Practical Application

1. Review the recommendations outlined in site’s waste audits.
2. Implement resource reuse and reduction strategies to reduce purchasing quantities prior to initiating procurement policy changes (see Materials: Resource Reduction and Reuse).
3. Review EPA’s Green Purchasing Guides for Federal Purchasers, EPP information and tools, and OBO’s standard purchasing specifications.
4. Work with the Chief Procurement Officer or requisitioning personnel to determine EPP alternatives for the most commonly purchased items.
5. Create spreadsheets to evaluate options by cost, practicality, alignment with EO 13693 and other standards, and environmental benefit, based on post’s location and program availability. For example, compostable plates made of starch or sugar cane are best practice when composting is available.
6. Prepare lists of recommended changes to site’s current practices.