Environment DEC
From the September 2008 issue
Green Procurement Updates Available on New Web Page
Printing services, toner, motor oil, cars and computers are some of the goods and services that will be covered under the green procurement initiative
A new Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) web page provides information on activities of the Interagency Committee for Sustainability and Green Procurement. This committee is responsible for coordinating promotion of green policies by state agencies. Initiatives will include reducing energy consumption, preventing air and water pollution and making buying decisions that minimize negative effects on the environment. The order also requires state agencies to implement sustainability and environmental programs that reduce the adverse environmental effects of state operations.
New York State is a major consumer of materials and energy, and, as such, the Interagency Committee will establish procedures for the procurement of green goods and services to leverage the state's buying power. This will ensure that sustainable practices are considered each time a purchase is made by state agencies and those who use their contracts. The committee is working to ensure that all state agencies will have the tools needed to carry out green purchasing, planning and contracting initiatives.
The committee will implement performance benchmarks in the executive order. There are at least 3 priority categories of commodities, services or technologies and a minimum of 12 priority items in each category (for a total of 36) for which green-procurement specifications and green-procurement lists will be developed. Similar specifications and lists must be developed each year for three additional categories and 36 new items.
Information Available
The new web page will provide summaries of committee meetings; information about key milestones; a list of products for which the committee will develop green specifications to be offered to state agencies, and contact information for members of the Interagency Committee and the New York State Office of General Services.
