FEDERAL PROCUREMENT: Government Agencies' Purchases of Recycled-Content Products
Abstract
Twenty-five years after RCRA was to launch a revolution in federal purchases of recycled-content products, the success of this effort is largely uncertain. EPA accelerated its designation of recycled-content products in the 1990s the agency had identified 54 products with recycled content at the time of our report. However, we could not determine the extent to which the large procuring agencies purchase these products because most lack reliable and complete data on such purchases. The agencies lack data primarily because their procurement systems are generally not designed to track these purchases particularly those made through contracts (which account for at least 90 percent of federal procurement dollars); with federal purchase cards (used like credit cards); or by grantees. While procuring agencies acknowledged that EPA's designation of recycled-content products, by itself, is not sufficient to ensure that the products are purchased, their efforts to promote awareness have been limited. The agencies told us that their staff members often are either not aware of these products or not able to locate them in their areas. In addition, the agencies have made little effort to ensure that grantees are aware of their obligations to purchase recycled-content products, and most do not have any reliable means of even identifying contracts that call for the use of these products. Furthermore, in the absence of credible data on purchases, the agencies have not put programs in place to review and monitor their progress in complying with the RCRA requirements.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 11, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA403535
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office