75-10-806. State government procurement of recycled supplies and materials. (1) The department of administration shall write purchasing specifications that incorporate requirements for the purchase of materials and supplies made from recycled materials if the use is technologically practical and reasonably cost-effective. These requirements must be incorporated into the purchase of:

(a) paper and paper products;

(b) plastic and plastic products;

(c) glass and glass products;

(d) automobile and truck tires;

(e) motor oil and lubricants; and

(f) other materials and supplies as determined by the department of administration.

(2) It is the goal of the state that 95% of the paper and paper products used by state agencies, universities, and the legislature must be made from recycled material that maximizes postconsumer material content.

(3) The state shall, to the maximum extent possible, purchase for use by state agencies paper and paper products that contain postconsumer material rather than new material.

(4) To the extent practical, guidelines for the recycled material content of paper should be consistent with nationwide standards for recycled paper.

(5) The department and the department of administration shall establish a joint recycling market development task force. Task force membership must include but is not limited to representatives of the recycling industry, wholesalers, state agencies, and citizen and environmental organizations, as well as other interested persons. The task force shall:

(a) assist the department of administration in developing purchasing specifications as required in subsection (1);

(b) develop additional mechanisms for state government to develop markets for recycled materials;

(c) identify procurement barriers that discriminate against the purchase of supplies and products that contain recycled material; and

(d) develop recommendations for an informational program designed to educate state employees on how to reduce waste and recycle in the workplace.

History: En. Sec. 6, Ch. 222, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 271, Ch. 42, L. 1997.