environmental Defense [www.environmentaldefense.org/home.cfm] — Non-profit membership organization that links various resources to explore environmental issues.
• General Services Administration [http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/channelView.do?pageTypeId=8211&channelPage=%2Fep%2Fchannel%2FgsaOverview.jsp&channelId=-12989]
• Global Recycling Network [www.grn.com/] — Recycled content product and recycling information.
• Grass Roots Recycling Network [www.grrn.org/] — GRRN seeks to achieve corporate accountability for waste and public policies to eliminate waste, and to build sustainable communities.
• Green Seal [www.greenseal.org/] — Site lists recycled and environmentally preferable products evaluated through life cycle assessment and qualified for the Green Seal label.
• Steel Recycling Institute [www.recycle-steel.org/] — SRI is an industry association that promotes and sustains the recycling of all steel products.
• US Conference of Mayors [www.usmayors.org] — Promotes the development of effective national urban/suburban policy.
• US Environmental Protection Agency [www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/index.htm]
• US Government Printing Office [www.access.gpo.gov/qualitycontrol/paperspecs/index.html] — Paper Specification Standards

To Learn More:

For information on public buy recycled activities, visit the Iowa Department of Natural Resources [www.iowadnr.com/waste/recycling/buyrecycled.html].

Phone: 515.725.3126
E-mail: recycleiowa@iowa.gov