Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutA20 City of Mountain View Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policy CITY COUNCIL POLICY SUBJECT: CITY OF MOUNTAIN VIEW ENVIRONMENTALLY NO.: A-20 PREFERABLE PURCHASING POLICY Environmentally preferable purchasing ensures that services and products procured: • Conserve natural resources, materials, and energy; • Eliminate or reduce toxics that create hazards to City workers and the community; • Eliminate or reduce potential release of pollutants into the natural environment; • Minimize environmental impacts, such as pollution, and reduce use of water and energy; and • Maximize recyclability and recycled content. PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to make environmentally preferable purchasing the standard for the City of Mountain View (City) and also to support markets for recycled goods and other environmentally preferable products and services. This policy will support the City's commitment to environmental stewardship and human health and safety. By incorporating environmental considerations into public purchasing, the City of Mountain View will positively impact human health and the environment. POLICY: DEFINITIONS The following terms apply to this policy: A. Eco-labeling refers to product labels that display the logo of a third-party certification organization (e.g., Energy Star, Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Green Seal, Quality Assurance International (QAI)). B. Environmentally Preferable Products and Services are products and services that reduce negative effects on human health and the environment when compared Page 1 of 5 CITY COUNCIL POLICY SUBJECT: CITY OF MOUNTAIN VIEW ENVIRONMENTALLY NO.: A-20 PREFERABLE PURCHASING POLICY with competing products. A comparison of products/services may consider raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, or disposal, along with the complete cost of a product throughout its life, when practical. C. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) places responsibility on the manufacturer, rather than the City, for taking back a product after it is no longer needed. By shifting costs and responsibilities of product recycling/disposal to manufacturers, EPR provides an incentive to eliminate waste and pollution through product design and packaging changes. D. Life Cycle Cost means the amortized annual cost of a product, including capital costs, transportation costs, installation costs, operating costs, maintenance costs, and disposal costs discounted over the life of the product. E. "Practical" means whenever possible and compatible with local, State, and Federal law, regulations, and/or City of Mountain View policy, without reducing safety, quality, or effectiveness and where the product or service is available at a reasonable cost in a reasonable period of time. F. Recyclable Product means a product which, after its intended use, can be used as raw material in the manufacture of another product. G. Recycled Material means material that has been recovered and used in place of raw or virgin material in manufacturing a product. Recycled material is derived from postconsumer waste, manufacturing waste, industrial scrap, agricultural waste, and other waste material. H. Virgin Material means any material occurring in its natural form. Virgin material is often used as raw materials in the manufacture of new products. The City of Mountain View commits to: 1. Procure environmentally preferable products and services where practical and where criteria for such products and services have been established by governmental or other widely-recognized authorities (e.g., Energy Star, Page 2 of 5 CITY COUNCIL POLICY SUBJECT: CITY OF MOUNTAIN VIEW ENVIRONMENTALLY NO.: A-20 PREFERABLE PURCHASING POLICY Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Eco Purchasing Guidelines, EPEAT, FSC, Green Seal, QAI). 2. Integrate environmental factors into the City's buying decisions, such as: — Replacing disposables with reusables or recyclables; — Buying products bearing eco-labels; — Taking into account life cycle costs and benefits; and — Evaluating, as appropriate, the environmental performance of vendors in providing products and services and taking products back at the end of their life. 3. Raise staff awareness regarding the environmental issues affecting procurement by providing relevant information and training to City staff and vendors interested in doing business with the City. 4. Encourage vendors to offer environmentally preferable products and services at competitive prices. 5. Encourage service providers to consider all possible environmental impacts of providing their services. 6. Comply with applicable environmental legislative and regulatory requirements in the procurement of products and services, e.g., Extended Producer Responsibility. Nothing in this policy requires a department or vendor to procure products that do not perform adequately or are not practical. Procedures and guidelines will be established and updated as necessary to ensure the continuation of a strong, environmentally preferable purchasing policy. Page 3 of 5 CITY COUNCIL POLICY SUBJECT: CITY OF MOUNTAIN VIEW ENVIRONMENTALLY NO.: A-20 PREFERABLE PURCHASING POLICY RESPONSIBILITIES All departments shall identify and purchase the most environmentally responsible and practical products and services. Factors to consider when evaluating an environmentally preferable product or service include, but are not limited to: • Minimization of virgin raw materials in product or service life cycle. • Minimization of materials regulated by Federal or State permits or other City policies. • Maximization of recycled content in product life cycle. • Reuse of existing products or materials in product or service life cycle. • Recyclability of product. • Minimization of packaging. • Reduction of energy/water consumption. • Reduction or elimination of product or service toxicity. • Long durability and low maintenance of product. • Disposal, recycling, and take-back of product. • Local sourcing of product or service, whenever possible. Purchasing Section Responsibilities: 1. Develop and maintain information about environmentally preferable products. 2. Provide training to staff and vendors regarding the City's environmentally preferable purchasing policy and provide implementation assistance. Page 4 of 5 CITY COUNCIL POLICY SUBJECT: CITY OF MOUNTAIN VIEW ENVIRONMENTALLY NO.: A-20 PREFERABLE PURCHASING POLICY 3. Incorporate specifications (e.g., requirement of recycled content or Energy Star rating) into City bid solicitations where practical. 4. Provide vendors with information about the City's environmentally preferable product/service procurement requirements and specifications. 5. Encourage vendors to use electronic invoices, whenever possible. 6. Review policy and costs every two to three years or as warranted and recommend changes to Council, if appropriate. Effective Date: October 28, 2008, Resolution No. 17337 CNLPOL A20-916CP Page 5 of 5