Purpose:

To establish an understanding of the procurement policy related to the procurement of recycled and environmentally preferable products for the City of Newport News.

Definitions:

For the interpretation of this policy, please see the definitions below:

Environmentally Preferable

identifies goods, products, or services that have a reduced negative effect on human health and the environment in relation to competing goods, products, or services that serve the same purpose. This comparison may consider raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, operation, maintenance, reuse, and disposal of the products.

Recycled Products

are products that are made of materials processed from the waste stream, but may include some amounts of virgin materials. Examples include paper made from, in part, recycled paper products.

Virgin Products

are products made entirely from raw materials not previously used in the manufacturing process. Examples include paper made directly from wood pulp.

Unfriendly Residuals

are identified as by-products produced through the use, breakdown or decay of the original product that can negatively affect the environment.

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Policy:

The City of Newport News is interested in protecting the environment through the procurement of environmentally preferable products that may or may not have recycled content, that are economically feasible and are equal to or superior to items normally sourced.

City departments are encouraged to consider environmentally preferable products if the items effectively meet their intended use while benefiting the health of the City, its employees, citizens and environment. Should products with recycled content, or ones determined to be environmentally preferable be desired, departments should initiate a requisition that includes specifications identifying the recycled products that are to be purchased. As with all purchases, departments should remain mindful of the need to continue to develop specifications that will invite competition to the highest degree. Accordingly, if a department determines that recycled, virgin and/or environmentally preferable products may all be bid for price comparison purposes, the award will be decided for the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.

Suppliers are encouraged to offer environmentally preferable products that in themselves, or in their packaging, are environmentally friendly and will not produce unfriendly residuals into the waste stream or otherwise harm the ecosystem. Suppliers are encouraged to educate City departments on how environmentally preferable products may be beneficial as compared to currently used products.

Nothing herein shall prevent the City from seeking the "best value" or "most suitable" products through the RFP (Request For Proposals) process, rather than competitive sealed bidding. Furthermore, this policy is not meant to imply that the City is required to acquire environmentally preferable products when a cost/benefit analysis does not support such usage.