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Environmental and Health Issues and Recommendations  Recycled Content:
Postconsumer plastic comes from plastic that has been used by consumers and then collected through recycling programs. Most recycled-content plastic temporary fencing contains between 60 to 100 percent recycled plastic. Plastics account for 8 percent of landfill waste by weight, but 20 percent by volume. [1] Therefore, using recycled-content plastic temporary fencing keeps waste plastic out of landfills by creating a market for the plastic collected.
- Purchase plastic temporary fencing with at least 10 percent by weight postconsumer plastic. Higher postconsumer plastic content is recommended.
See the Introduction for a complete description of this environmental issue.
BACKGROUND AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH ISSUES
Plastic temporary fencing goes by many names, according to the application - snow fencing, temporary fencing, beach or dune fencing, warning fencing and safety barrier fencing. It is designed for temporary purposes, such as containing snow drifts or keeping people away from construction, sensitive, or dangerous areas. Typically orange (sometimes red or green), this product is in an open-weave pattern also described as a woven plastic mesh or chain link style. Plastic temporary fencing is usually available in 50 to 100 foot rolls that are 4 to 8 feet in height. The most common recovered and postconsumer plastic resin used to make such fencing is high density polyethylene (HDPE).
Environmental and Health Issues
Recycled-Content
Recycling is more than just having your recyclables - cans, bottles, and paper - collected and delivered to a recycling facility. This is only the first step in the process. The second step occurs when companies use these recyclables to manufacture new products. The third step comes when you purchase products made from these postconsumer materials. That is how we close the loop. Buying recycled-content plastic products results in many environmental and economic benefits:
- Supports local recycling programs by creating markets for the collected materials that are processed and used to manufacture new products;
- Recycling plastics reduces the amount of natural resources extracted (natural gas and oil in particular). More than 95 percent of the total energy required to produce one kilogram of plastics goes into extraction and refining. Avoiding these steps by recycling can result in energy savings; [2]
- The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) estimates energy savings from recycling four kinds of plastics ranges from 19 to 24 million British thermal units (BTU) per ton of plastics recycled. This is equivalent to about 150 to 200 gallons of gasoline per ton of plastics recycled. Studies have revealed reductions in air and water emissions when recycled plastics are used in production instead of virgin materials; [3]
- Recycling also creates jobs. Two recent studies on the economic impacts of disposal and recycling in California found that diversion (recycling or reuse) results in an average of 212 percent increase in sales and public outlays as compared to disposal, a 165 percent increase in income, a 177 percent increase in value-added production, and a 190 percent increase in jobs. Diversion creates 4.7 jobs per 1,000 tons, while disposal creates 2.5 jobs per 1,000 tons. [4]
What to look for: Look for plastic temporary fencing with high levels -- 60 to 100 percent -- of postconsumer plastic.
LAWS AND GUIDELINES
California
Statute
State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC)
- Recycled-Content Product Procurement Requirements
- Public Contract Code (PCC) section 12203 requires State agencies (including California State Universities) to ensure that at least 50 percent of the dollars spent on plastic products be spent on plastic products with at least 10 percent postconsumer recycled content [exception: see content requirements for printer and duplication cartridges in PCC 12209(f)(2)].
- The SABRC plastic products (PL) category includes, but is not limited to, printer or duplication cartridges, diskettes, carpet, office products, plastic lumber, buckets, wastebaskets, containers, benches, tables, fencing, clothing, mats, packaging, signs, posts, binders, sheet, building products, garden hose, and trays (see PCC section 12207).
- Recycled-Content Certification Requirements
- PCC section 12205 requires all State agencies to obtain from all suppliers written certification of the postconsumer recycled content of each product offered or sold to the State. Recycled-content certification forms are available in the SABRC training manual.
- Recycled-Content Product Procurement Report
- Recycled-Content Product Procurement Contract Language
- PCC section 12217(f) directs State agencies to remove contract provisions that impede the consideration of recycled products and to replace them with performance standards.
Federal
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act requires procuring agencies to buy recycled-content products designated by the USEPA in the Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG). Plastic fencing is a USEPA-designated item. Procuring agencies include all federal agencies, and any state or local government agencies or government contractors that use appropriated federal funds to purchase the designated items. If your agency spends more than $10,000 per year on a product designated in the CPG, you are required to purchase it with the highest recycled-content level practicable. [5] This means that the recycled-content ranges recommended in the USEPA's Recovered Materials Advisory Notice (RMAN) for the item in question are met. [6],[7] The USEPA's recommended recovered materials content levels for fencing containing recovered plastic are 90-100 percent recovered materials content, including 60-100 percent postconsumer content.
Executive Order 13101 and the Federal Acquisition Regulation also call for an increase in the federal government's use of recycled-content and environmentally preferable products. [8]
PERFORMANCE
Research supporting the USEPA's Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines indicates that users of recycled-content plastic temporary fencing report no performance problems. In addition, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has not experienced any problems with using such fencing either.
AVAILABILITY
Currently, there are a number of manufacturers and distributors of recycled-content plastic fencing. See the Vendors section.
COST
Note: The following discussion on cost is general and is not meant to reflect specific contracts or to supersede existing mandates or policies.
According to USEPA research, recycled-content plastic temporary fencing is cost-competitive with fencing featuring no recycled-content plastic. Depending on the source used, there may or may not be shipping costs to consider when evaluating cost-competitiveness with products lacking recycled-content plastic. [9] Additionally, this product can be reused for multiple seasons and then recycled.
SPECIFICATIONS
California
The office of Office Engineer of the Department of Transportation develops, advertises, and awards legal and cost-effective contracts for the districts. Office Engineer Specifications for temporary fencing (07-446) can be found under section 10 of the Standard Special Provisions (SSP). This specification indicates the fabric may be made of recycled material.
Tips for Writing Specifications
- For critical applications, include strength, contraction, UV protection, and performance, in addition to recycled-content requirements. Please refer to New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts' specifications.
- Sample language to include in specifications:
"Provide plastic temporary fencing with at least 60 percent by weight postconsumer plastic material."
Other Specifications
- Massachusetts - The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Operational Services Division developed product specific language that is available in the USEPA's Database of Environmental Information for Products and Services. The specifications require recycled-content fencing, and state that "All plastic used for fencing and post materials must be made from a minimum of 60% postconsumer recycled plastic."
- New Jersey - New Jersey required orange, UV-stabilized fencing with a minimum tensile strength (stretching capability) of 3,190 pounds per square inch (PSI) (horizontal) and 3840 PSI (vertical), as measured by ASTM test D638, and ultimate tensile strength of 220 PSI (horizontal) and 2660 PSI (vertical). [10] This specification recommended recovered content plastic fencing, but did not include specific recycled content amounts (specifications provided 1997).
- New York - New York's specifications required an orange-colored plastic fencing used for snow barriers, warning barriers and safety barriers. Height varied, depending on application, from 4 to 6 feet. Weight varied from 17 pounds per 100-foot section for warning barriers to 48 pounds per 100-foot section for snow fencing to 66 pounds per 100-foot section for 6-foot safety barrier fencing. It also addressed mesh size, porosity, service temperature range, and strength for each application. [11] This specification recommended recycled material, stating that "vendors are encouraged to use secondary or recycled materials in the manufacture of products to the maximum extent practicable" (specifications developed in 1992).
Please note: Neither New York or New Jersey's specifications remain in effect, because neither state purchased sufficient quantities of plastic fencing to justify maintaining the specifications. Now, New York obtains this product under its industrial supplies contract (as of 2005).
VENDORS
Check to see if your distributor carries or can obtain recycled-content plastic temporary fencing. Vendors can be found on the following list servers or databases.
Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines
The USEPA's list of designated products and the accompanying recycled-content recommendations provide recycled-content product information and two sources of vendors. One source is the database of suppliers that identifies manufacturers and suppliers of plastic fencing containing recycled-content plastic. The second source is the GSA Advantage that lists products available through the Federal Supply Service.
The Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide
The Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board of Minnesota developed this Guide as a reference tool for government and school purchasers who want to buy more wisely. Section 9.4 lists known North American manufacturers and distributors of recycled-content plastic temporary fencing that meets the federal procurement guidelines.
Recycled-Content Product Directory
The California Integrated Waste Management Board's Recycled-Content Product Directory contains thousands of listings of recycled-content products from thousands of suppliers.
SUCCESS STORIES
California
Caltrans has been using recycled-content plastic temporary fencing to cordon off Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) from contractor activities during construction without any problems.
States of New Jersey and New York
The states of New Jersey and New York, including the New York State Thruway Authority, are among states that have purchased plastic fencing containing recycled-content plastic and reported no performance problems with the products purchased. [12]
RESOURCES AND WEBSITES
California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB)
Sacramento, CA
(916) 341-6000
The CIWMB's mission is to reduce waste, promote the management of all materials to their highest and best use, and protect public health and safety and the environment, in partnership with all Californians.
Department of Conservation, Division of Recycling
Sacramento, CA
Toll-Free: 1-800-RECYCLE
(916) 323-3836
The Department of Conservation provides services and information that promote environmental health, economic vitality, informed land-use decisions and sound management of our state's natural resources.
Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) of Minnesota
The SWMCB distributes resource materials on a variety of waste issues for residents, businesses, nonprofit organizations and government organizations. In particular, The Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide (2004) provides government purchasers with information on purchasing environmentally preferable products. Over thirty types of products are addressed in the Guide. Information about environmental and health issues, cost, availability, performance and specifications for each product is provided.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
Washington, DC
(202) 272-0167
In order to assist federal agencies in purchasing environmentally preferable products and services, the USEPA offers a range of information about products such as recycled-content plastic fencing. Visit the USEPA's Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG) Web site for Recovered Materials Advisory Notices (RMAN), which recommend recycled-content levels. The site includes a plastic fencing page, a CPG Supplier Database, and a Database of Environmental Information for Products and Services.
[1] California Resource Recovery Association, October 18, 2005 California America Recycles Day, available at: www.recycleday.com/
[2] Plastic White Paper: Optimizing Plastics Use, Recycling, and Disposal in California. May 2003. California Integrated Waste Management Board publication. Available at: www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Plastic/.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2004 Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines Buy-Recycled Series Park & Recreation Products Fact Sheet. Available at www.epa.gov/cpg/factshts.htm.
[6] From California Integrated Waste Management Board staff communication with Office of the Federal Environmental Executive staff on December 12, 2005.
[7] United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2004 Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines Buy-Recycled Series Park & Recreation Products Fact Sheet. Available at: www.epa.gov/cpg/factshts.htm.
[8] United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2004 Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines Buy-Recycled Series Park & Recreation Products Fact Sheet. Available at: www.epa.gov/cpg/factshts.htm.
[9] Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board of Minnesota, Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide, Plastic Temporary Fencing section available at: www.greenguardian.com/eppg/9_4.asp, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines II Background Document 1997, pp. 73-75, available at: www.epa.gov/cpg/rman2.htm.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Ibid.
[12] United States Environmental Protection Agency's Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines II Background Document, page 73, available at: www.epa.gov/cpg/rman2.htm.
Special Note: Portions of the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Best Practices Manual were borrowed or adapted from the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide published by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board of Minnesota.
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