Green Procurement
In April 2008, Governor David A. Paterson signed Executive Order No. 4, Establishing a State Green Procurement and Agency Sustainability Program, which directs state agencies, public authorities and public benefit corporations to green their procurements and to implement sustainability initiatives. The Order established an Interagency Committee on Sustainability and Green Procurement that is co-chaired by the Commissioner of General Services and the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation. The Interagency Committee is charged with identifying an annual list of product categories and specific products and services for which specifications will be developed and issued for greener procurements. The Interagency Committee is further charged with establishing goals for reductions in the amount of paper used and solid waste generated, and with the development of coordination, reporting and training programs to support agency sustainability efforts.
The Interagency Committee has developed a tentative list of categories, products and services for this year as required by Executive Order No. 4. Specifications to guide green procurement will be researched, drafted and issued for use by state agencies, public authorities and public benefit corporations based on the list. The list continues to be subject to further review, consideration and deliberation by the Interagency Committee and some products on the list may not be included in the final list. The Interagency Committee plans to issue the final list at its August 26, 2008 meeting. The tentative list can be accessed from the link to the OGS website in right column of this page under the section "Offsite Links".
For further information regarding the Interagency Committee, please contact OGS at 518-474-3416 or DEC at 518-402-9469.
