Purchasing and Zero Waste Sub-Committee

On Nov. 22, 2005, the Boulder County Commissioners passed resolution 2005-138:  "Adopting Zero Waste as a Guiding Principle and Supporting the Creation of a Zero Waste Plan."

• Zero Waste Resolution: 2005-138 (PDF 26 KB)

Mission Statement

Our green purchasing and zero waste practices ensure a sustainable future for the County organization and provides a model for the community.

Goals and Objectives

Goals:

• Improve our environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) policy through education and creating additional standards and requirements.
   

• Approach zero waste (or darn near) through education and enhanced reduce, reuse, recycle and composting opportunities.
   

• Model, promote and facilitate environmental sustainability in the community.
   

• Provide education and leadership for county employees to take personal responsibility for the environment

Objectives:

• Green showcase with Office Max (completed)
   

• Re-write EPP policy (completed)
   

• Survey target departments/divisions (completed)
   

• Launch pilot composting program, zero waste at county fair (completed)
   

• Expand subcommittee
   

• Collaborate with other subcommittees
   

• Develop long-term strategy: county departments, community-wide
   

• Draft a recycling/zero waste policy
   

• Develop a mass balance - what are we wasting?
   

• Promote double-sided printing, faxing, copying
   

• Increase use of durable and reusable goods

Existing Actions

Purchasing:

• EPP policy

• 30% recycled paper policy

• Eliminated non-recyclable ("Kraft") envelopes

• Minimal packaging and Energy Star compliance in bids/RFPs

• Trade-in language

• Increased online services

Recycling:

• In-house recycling program (184 tons in 2004)
• Recycling coordinators
• Recycling paper guide
• Hazardous and e-waste policies/programs
• 3RP2 Newsletter
• Reusables for meetings
• Community grants for waste reduction infrastructure and education ($580k since 1977)

Education and outreach

• Recycling Center tours (2,843 people in 2004)

• $15 million recycling facility

• 5 drop-off recycling centers

• County Fair recycling

Facilities:

• Trash Can Award program

• Use chemicals with the lowest HMIS rating possible and go beyond biodegradability and phosphate free as environmentally friendly standards

• Use local compost

• 4-cycle mowers

• Use reusables and rechargeables

Architects:

• Modular/reusable furniture

• Recycle/reuse construction scraps

• Use long life-cycle and recycled content materials

• Low water-use fixtures and landscapes

• Consider sustainability choices and effects on projects

Information Technology:

• Trade-ins

• All printers specified as duplexers

• Long-life, energy saving flat-screen monitors

• Online phone book

• E-wastes recycled

Parks and Open Space:

• Bio-fuel system at new parks building

• Recycling at some trailheads

• Re-use/scatter trail construction debris

• Recycled plastic wheel stops

• Compost bedding at fair

• Low toxic chainsaw cleaners

Printing and Mailing:

• Low VOC vegetable inks

• Hazardous waste management

• Reuse and recycling

Sheriff's Office:

• Rechargeable batteries

• Long life-span equipment

• Donate outdated equipment

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