Federal Industrial Targets and Procurement Guidelines Programs Are Not Encouraging Recycling and Have Contract Problems

Federal procurement guidelines programs are discussed as they relate to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) and the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (NECPA).

Materials recovered from industrial and municipal solid wastes could make major contributions to the Nation's requirements for metals and paper. Increased recycling could also provide a significant new fuel source and concurrently lessen solid-waste disposal problems. However, the two referenced programs established by Congress to encourage recycling through Federal procurement guidelines and industrial targets are not succeeding. Both of the programs, like other resource recovery efforts, are lacking in direction, coordination, needed resources, and desired impact. For example, under the Federal procurement program the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) has not pursued its leadership responsibilities, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has yet to issue any recycling guidelines, and Federal agencies are reduced to waiting for policy directives before encouraging the purchase of recycled products. The program for setting voluntary industrial recycling targets administered by the Department of Energy (DOE) will not promote recycling because economic factors determine such industry activities. The review by GAO of the use of contractors on both programs supports the need for an overall Federal conflict-of-interest contract policy.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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