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

1. US EPA’s P2 Programs: EPP, PBT‘s & H2E GLRPPR Summer Meeting Toronto, Ontario August 26-28, 2002

2. 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.

3. The Federal EPP Program Environmentally preferable purchasing incorporates keyenvironmental factors with traditionalavailability, priceandperformance considerations in purchasing decisions.

4. 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 Federal EPP Pilot Projects

5. 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

6. 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

7. Focusing on Specific Products and Services • Conferences/meetings, Copiers, Cafeteria serviceware, Carpets, Electronics, Cleaners, andBuilding materials/operations • Developing “one-stop shops” for specific green purchasing information • Initiating stakeholder review process

8. 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.

9. 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

10. Questions? Visitwww.epa.gov/oppt/epp Call202/564-8834 Julie Shannon Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

11. Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E)

12. 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

13. Thermometers Sphygmomanometers Esophogeal dilators Cantor tubes Feeding tubes Lab chemicals Medical batteries Pharmaceutical preservatives Cleaning solutions Fluorescent lights Thermostats Pressure gauges Electric switches Medical Uses of Mercury

14. 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

15. 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 H2E: 312 partners representing 950 facilities and growing!

16. Aramark Service Master Facility Services Catholic Health East Catholic Healthcare West Consorta Inc. Sustainable Hospitals Project Kaiser Permanente District of Columbia Hospital Association DC Department of Health Environmental Medical products, LLC Baxter Thirty plus Healthcare organizations champion H2E and this number is growing!

17. THE PERSISTENT, BIOACCUMULATIVE AND TOXICS (PBT)PROGRAM AN AGENCY-WIDE MULTIMEDIA PROGRAM

18. 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

19. 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

20. PBT Program Management Structure Other Federal Agencies UNEP ECOS/STATES R&D Global RCRA TRIBAL NATIONS FIFRA ACADEMIA Enforcement TSCA M2P2 CWA CEC CAA GLNPO EPA REGIONS