HomeMy WebLinkAboutGreen Procurement Policy GREEN PROCUREMENT POLICY
Addendum to the Town of Ithaca Procurement Policy and Green Fleet Policy
(revised January 2021)
FINDINGS
Green Procurement,also known as Environmentally Preferable Purchasing,is an effort to purchase
products and services that have a reduced negative impact or increased positive impact on the
environment and human health compared to traditional products. Green products or services may
be recycled, consume fewer natural resources, last longer or include or produce less toxic
substances or solid waste. Considerations for green procurement may also include the
environmental cost of raw materials, manufacturing,packaging,transporting, distribution, storing,
handling, using, maintaining and disposing of the product.
When comparing alternative products, lifetime maintenance costs, operational costs, and disposal
costs should be considered as well as initial costs of acquisition. Reducing the total cost of
ownership is a core objective of green procurement by reducing or eliminating the use and
generation of toxic substances,pollution or waste.
The Town makes significant purchases of goods and services and can use this buying power to
influence markets to create sustainable products and services and support green jobs. The Town
can also take a leadership role in reducing waste generated in conjunction with work practices by
purchasing cost-effective, recycled products for use in the delivery of Town services and by
reusing and recycling materials and products when feasible and cost-effective.
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing is an important component of the Town of Ithaca's
procurement policy and shall guide Town efforts to meet the following goals:
• Minimizing health risks to Town residents and staff.
• Minimizing the Town's contribution to global climate change.
• Improving air quality.
• Protecting the quality of ground and surface waters.
• Minimizing the Town's consumption of resources.
Further, Environmentally Preferable Purchasing guidelines are adopted by the Town in order to:
• Purchase products that include recycled content in order to support strong recycling
markets.
• Institute practices that reduce waste by increasing product efficiency and effectiveness,
use products that are durable and long-lasting, and reduce materials that are land-filled.
Adopted August 11,2014(Revised January 2021) pg. I
• Purchase products and institute practices that conserve energy and water,use agricultural
fibers and residues, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and use recycled wood and wood
from sustainably harvested forests.
• Purchase energy from renewable or green sources.
• Increase the use and availability of environmentally preferable products, services and
distribution systems.
• Support emerging and established manufacturers and vendors that reduce environmental
and human health impacts in their services and production and distribution systems.
• Create a model for successfully purchasing environmentally preferable products and
services that encourages other buyers and consumers in our community to adopt similar
goals.
POLICIES
Subject to New York State law and purchasing requirements and supplementing the Town of
Ithaca Procurement Policy, all purchases by the Town of Ithaca of products and services shall be
subject to and comply with this Green Procurement Policy. To the extent possible, Town
departments and staff shall engage in environmentally preferable purchasing through NYS Office
of Government Services contracts for products and services (NYS General Municipal Law §104).
When competitive bidding is required by state law (NYS General Municipal Law §103), bidding
documents shall be drafted to encourage environmentally preferable purchasing by incorporating
bidding specifications which conform to this Green Procurement Policy. When product or service
purchases are exempt from state statutory competitive bidding requirements (NYS General
Municipal Law §104-b), this Green Procurement Policy shall apply.
A. SOURCE REDUCTION
1. The Town of Ithaca shall institute practices that reduce waste and result in the purchase
of fewer products whenever practicable and cost-effective,but without reducing safety
or workplace quality. Town departments shall purchase remanufactured products
whenever practicable, but without reducing safety, quality or effectiveness. Products
that are durable, long lasting, reusable, refillable, recyclable, or otherwise create less
waste shall be selected whenever practicable.
2. Vendors shall be required to minimize packaging to the greatest extent practicable.
Packaging that is reusable, recyclable or compostable shall be selected when suitable
uses and programs exist.The Town shall not purchase any polystyrene foam packaging.
3. Vendors shall be required whenever possible to take back and reuse pallets and
packaging materials. Suppliers of electronic equipment shall be required to take back
Adopted August 11,2014(Revised January 2021) pg. 2
equipment for reuse or environmentally safe recycling when the Town discards or
replaces such equipment, unless the Town deems it worthwhile to send the equipment
to a non-profit organization for reuse.
4. Documents shall be printed and copied on both sides whenever practicable to reduce
the use and purchase of paper.
B. RECYCLED CONTENT PRODUCTS
1. It is the policy of the Town to purchase and use recycled products to the extent that
such use does not negatively impact health, safety, or operational efficiency.
2. Town departments and staff shall examine their purchasing specifications and, where
feasible, restructure them to include the use of products which contain post-consumer
recycled content, are reusable, or designed to be easily recyclable.
3. Only recycled paper shall be purchased and used in copy machines and shall also be
used for printing purposes by Town departments and staff. Copiers and printers
purchased shall be compatible with the use of recycled content and remanufactured
products.
4. The Town will favorably consider the selection of other recycled content and renewable
materials, products and supplies over their non-recycled content and non-renewable
alternatives in cases where availability, fitness, health, operational efficiency, quality,
safety, and price of the recycled product is otherwise equal to, or better than the non-
recycled content and/or non-renewable alternative.
C. TOXICS REDUCTION AND POLLUTION PREVENTION
1. Town departments are encouraged to purchase energy-efficient products and to
consider "less toxic alternatives" when purchasing products such as cleaning products,
pesticides and herbicides. To the maximum extent practicable, all cleaning or
disinfecting products (i.e. for janitorial or automotive use) shall (i) be products
delineated on the NYS OGS Green Cleaning Product List or (ii) meet NYS OGS
guidelines and specifications for green cleaning products(collectively"Green Cleaning
Products").
2. When maintaining buildings and landscapes, the Town shall manage pest problems
through prevention and physical,mechanical and biological controls and use least toxic
chemical pesticide products only after safer approaches or products have been
determined to be ineffective. The Town shall adopt and implement an organic pest
management policy and practices, or use chemical controls only as a last resort.
3. When maintaining buildings, the Town shall use products with the lowest amount of
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), highest recycled content, and low or no
Adopted August 11,2014(Revised January 2021) pg. 3
formaldehyde when purchasing materials such as paint, carpeting, flooring, adhesives,
furniture and casework.
4. The Town shall purchase products and equipment with no lead, cadmium or mercury
whenever practicable. For products that must contain lead or mercury because no
suitable alternative exists, preference shall be given to those products with the lowest
quantities of these metals and to vendors with established lead, cadmium and mercury
recovery programs.
5. The purchase of pentachlorophenol, arsenic and creosote treated wood shall be avoided
whenever practicable
D. ENERGY AND WATER SAVINGS
1. New and replacement equipment for lighting,heating,ventilation,refrigeration and air
conditioning systems, water consuming fixtures and process equipment and all such
components shall meet or exceed Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)
recommended levels, whenever practicable.
2. All products purchased by the Town and for which the U.S. EPA Energy Star
certification is available shall meet Energy Star certification. When Energy Star labels
are not available,products shall meet or exceed the FEMP recommended levels.
3. When energy is purchased, renewable or green sources are preferred. These include
solar power or photovoltaics, wind power, geothermal, and hydroelectric energy
sources and do not include fossil fuels (coal, oil or natural gas).
4. Demand water heaters shall be purchased whenever practicable.
5. Energy Star and power-saving features for copiers, computers, monitors, printers and
other office equipment shall be enabled during the initial installation and shall remain
enabled unless these features conflict with the manufacturer's recommended operation
and maintenance of the equipment.
E. LANDSCAPING
1. All landscape renovations, construction and maintenance by the Town, including
workers and contractors providing landscaping services for the Town, shall employ
sustainable landscape management techniques for design, construction and
maintenance whenever possible, including, but not limited to, integrated pest
management, grasscycling, drip irrigation, composting, and procurement and use of
mulch and compost that give preference to those produced from regionally generated
plant debris and/or food waste programs.
Adopted August 11,2014(Revised January 2021) pg. 4
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 them, and perennials rather than annuals for color. Native and drought-tolerant
plants that require no or minimal watering once established are preferred.
3. Hardscapes and landscape structures constructed of recycled content materials are
encouraged. The Town shall limit the amount of impervious surfaces in the landscape,
wherever practicable. Permeable substitutes, such as permeable asphalt or pavers, are
encouraged for walkways,patios and driveways.
IMPLEMENTATION
Nothing contained in this policy shall be construed as requiring any Town department or staff
either (i) to procure products that do not perform adequately for their intended use or are not
available at a reasonable price in a reasonable period of time, or (ii) to exclude adequate
competition for products or services.
Although not the lowest proposal or price quoted by suppliers, Town departments and staff may
nonetheless purchase a product that adheres to the Green Procurement Policy, if there is "prudent
and economical use of public moneys in the best interests" of Town taxpayers (GML 104-b (1)).
Such determination of"best interests" may include full consideration and comparison of product
life cycle costs (including product maintenance, operation and disposal costs), as described more
fully in Point 2 above.A further consideration may include direct and identifiable benefits to Town
taxpayers, other than product cost. For example, the cost of permeable pavers might exceed the
cost of asphalt paving, yet the use of permeable pavers could mitigate storm water run-off and
reduce the potential for flooding and infrastructure damage in low-lying areas. Justification for a
determination of "best interests" shall be fully documented by Town departments and staff and
submitted to the Town Finance Officer prior to the purchase of products or services.
Implementation of this Green Procurement Policy may be phased based on available resources and
Town priorities.
Adopted August 11,2014(Revised January 2021) pg. 5