Environmentally Preferable
Purchasing
The Department of Environmental
Protection promotes the practice of buying products made from recycled
materials. Listed below are "buying recycled" tips as well as a list of
products that may contain recycled material.
How have recycled products changed in the past twenty years?
What are the economic benefits of buying recycled?
How does buying recycled "close the recycling loop?
How do I find products with recycled content?
What other products may contain recycled material?
Where can I find more information about buying recycled?
How have recycled products changed in the past
twenty years?
The three common myths and misconceptions about buying recycled products
listed below illustrate the changes that have been seen in the recycled
products industry.
Myth #1: "Recycled products are hard to find."
This used to be true, but not anymore. From the local grocery to national
retailers, stores sell thousands of products made from or packaged in
recycled-content material.
Myth #2: "Recycled products cost more."
Many recycled products are priced competitively with their non-recycled
counterparts. In fact, some may be less expensive! Take time to compare
prices.
Myth #3: "Recycled products are inferior in quality."
Years of research and development have ensured that recycled products
are the same quality, reliability, and dependability as non-recycled products.
A 1996 survey by the Buy Recycled Business Alliance asked hundreds of
corporate purchasing agents about their satisfaction with recycled-content
products. The survey results showed that 97% of respondents were pleased
with the performance of recycled-content products.
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What are the economic
benefits of buying recycled?
Recycling industries generate more than $600 million in value added for
each ton of recyclables processed and directly support more than 12,000
jobs in Massachusetts. A study of 10 states in the Northeast region found
that more than 100,000 people are employed in firms that process recyclables
or use them in manufacturing. The study also estimates that more than
$7.2 billion in value is added to recyclables in the Northeast through
processing and manufacturing.
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How does buying recycled
"close the recycling loop"?
Most Americans help the recycling effort by putting materials in their
recycling bin or taking them to a drop-off center. Unfortunately, many
people do not realize that this is only part of the recycling process.
Each arrow in the "chasing arrow" recycling symbol represents one step
in the three-step process that completes the recycling loop.
The first step is collection. This occurs when you put your recyclable
materials into your curbside bin or take it to a local drop-off center.
The collected materials are then prepared for processing and sold to a
manufacturing facility. The manufacturing process is the second arrow
in the recycling loop. The recyclable materials are converted into new
products and shipped to stores across the country to be placed on shelves
as new consumer goods. The third step is where you, the consumer, purchase
products made with recycled content. When you "buy recycled," you complete
the recycling loop.
By purchasing recycled-content products, you are doing your part to help
maintain consumer demand for recyclables and ensure the continuation of
recycling programs everywhere.
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How do I find products
with recycled content?
Read the label carefully! A recycling symbol does not necessarily mean
that a product is made with recycled content or can be recycled in your
community. Choose the product listing with the highest percentage of "post-consumer
recycled content" you can find.
These five materials are safe bets when you are looking for recycled content.
They always contain a significant amount of recycled material. Steel including
food cans, cars, appliances, bicycles, furniture and nails. Aluminum including
beverage cans. Glass bottles and jars. Molded pulp containers including
gray or brown cardboard egg cartons, fruit trays and flower boxes. Paper
products including paper towels, toilet paper, cereal and cracker boxes.
According to the Massachusetts Directory of Recycled Products Manufacturers,
about 50% of Massachusetts-produced glass is made of recycled bottles,
a significant quantity of our tissue paper is made of recycled content,
and at least 19 out of 31 Massachusetts paper/pulp mills use recycled
material. Massachusetts has 173 companies that collectively use an estimated
3.7 million tons per year of recycled material that otherwise would enter
the waste stream.
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