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a
Agri-based products
Products derived from renewable resources, including fiber crops such as industrial hemp and kenaf; chemical extracts from oilseeds, nuts, fruits, and vegetables; agricultural residues such as wheat straw and corn stover; and wood wastes generated from processing and manufacturing operations. Terms such as "agri-based," "biobased" or "naturally-derived" are often used when referring to plant-based products. These products stand in contrast to those made from extracted fossil fuels and other less renewable resources.
American Society for Testing and Materials
ASTM is a developer of voluntary consensus standards that promote public health and safety and contribute to the reliability of materials, products, and services.Synonyms: ASTM
b
Bid
An offer in response to a request issued by a governmental agency for products or services; may become the basis for a contract if accepted by the issuing agency.
Bid Solicitation
A request issued by a governmental agency for products or services.
c
Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines
Through the CPG, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designates items that must contain recycled content when purchased by federal agencies, or by government contractors including state and local governments using appropriated federal funds. Under Executive Order 13101, EPA is required to update the CPG every two years. See Identifying Recycled-Content Products for more details.Synonyms: CPG
Contract
A solemn agreement between parties, usually written, with binding legal and moral force, usually exchanging goods or services for money or other consideration.
e
Environmentally Preferable Products
Goods and services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with other goods and services that serve the same purpose.
Executive Order 13101
Entitled Greening the Government Through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition, Executive Order (E.O.) 13101 was signed by the President on September 14, 1998. This Order replaces E.O. 12873 and reinforces the federal government's efforts to buy recycled products and other environmentally preferable products. E.O. 13101 establishes a process for amending the Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG) originally promulgated under E.O. 12873. E.O. 13101 requires the U.S. environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to amend the CPG every two years or as appropriate. The Order also requires EPA to issue Recovered Materials Advisory Notices concurrent with the CPG amendments, and to update them periodically. Recovered Materials Advisory Notices (RMANs) provide purchasing guidance and recommend recovered and post-consumer material content levels for designated items. RMAN recommendations are guidance and therefore are not codified in the Code of Federal Regulations.
f
Fossil fuel
An organic substance, such as coal and petroleum, found underground in deposits formed in a previous geologic period and used as an energy source and raw material for manufacturing products.
h
Hazardous waste
Any refuse, sludge, or other waste materials or combinations or refuse, sludge, or other waste materials in solid, semisolid, liquid, or contained gaseous form which because of its quantity, concentration, or chemical, physical, or infectious characteristics may: (a) cause or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible or incapacitating reversible illness; or (b) pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, or disposed of, or otherwise managed. Categories of hazardous waste materials include, but are not limited to: explosives, flammables, oxidizers, poisons, irritants, and corrosives. Hazardous waste does not include source, special nuclear, or by-product material as defined by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended. Minnesota Statutes § 116.06, Subd. 11.
i
Industrial hemp
From the family Cannabis sativa, a fast growing annual plant cultivated throughout the world for the strong industrial fiber in its stem and oil from its seeds. Although related to marijuana, industrial hemp does not contain the chemicals that cause marijuana to be classified as an illegal drug.
k
Kenaf
Pronounced kuh-NAFF From the family Hibiscus cannabinus, a fast-growing annual plant that has been cultivated throughout the world as a source of fiber, which is similar to jute.
l
Life cycle costing
A procurement evaluation technique which determines the total cost of acquisition, operation, maintenance, and disposal of items being acquired.
m
Materials exchange
A network that seeks to identify users for waste materials and products discarded by others; matches needs and provides referrals.
Municipal solid waste
Any garbage, refuse, and other solid waste from residential, commercial, industrial, and community activities that the generator of the waste aggregates for collection, but does not include auto hulks, street sweepings, ash, construction debris, mining waste, sludges, tree and agricultural wastes, tires, lead-acid batteries, motor and vehicle fluids and filters, and other materials collected, processed, and disposed of as separate waste streams (Minnesota Statutes § 115A.03, Subd. 21).Synonyms: MSW, mixed municipal solid waste
p
Performance specification
A specification setting forth performance requirements determined necessary for an item to perform and last as required.
Plant based products
Products derived from renewable resources, including fiber crops such as industrial hemp and kenaf; chemical extracts from oilseeds, nuts, fruits, and vegetables; agricultural residues such as wheat straw and corn stover; and wood wastes generated from processing and manufacturing operations. Terms such as "agri-based," "biobased" or "naturally-derived" are often used when referring to plant-based products. These products stand in contrast to those made from extracted fossil fuels and other less renewable resources.
Pollution prevention
An activity that diminishes or reduces the use, generation, or release of hazardous waste or release of toxic pollutants, hazardous substances, and hazardous waste into the environment. (Minnesota Statutes § 115D.03, Subd. 8)
Post-consumer content
Materials collected for recycling from homes, retail stores, office buildings, etc., after they have completed their intended end use as consumer items. Post-consumer is part of the broader category of "recovered materials."
Pre-consumer content
Materials generated after the manufacture of a product is completed but before the product reaches the consumer. It includes damaged or obsolete products, but not materials commonly reused in the manufacturing process.
Procurement
The combined functions of purchasing, inventory control, traffic and transportation, receiving, receiving inspection, storekeeping, and salvage and disposal operations.
Purchasing
The act and the function of responsibility for the acquisition of equipment, materials, supplies, and services. In a narrow sense, the term describes the process of buying. In a broader sense, the term describes determining the need, selecting the supplier, arriving at a fair and reasonable price and terms, preparing the contract or purchase order, and following up to ensure timely delivery.
r
RCRA Section 6002
Section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976, as amended, directs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate items that are or can be produced with recovered materials and to recommend practices for buying these items. Among other things, RCRA Section 6002 also provides criteria for EPA to consider when selecting items for designation, and requires procuring agencies to establish affirmative procurement programs for designated items. See Appendix A for more information.
Recovered materials
Waste materials and by-products that have been recovered or diverted from solid waste, but do not include materials and by-products generated from, and commonly reused within, an original manufacturing process.
Recyclable materials
Materials that are separated from the waste stream and collected for use as a substitute for raw materials in a manufacturing process.
Recycled content
The portion of a product that is made from materials diverted from the waste stream, usually stated as a percentage by weight.
Recycled product
A product made exclusively, or in part, from materials diverted from the waste stream. (See also "recycled content.")
reuse
Products or materials that, after serving their original function, can be used again in their present form; some are designed to be reused repeatedly, while others not specifically designed for reuse are creatively used to fill a need.
s
source/waste reduction
An activity that prevents waste at its source, which includes reducing the amount of material used and/or the toxicity of the material used to accomplish any task; reuse of a product in its original form; and use of repairable, refillable, or durable products that result in a longer useful life.
Specification
A concise statement of a set of requirements to be satisfied by a product, material, or process; indicating whenever appropriate the procedures to determine whether the requirements are satisfied. As far as practicable, it is desirable that the requirement be expressed numerically in terms of appropriate units together with their limits.
standard
A characteristic or set of characteristics for an item, generally accepted by the manufacturers and users of the item as a required characteristic for all such items.
surplus
Any amount remaining after satisfying need or use; see State and Local Surplus Programs for information on accessing government surplus.
v
vendor
One who sells something; a "seller."
virgin product
Products that are made with 100 percent new raw materials and contain no recycled materials.
volatile organic compounds
Compounds that evaporate easily (volatile) at room temperature and often have recognizable odor; primarily used in solvents; many are chlorinated hydrocarbons and some are carcinogenic (e.g. benzene, chloroform, and methyl ethyl ketone).Synonyms: VOCs
w
warranty
The representations, either expressed or implied, that a certain fact regarding the subject matter of a contract is presently true or will be true. Not to be confused with "guarantee," which means a contract or promise by one person to answer for the performance of another person.
waste disposal
The act of getting rid of unwanted items and material having no value in excess of their basic material content. Mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) is typically disposed of at landfills, mixed-waste composting facilities, or energy recovery facilities.
waste prevention
An activity that prevents waste at its source, which includes reducing the amount of material used and/or the toxicity of the material used to accomplish any task; reuse of a product in its original form; and use of repairable, refillable, or durable products that result in a longer useful life.
y
yard waste
Leaves, grass clippings, garden waste, weeds, shrub and tree waste, and prunings (see also Minnesota Statute § 115A.931).