Transcript US EPA’s P2 Programs: EPP, PBT‘s & H2E

US EPA’s P2
Programs: EPP,
PBT‘s &
H2E
GLRPPR Summer Meeting
Toronto, Ontario
August 26-28, 2002
EPP: Why Green
Purchasing?
Environmentally Preferable Products are…
“products and services [that] have a lesser or reduced effect
on human health and the environment when compared to
other products and services that serve the same purpose.”
This comparison may consider raw materials acquisition,
production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse,
operation, maintenance, or disposal of the product or
service.
—Executive Order 13101, Greening the Government Through Waste Prevention,
Recycling, and Federal Acquisition, September 16, 1998.
The Federal EPP Program
Environmentally
preferable purchasing
incorporates key
environmental factors
with traditional
availability, price and
performance
considerations in
purchasing decisions.
Federal EPP Pilot Projects
• Construction-related
– Building materials, lumber, paints, parking lots
• Office products
– Copier paper, printing paper, business cards, copiers
• Services
– Conferencing, printing
• Solvents
– Cleaning products, degreasers
• Miscellaneous
– Cafeteria serviceware,
electronics, uniforms,
hospital products
Providing Tools
EPP Database
Identify and compare environmental
attributes for key products and services from
various information sources, both domestic
and foreign
“Promising Practices”
20 case studies incorporating environmental
factors into product and service contracts
Links directly to contract language,
worksheets, evaluation criteria, etc
Supporting the Development
of Voluntary Standards
• Drafted FR notice to recognize 5 standards developed through
an open, transparent and participatory process & consider
life cycle impacts:
– Green Seal
• General purpose bathroom/glass
cleaners
• Commercial adhesives
• Cleaning/degreasing agents
– ASTM
• Data collection for sustainable
building products
• Stewardship for cleaning commercial/
institutional buildings
Focusing on Specific
Products and Services
• Conferences/meetings, Copiers,
Cafeteria serviceware, Carpets,
Electronics, Cleaners, and
Building materials/operations
• Developing “one-stop shops” for
specific green purchasing
information
• Initiating stakeholder review
process
Product Focus:
Biobased Products
• Executive Order 13134 Biobased Products &
Bioenergy; 2002 Farm Bill
• Strengthening biobased
component of NIST’s BEES
lifecycle decision support software
• Designate biobased products and content
levels.
• Provide information on availability, price,
performance, and environmental and public
health benefits.
• Develop labeling program for certified
biobased products.
Service Focus: Green Meetings
• Created “one-stop shop” website for government
employees interested in green meetings
www.epa.gov/oppt/greenmeetings
• “Greened” OPPTS meeting planning contract
• Funded industry-based initiative, co-developed
web tool
• Leveraging through partnerships
– GSA/EPA/SGMP Meet Green Initiative
– CERES Green Hotel Initiative - Best Practices Survey
– DC Green Hotel Initiative
Questions?
Visit www.epa.gov/oppt/epp
Call 202/564-8834 Julie Shannon
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E)
Why is EPA working with Hospitals?
• Hospitals generate 2 million tons of solid
waste annually
• Medical waste incinerators 4th largest known
source of mercury emissions to the
environment
• Healthcare facilities are willing pollution
prevention partners
Medical Uses of Mercury
• Thermometers
• Cleaning solutions
• Sphygmomanometers
• Fluorescent lights
• Esophogeal dilators
• Thermostats
• Cantor tubes
• Pressure gauges
• Feeding tubes
• Electric switches
• Lab chemicals
• Medical batteries
• Pharmaceutical
preservatives
H2E Program
• EPA/American Hospital Association
asking all hospitals to pledge to:
– Virtually eliminate mercury waste by year 2005
– Reduce total waste volume by 33% by year
2005; by 50% by 2010
– Identify hazardous substances in hospitals for
P2 and waste reduction opportunities
• We need full involvement to ensure success
H2E: 312 partners representing 950
facilities and growing!
• Children’s National
Medical Center
• George Washington
Medical Center
• Sibley Memorial
Hospital
• Washington Hospital
Center
• DC General Hospital
• Greater Southeast
Community Hospital
• Howard University
Hospital
• Veteran’s Affairs
Medical Center
Thirty plus Healthcare organizations champion H2E
and this number is growing!
• Aramark Service
Master Facility
Services
• Kaiser Permanente
• Catholic Health East
• DC Department of
Health
• Catholic Healthcare
West
• Consorta Inc.
• Sustainable Hospitals
Project
• District of Columbia
Hospital Association
• Environmental
Medical products, LLC
• Baxter
THE PERSISTENT, BIOACCUMULATIVE AND TOXICS
(PBT)
PROGRAM
AN AGENCY-WIDE MULTIMEDIA PROGRAM
Our concern is PBTs
Alkyl-Lead
Benzo(a)Pyrene
DIOXINS/FURANS
Hexachlorobenzene
MERCURY AND COMPOUNDS
Octachlorostyrene
PCBs
PESTICIDES
Aldrin/Dieldrin, Chlordane
Mirex,DDT(+DDD+DDE),Toxaphene
PBTs -- A Global Priority
• "Pollutants that are persistent, bioaccumulative
and toxic have been linked to numerous
adverse effects in humans and animals. The
United States has taken extensive action over
the years to address these pollutants. But such
pollutants not only remain in the environment
for years and even decades, they also travel
far beyond their initial points of release, posing
threats across national and geographic
boundaries. Only by addressing the threat of
these pollutants on a global scale can we help
to meet our goal of leaving America's air
cleaner, our water purer, and our land better
protected.”
Christine Todd Whitman
PBT Program Management Structure
Other Federal Agencies
UNEP
ECOS/STATES
R&D
Global
TRIBAL
NATIONS
ACADEMIA
Enforcement
TSCA
CEC
M2P2
CAA
CWA
GLNPO
EPA REGIONS