§2415. Procurement by public bodies of material with recycled content; reduction in solid waste

A. The division of administration, in coordination with the department, shall adopt rules to require the use and purchase of goods with recycled content by all state agencies and political subdivisions. The rules shall, at a minimum, include the Environmental Protection Agency's comprehensive guideline for procurement of products containing recovered materials. Such rules shall also allow flexibility for the consideration of product performance, price, availability, content of recovered materials, remanufactured products, and no cost manufacturer take back programs.

B. Each state agency shall adopt a policy which encourages to the maximum extent possible the utilization of products with recycled contents.

C. The division of administration shall develop rules to allow up to a five percent differential in price for the purchase of products with recycled content, provided that such products are manufactured in Louisiana. These rules shall be reviewed annually by the division and department and a written report with data and recommendations submitted to the legislature annually.

D. The division shall establish a schedule to ensure a continued use of products with recycled content by establishing goals for state procurement of specified products. Such numeric goals shall be established by the division by January 1, 2007, and shall be directed toward the utilization of the maximum amount of goods and products with recycled content. In no case shall these goals be less than five percent of total applicable goods and purchases per year over a five-year period.

E. The Department of Transportation and Development shall, by January 1, 2007, initiate rulemaking to ensure the use of the maximum amount of recycled materials in highway construction and maintenance. The rules shall, at a minimum, include the Environmental Protection Agency's comprehensive guideline for procurement of products containing recovered materials.

F. State agencies in Louisiana and all others using state general funds shall encourage the purchase of paper and paper products, tissue and paper towels, which shall contain the recommended minimum content standards as provided in R.S. 30:2412.

G. The commissioner of administration shall monitor the goals for minimum uses by the state of recycled paper products, pursuant to R.S. 30:2415.1. A goal of an increase in the total state procurement shall be established that will result in an increase of five percent annually, until such time as a minimum goal of fifty percent of the total purchased is reached within ten years. A minimum of twenty percent of this total shall consist of high-grade white paper.

H. Each department of the executive branch, the legislature, and the judicial branch of state government shall adopt a program to reduce solid waste, including but not limited to adopting paperless office programs. Likewise each branch of state government shall adopt a recycling program with emphasis on single stream recycling so as to increase compliance.

Acts 1989, No. 185, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1995, No. 1297, §1; Acts 2006, No. 829, §1; Acts 2010, No. 852, §1, eff. June 30, 2010.