[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 165 (Wednesday, August 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45580-45589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22794]
[[Page 45579]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part III
Environmental Protection Agency
_______________________________________________________________________
Recovered Materials Advisory Notice III; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 165 / Wednesday, August 26, 1998 /
Notices
[[Page 45580]]
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[SWH-FRL-6151-9]
Recovered Materials Advisory Notice III
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice of draft document for review.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) today
is providing notice of the issuance of a draft Recovered Materials
Advisory Notice (RMAN III) that provides guidance to procuring agencies
for purchasing certain items containing recovered materials. Under
section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, EPA
designates items that are or can be made with recovered materials and
provides recommendations for the procurement of these items. Elsewhere
in today's Federal Register, EPA is proposing to designate the
following 19 additional items: nylon carpet with recycled content
backing, carpet cushion, flowable fill, railroad grade crossing
surfaces, park and recreational furniture, playground equipment, food
waste compost, plastic lumber landscaping timbers and posts, solid
plastic binders, plastic clipboards, plastic file folders, plastic clip
portfolios, plastic presentation folders, absorbents and adsorbents,
industrial drums, awards and plaques, mats, signage, and manual-grade
strapping. Today's draft RMAN III contains recommended recovered
materials content levels for these items.
DATES: EPA will accept public comments on the recommendations contained
in the draft RMAN III until October 26, 1998.
ADDRESSES: To comment on this notice, please send an original and two
copies of comments to: RCRA Information Center (5305W), U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC
20460. Please place the docket number F-98-CP3P-FFFFF on your comments.
If any information is confidential, it should be identified as
such. An original and two copies of Confidential Business Information
(CBI) must be submitted under separate cover to: Document Control
Officer (5305), Office of Solid Waste, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460.
Documents related to today's notice are available for viewing at
the RCRA Information Center (RIC), located at: U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, Ground Floor, Crystal
Gateway One, Arlington, VA 22202. The RIC is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday, except for Federal holidays. The public must
make an appointment to review docket materials. Call (703) 603-9230 for
appointments. Copies cost $.15 per page.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information contact the
RCRA Hotline at (800) 424-9346 or TDD (800) 553-7672 (hearing
impaired). In the Washington, DC metropolitan area, call (703) 412-9810
or TDD (703) 412-3323. For technical information on individual item
recommendations, contact Terry Grist at (703) 308-7257.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Authority
The draft Recovered Materials Advisory Notice (RMAN III) is issued
under the authority of sections 2002(a) and 6002 of the Solid Waste
Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
of 1976 (RCRA), as amended; 42 U.S.C. 6912(a) and 2962; and section 502
of Executive Order 12873 (58 FR 54911, October 20, 1993).
II. Background
Section 6002 of RCRA establishes a Federal buy-recycled program.
RCRA section 6002(e) requires EPA to (1) designate items that are or
can be made with recovered materials and (2) prepare guidelines to
assist procuring agencies in complying with affirmative procurement
requirements set forth in paragraphs (c), (d), and (i) of section 6002.
Once EPA has designated items, section 6002 requires that any procuring
agency using appropriated Federal funds to procure those items must
purchase them composed of the highest percentage of recovered materials
practicable. For the purposes of RCRA section 6002, procuring agencies
include the following: (1) any Federal agency; (2) any State or local
agencies using appropriated Federal funds for a procurement, or (3) any
contractors with these agencies (with respect to work performed under
the contract). The requirements of RCRA section 6002 apply to such
procuring agencies only when procuring designated items where the price
of the item exceeds $10,000 or the quantity of the item purchased in
the previous year exceeded $10,000.
Executive Order 12873 (the Executive Order) (58 FR 54911, October
22, 1993) directs EPA to designate items in a Comprehensive Procurement
Guideline (CPG) and publish guidance that contains EPA's recommended
recovered content levels for the designated items in the RMANs. The
Executive Order further directs EPA to update the CPG annually and the
RMANs periodically to reflect changes in market conditions. EPA
codifies the CPG designations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR),
but, because the recommendations are guidance, the RMANs are not
codified in the CFR. This process enables EPA to revise its
recommendations in response to changes in a product's availability or
recovered materials content so as to provide timely assistance to
procuring agencies in fulfilling their RCRA section 6002
responsibilities.
EPA issued CPG I on May 1, 1995 (60 FR 21370) designating 19 new
items and published RMAN I for the designated items on the same day (60
FR 21386). These notices also consolidated the guidelines previously
issued for five items designated between 1983 and 1989. The first CPG
update (CPG II) was published on November 13, 1997, and designated an
additional 12 products. Today, in a separate section of the Federal
Register, EPA is proposing to designate 19 new items (CPG III). Today's
draft RMAN III recommends recovered materials content levels and
procurement guidance for these 19 new items: nylon carpet with backing
containing recovered materials, carpet cushion, flowable fill, railroad
grade crossing surfaces, park and recreational furniture, playground
equipment, food waste compost, plastic lumber landscaping timbers and
posts, solid plastic binders, plastic clipboards, plastic file folders,
plastic clip portfolios, plastic presentation folders, absorbents and
adsorbents, industrial drums, awards and plaques, mats, signage, and
manual-grade strapping. Once finalized, today's RMAN will serve as
companion guidance to the previous RMANs.
EPA, once again, wants to stress that the recommendations in RMAN
III are just that--recommendations and guidance to procuring agencies
in fulfilling their obligations under RCRA section 6002. The
designation of an item as one that is or can be produced with recovered
materials and the inclusions of recommended content levels for an item
in the RMAN does not compel the procurement of an item when the item is
not suitable for its intended purpose. RCRA section 6002 is explicit in
this regard when it authorizes a procuring agency not to procure a
designated item which ``fails to meet the performance standards set
forth in the applicable specification or fails to meet the reasonable
performance standards of the
[[Page 45581]]
procuring agencies.'' Section 6002(1)(B), 42 U.S.C. 6962(c)(B).
Thus, for example, in the proposal section of today's Federal
Register, EPA has proposed to designate railroad grade crossing
surfaces as items that are or can be made with recovered materials. The
Agency's research shows that these items can be made with rubber,
cement, or steel containing recovered materials. If EPA adopts the
proposed designation and recommendations for railroad grade crossing
surfaces, however, the mere fact that they are available containing
recovered materials does not require the use of rubber, steel, or
concrete railroad grade crossing surfaces in every circumstance. The
choice of appropriate materials to be used in construction applications
remains with project engineers, construction contracts, and, in the
case of buildings, architects. The effect of designation (and RCRA
section 6002) is simply to require the purchase of items containing
recovered materials where consistent with the purpose for which the
item is to be used. Procuring agencies remain free to procure
designated items made from other materials where the design
specifications call for other materials. However, agencies must
affirmatively determine whether items containing recovered materials
meet their performance needs.1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See also the revisions to the Federal Acquisition Regulation
requiring that the statement of work for facility design contracts
``shall require that the architect-engineer specify, in the
construction design specifications, use of the maximum practicable
amount of recovered materials consistent with the performance
requirements, availability, price reasonableness, and cost-
effectiveness.'' (62 FR 44812, August 22, 1997, revising 48 CFR
36.601-3(a).)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Methodology for Recommending Recovered Materials Content Levels
In providing guidance in the RMANs, the Executive Order directs EPA
to present ``the range of recovered materials content levels within
which the designated recycled items are currently available.'' Based on
the information available to the Agency, EPA recommends ranges that
encourage manufacturers to incorporate the maximum amount of recovered
materials into their products without compromising competition or
product performance and availability. EPA recommends that procuring
agencies use these ranges, in conjunction with their own research, to
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing the
designated items. EPA recommends ranges rather than minimum standards
for several reasons:
First, the Executive Order directs EPA to develop ranges, not
minimum content standards or specific recovered materials levels.
Second, EPA has only limited information on recovered materials
content levels for the new items proposed for designation. It would not
be appropriate to establish minimum content standards without more
detailed information because the standards may be treated as maximum
targets by manufacturers and may stifle innovative approaches for
increasing recovered material use. EPA hopes that the use of ranges
will encourage manufacturers producing at the low end of the recovered
materials range to seek ways of increasing their recovered materials
usage. Minimum content standards are less likely to encourage such
innovation.
Third, many items are purchased locally rather than centrally. As a
result, the recovered materials content of the items are likely to vary
from region to region depending on local cost and availability of
recovered materials. Minimum content standards are unlikely to be
effective given the regional variance in recovered materials content
because minimum content levels that are appropriate for one region, may
be excessively high or low for other regions. A recovered materials
content range gives regional procuring agencies the flexibility to
establish their own recovered materials content standards and to make
them as high as possible, consistent with the statute, given local
product availability and market conditions.
EPA reviewed publicly-available information, information obtained
from product manufacturers, and information provided by other
government agencies regarding the percentages of recovered materials
available in the items proposed for designation in CPG III. Based on
this information, EPA established ranges of recovered materials content
for the proposed designated items. In some instances, EPA recommends a
specific content level (e.g., 100 percent recovered materials), rather
than a range, because the item is universally available at that
recommended level, the item contains 100% recovered materials, or that
level is the maximum content currently used in that item.
In establishing the ranges, EPA's objective was to ensure the
availability of the item, while challenging manufacturers to increase
their use of recovered materials. By recommending ranges, EPA believes
that sufficient information will be provided to enable procuring
agencies to set appropriate procurement specifications when purchasing
the newly designated items.
It is EPA's intention to provide procuring agencies with the best
and most current information available to assist them in fulfilling
their statutory obligations under RCRA section 6002. To do this, EPA
will monitor the progress made by procuring agencies in purchasing
designated items with the highest practical recovered materials content
levels and will adjust the recommended content ranges as appropriate.
EPA anticipates that the recommended ranges will narrow over time as
other items become more available, although for technical reasons, many
may never be available with 100 percent recovered materials content
levels.
Under RCRA section 6002(I), it is each procuring agency's
responsibility to establish minimum content standards, while EPA
provides recommendations regarding the levels of recovered materials in
the designated items. To make it clear that EPA does not establish
minimum content standards for other agencies, EPA refers to its
recommendations as ``recovered materials content levels,'' consistent
with RCRA section 6002(e) and the Executive Order.
More information on EPA's methodology for recommending recovered
materials content levels for designated items is contained in
``Background Document for Proposed CPG III and Draft RMAN III,''
located in the RCRA public docket for this notice.
B. Definitions
Today's draft RMAN III contains recommendations on the recovered
materials content levels and postconsumer materials content levels at
which the designated items are generally available. For several items
being proposed for designation, this RMAN recommends two-part content
levels--a postconsumer recovered materials content component and a
total recovered materials component. In these instances, EPA found that
both types of materials were being used to manufacture a product.
Recommending only postconsumer content levels would fail to acknowledge
the contribution to solid waste management made when manufacturers use,
as feedstock, the byproducts of other manufacturing processes that
would otherwise be destined for disposal as solid waste. The terms
``recovered materials'' and ``postconsumer materials'' are defined in
40 CFR 247.3. These definitions are repeated here as a reference for
the convenience of the reader. The Agency is not proposing to change
these definitions and will not consider any comments submitted on these
terms.
[[Page 45582]]
Postconsumer materials means a material or finished product that
has served its intended end use and has been diverted or recovered
from waste destined for disposal, having completed its life as a
consumer item. Postconsumer material is part of the broader category
of recovered materials.
Recovered materials means waste materials and byproducts which
have been recovered or diverted from solid waste, but such term does
not include those materials and byproducts generated from, and
commonly used within an original manufacturing process.
C. Request for Comments
EPA requests comments, including additional supporting
documentation and information, on the types of recovered materials
identified in the item recommendations, the recommended recovered and
postconsumer materials content levels, and other recommendations for
purchasing the designated items containing recovered materials. EPA
requests specific comments and information on the following issues:
Whether any specifications exist or are appropriate for
park benches or picnic tables made from steel or aluminum containing
recovered materials;
Whether any specifications exist or are appropriate for
solid plastic binders containing recovered materials;
Whether any specifications or standards exist for awards
or plaques containing recovered materials; and
Whether any specifications or standards exist for mats
containing recovered materials.
III. Supporting Information and Accessing Internet
The index of supporting materials for today's draft RMAN III is
available in the RCRA Information Center (RIC) and on EPA's Internet
web page. The address and telephone number of the RIC are provided in
ADDRESSES above. The index and the following supporting materials are
available on the Internet:
``Background Document for Proposed CPG III and Draft RMAN III,''
EPA530-R-98-003, U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response, April, 1998.
Copies of the following supporting materials are available for
viewing at the RIC only:
``Recovered Materials Product Research for the Comprehensive
Procurement Guideline III,'' Draft Report, September 26, 1997.
Follow these instructions to access information electronically:
WWW: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/procure.htm.
FTP: ftp.epa.gov
Login: anonymous
Password: your Internet address
Files are located in /pub/epaoswer.
Dated: August 19, 1998.
Carol M. Browner,
Administrator.
Recovered Materials Advisory Notice III
The following represents EPA's draft recommendations to procuring
agencies for purchasing the items proposed today for designation in the
Comprehensive Procurement Guideline III, in compliance with section
6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). These
recommendations are intended to be used in conjunction with RMAN I (60
FR 21386, May 1, 1995), the Paper Products RMAN (61 FR 26985, May 29,
1996), and RMAN II (62 FR 60975, November 13, 1997). Refer to the
previous RMANs or the Code of Federal Regulations at 40 CFR Part 247
for definitions, general recommendations for affirmative procurement
programs, and recommendations for previously designated items.
Contents
I. General Recommendations
II. Specific Recommendations for Procurement of Designated Items
Part C. Construction Products
Section C-8. Nylon Carpet (Broadloom and Tiles) Made with
Backing Containing Recovered Materials
Section C-9. Carpet Cushion Made from Bonded Polyurethane, Jute,
Synthetic Fibers, or Rubber Containing Recovered Materials
Section C-10. Flowable Fill Containing Coal Fly Ash and/or
Ferrous Foundry Sands
Section C-11. Railroad Grade Crossing Surfaces Containing Coal
Fly Ash, Recovered Rubber, or Recovered Steel
Part E. Park and Recreation Products
Section E-3. Park Benches and Picnic Tables Containing Recovered
Steel, Aluminum, Plastic, or Concrete
Section E-4. Playground Equipment Containing Recovered Plastic,
Steel, or Aluminum
Part F. Landscaping Products
Section F-2. Compost Made from Yard Trimmings and/or Food Waste
(Revised)
Section F-5. Plastic Lumber Landscaping Timbers and Posts
Containing Recovered Materials
Part G. Non-Paper Office Products
Section G-8. Solid Plastic Binders, Plastic Clipboards, Plastic
File Folders, Plastic Clip Portfolios, and Plastic Presentation
Folders Containing Recovered Plastic
Part H. Miscellaneous Products
Section H-2. Sorbents Containing Recovered Materials for Use in
Oil and Solvent Clean-ups and as Animal Bedding
Section H-3. Industrial Drums Containing Recovered Steel,
Plastic, and Paper
Section H-4. Awards and Plaques Containing Recovered Glass,
Wood, Paper, or Plastic
Section H-5. Mats Containing Recovered Rubber and/or Plastic
Section H-6. Manual-Grade Strapping Containing Recovered Steel
and Plastic
Section H-7. Signs Containing Recovered Plastic or Aluminum and
Sign Posts/Supports Containing Recovered Plastic or Steel
I. General Recommendations
(See the May 1, 1995 RMAN I for EPA's general recommendations for
definitions, specifications, and affirmative procurement programs.)
II. Specific Recommendations for Procurement of Designated Items
(See the May 1, 1995 RMAN I, the May 29, 1996 Paper Products RMAN, and
the November 13, 1997 RMAN II for recommendations for previously-
designated items.)
Part C--Construction Products
Note: Refer to Part F--Landscaping Products for additional items
that can be used in construction applications.
Section C-8. Nylon Carpet (Broadloom and Tiles) Made With Backing
Containing Recovered Materials
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table C-8, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing nylon
broadloom carpet and carpet tiles made with backing containing
recovered materials. EPA further recommends that Federal procuring
agencies use GSA's carpet contract GS-00F-8453-A when purchasing nylon
broadloom carpet or carpet tiles made with backing containing recovered
materials.
Table C-8.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Backing
for Nylon Broadloom and Carpet Tiles
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
recovered
Material Postconsumer materials
content (%) content
(%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Old carpets................................... 35-70 100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: EPA's recommendation does not preclude a procuring agency
from purchasing broadloom carpet or carpet tiles made from another
material, such as wool. It simply requires that procuring agencies,
when purchasing nylon broadloom carpet or carpet tiles, purchase
these items made with backing containing recovered materials when
they meet applicable specifications and performance requirements.
Refer to Section
[[Page 45583]]
C-4 in RMAN I for EPA's recommendations for purchasing polyester
carpet containing recovered materials.
Specifications: EPA recommends that procuring agencies review their
carpet specifications and revise them as necessary to permit the use of
backing containing recovered materials.
Section C-9. Carpet Cushion Made From Bonded Polyurethane, Jute,
Synthetic Fibers, or Rubber Containing Recovered Materials
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table C-9, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing bonded
polyurethane, jute, synthetic fiber, or rubber carpet cushion
containing recovered materials.
Table C-9.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Bonded
Polyurethane, Jute, Synthetic Fiber, and Rubber Carpet Cushion
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
Post recovered
Product Material consumer materials
content content
(%) (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bonded polyurethane............ Old carpet cushion 15-50 15-50
Jute........................... Burlap............ 40 40
Synthetic fibers............... Carpet fabrication ........ 100
scrap.
Rubber......................... Tire rubber....... 60-90 60-90
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: EPA's recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency
from purchasing another type of carpet cushion. They simply require
that procuring agencies, when purchasing bonded polyurethane, jute,
synthetic fiber, or rubber carpet cushions, purchase these items
made with recovered materials when these items meet applicable
specifications and performance requirements. Refer to Section C-4 in
RMAN I for EPA's recommendations for purchasing polyester carpet
containing recovered materials.
Specifications: EPA is not aware of carpet cushion specifications
unique to carpet cushions containing recovered materials. Therefore,
EPA recommends that procuring agencies use the standards set by the
Carpet and Rug Institute and the Carpet Cushion Council when purchasing
bonded polyurethane, jute, synthetic fiber, or rubber carpet cushion
containing recovered materials.
Section C-10. Flowable Fill Containing Coal Fly Ash and/or Ferrous
Foundry Sands
Preference Program: EPA recommends that procuring agencies use
flowable fill containing coal fly ash and/or ferrous foundry sands for
backfill and other fill applications. EPA further recommends that
procuring agencies include provisions in all construction contracts
involving backfill or other fill applications, to allow for the use of
flowable fill containing coal fly ash and/or ferrous foundry sands,
where appropriate.
The specific percentage of coal fly ash or ferrous foundry sands
used in flowable fill depend on the specifics of the job, including the
type of coal fly ash used (Class C or Class F); the strength, set time,
and flowability needed; and bleeding and shrinkage. Therefore, EPA is
not recommending specific coal fly ash or ferrous foundry sands content
levels for procuring agencies to use in establishing minimum content
standards for flowable fill. EPA recommends that procuring agencies
refer to the mix proportions in Tables C-10a and C-10b for typical
proportions for high and low coal fly ash content mixes. EPA further
recommends that procuring agencies refer to American Concrete Institute
(ACI) report ACI 229R-94 for guidance on the percentages of coal fly
ash that can be used in flowable fill mixtures.
Table C-10a.--Typical Proportions for High Fly Ash Content Flowable
Fills
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mix
design
Component Range kg/m\3\ (lb/yd\3\) kg/m\3\
(lb/
yd\3\)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fly ash (95%)...................... 949 to 1542 (1600 to 2600) 1234
(2080)
Cement (5%)........................ 47 to 74 (80 to 125)...... 62
(104)
Added water........................ 222 to 371 (375 to 625)... *247
(416)
--------
Total.......................... .......................... 1543
(2600)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Equal to 189 liters (50 gallons).
Source: ``Fly Ash Facts for Highway Engineers,'' FHWA-SA-94-081, U.S.
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, August
1995.
Table C-10b.--Typical Proportions for Low Fly Ash Content Flowable Fills
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Range kg/m\3\ (lb/ Mix Design kg/
Component yd\3\) m\3\ (lb/yd\3\)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fly ash (6% to 14%)... 119 to 297 (200 to 178 (300)
500).
Cement........................ 30 to 119 (50 to 200) 59 (100)
Sand.......................... 1483 to 1780 (2500 to 1542 (2600)
3000).
Added water................... 198 to 494 (333 to *297 (500)
833).
------------------
Total..................... ..................... 2076 (3500)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
High calcium fly ash is used in lower amounts than low calcium
fly ash.
* Equal to 227 liters (60 gallons).
Source: ``Fly Ash Facts for Highway Engineers,'' FHWA-SA-94-081, U.S.
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, August
1995.
[[Page 45584]]
Specifications: The following recommendations address mix designs,
test methods, and performance standards.
Mix designs. EPA recommends that procuring agencies use
ACI report ACI229R-94, ``Controlled Low Strength Materials (CLSM)'' and
``Fly Ash Facts for Highway Engineers,'' (FHWA-SA-94-081, U.S.
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, August
1995) in developing mix designs. Among other things, ACI229R-94
addresses materials, including coal fly ash and foundry sands, mix
design, and mixing, transporting, and placing. It also provides
examples of mixture designs containing coal fly used by the states of
Iowa, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio, and South
Carolina. ``Fly Ash Facts for Highway Engineers'' addresses materials,
strength, flowability, time of set, bleeding and shrinkage.
A mix design for the use of foundry sand and coal fly ash in
flowable fill was developed for Ford Motor Company. Procuring agencies
can obtain a copy of this design by contacting the RCRA Hotline at 1-
800-424-9346. Table C-10c provides the recommended trial mixture from
this specification.
Table C-10c.--Materials Quantities for Flowable Fill Mixture Containing
Foundry Sands and Coal Fly Ash
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quantity
per cubic
Component yard
(lbs.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cement....................................................... 50
Coal fly ash................................................. 250
Foundry sand................................................. 2850
Water........................................................ 500
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Materials specifications and test methods. EPA recommends
that procuring agencies use ACI229R-94 and the ASTM standards listed in
Table C-10d when purchasing flowable fill or contracting for
construction that involves backfilling or other fill applications.
EPA recommends that procuring agencies refer to ASTM C 33-93,
``Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates,'' for appropriate
gradation requirements for ferrous foundry sands used as aggregates in
flowable fills. Procuring agencies should note that ferrous foundry
sands may need to be blended with natural sand or other fine aggregate
to meet the C 33-93 gradation requirements.
Table C-10d.--Recommended Test Methods for Flowable Fills (Controlled
Low Strength Materials)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASTM specification NO. Title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
D 4832-95e1...................... Standard Test Method for Preparation
and Testing of Controlled Low
Strength Material (CLSM) Test
Cylinders.
D 5239-92........................ Standard Practice for Characterizing
Fly Ash for Use in Soil
Stabilization.
D 5971-96........................ Standard Practice for Sampling
Freshly Mixed Controlled Low
Strength Material.
D 6103-07........................ Standard Test Method for Flow
Consistency of Controlled Low
Strength Material.
D 6023-96........................ Standard Test Method for Unit Weight,
Yield, Cement Content and Air
Content (Gravimetric) of Controlled
Low Strength Material (CLSM).
D 5971-96........................ Standard Practice for Sampling
Freshly Mixed Controlled Low
Strength Material.
D 6024-96........................ Standard Test Method for Ball Drop on
Controlled Low Strength Material
(CLSM) to Determine Suitability for
Load Application.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
State specifications. The following states have
specifications for flowable fill containing coal fly ash: California,
Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas,
Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New
Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Washington, West
Virginia, and Wisconsin.
The state of Ohio has a specification entitled ``Flowable Fill Made
with Spent Foundry Sand,'' and the states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin,
and Indiana are developing specifications for using foundry sands in
flowable fill.
If needed, procuring agencies can obtain state specifications from
the respective state transportation departments and adapt them for use
in their programs. ACI229R-94 includes mix designs from several of
these states.
Contract specifications. EPA recommends that procuring
agencies which prepare or review ``contract'' specifications for
individual construction projects revise those specifications to allow
the use of flowable fills containing coal fly ash and/or ferrous
foundry sands.
Performance standards. EPA recommends that procuring
agencies review and, if necessary, revise performance standards
relating to fill materials to insure that they do not arbitrarily
restrict or preclude the use of flowable fills containing coal fly ash
and/or ferrous foundry sands, either intentionally or inadvertently,
unless the restriction is justified on a job-by-job basis: (1) to meet
reasonable performance requirements for fill materials or (2) because
the use of coal fly ash or ferrous foundry sands would be inappropriate
for technical reasons. EPA recommends that this justification be
documented based on specific performance information. Legitimate
documentation of technical infeasibility can be for certain classes of
applications, rather than on a job-by-job basis. Agencies should
reference such documentation in individual contract specifications, to
avoid extensive repetition of previously documented points. However,
procuring agencies should be prepared to submit such documentation to
scrutiny by interested parties and should have a review process
available in the event of disagreements.
Promotion program: EPA recommends that, as part of the promotion
programs required by section 6002(I) of the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act, procuring agencies conduct demonstration programs for
using flowable fills containing coal fly ash and/or ferrous foundry
sands. EPA further recommends that procuring agencies educate
construction contractors about the design, use, and performance of
flowable fills containing coal fly ash and/or ferrous foundry sands.
Section C-11. Railroad Grade Crossing Surfaces Containing Coal Fly Ash,
Recovered Rubber, or Recovered Steel
Preference Program: EPA recommends that based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table C-11a, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing concrete,
rubber, and steel railroad grade crossing surfaces containing recovered
materials.
EPA further recommends that procuring agencies include provisions
in all concrete railroad grade crossing construction contracts to allow
for the use, as optional or alternate materials, of concrete containing
coal fly ash, where appropriate.
[[Page 45585]]
Table C-11a.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for
Concrete, Rubber, and Steel Railroad Grade Crossing Surface
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post- Total
con- recovered
Surface material Recovered material sumer materials
content content
(%) (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Concrete........................ Coal fly ash...... ....... 15-20
Rubber.......................... Tire rubber....... ....... 85-95
Steel........................... Steel............. 16-75 20-100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: EPA's recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency
from purchasing another type of railroad grade crossing surface,
such as wood or asphalt. They simply require that procuring
agencies, when purchasing concrete, rubber, or steel grade crossing
surfaces, purchase these items made with recovered materials when
these items meet applicable specifications and performance
requirements. However, EPA recommends that procuring agencies
consider using concrete, rubber, or steel grade crossing surfaces.
The recommended recovered materials content levels for rubber
railroad grade crossing surfaces are based on the weight of the raw
materials, exclusive of any additives such as binders or additives.
Coal fly ash can be used as an ingredient of concrete slabs,
pavements, or controlled density fill product, depending on the type of
concrete crossing system installed. Higher percentages of coal fly ash
can be used in the concrete mixture; the higher percentages help to
produce a more workable and durable product but can prolong the curing
process.
Specifications: EPA recommends that procuring agencies use the ASTM
standards listed in Table C-11b when purchasing rubber railroad grade
crossing surfaces. EPA recommends that procuring agencies use the ASTM
and AASHTO standards listed in Table C-11c when purchasing concrete
railroad grade crossing surfaces.
Table C-11b.--Recommended Specifications for Rubber Railroad Grade
Crossings
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASTM specification No. Title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
D 2000-96........................ Rubber Products in Automotive
Applications.
D 2240-97........................ Rubber Property--Durometer Hardness.
D 412-97......................... Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic
Rubbers and Thermoplastic
Elastomers--Tension.
D 297-93......................... Rubber Products--Chemical Analysis.
E 303-93......................... Measuring Surface Frictional
Properties Using the British
Pendulum Tester.
D 1171-94........................ Rubber Deterioration--Surface Ozone
Cracking Outdoors or Chamber
(Triangular Specimens).
D 573-88......................... Deterioration in an Air Oven.
D 395-89......................... Rubber Property--Compression Set.
D 257-93......................... DC Resistance or Conductance of
Insulating Materials.
D 2137-94........................ Rubber Property--Brittleness Point of
Flexible Polymers and Coated
Fabrics.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table C-11c.--Recommended Specifications for Cement and Concrete
Containing Recovered Materials
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Specification No. Title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASTM C 595............................ Standard Specification for
Blended Hydraulic Cements.
ASTM C 150............................ Standard Specification for
Portland Cement.
AASHTO M 240.......................... Blended Hydraulic Cements.
ASTM C 618............................ Standard Specification for Fly
Ash and Raw or Calcined Natural
Pozzolan for Use as a Mineral
Admixture in Portland Cement
Concrete.
ASTM C 311............................ Standard Methods of Sampling and
Testing Fly Ash and Natural
Pozzolans for Use as a Mineral
Admixture in Portland Cement
Concrete.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part E. Park and Recreation Products
Section E-3. Picnic Tables and Park Benches Containing Recovered Steel,
Aluminum, or Plastic
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table E-3a, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing aluminum,
steel, or plastic park benches and picnic tables containing recovered
materials.
Table E-3a.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Picnic
Tables and Park Benches Containing Recovered Aluminum, Steel, Concrete
or Plastic
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
Post-con- recovered
Material sumer materials
content content
(%) (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plastics........................................... 90-100 100
Plastic composites................................. 50-100 100
Aluminum........................................... 25 25
Concrete........................................... ........ 15-40
Steel.............................................. 16-25 100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: ``Plastics'' includes both single and mixed plastic
resins. Picnic tables and park benches made with recovered plastics
may also contain other recovered materials such as sawdust, wood, or
fiberglass. The percentage of these materials contained in the
product would also count toward the recovered materials content
level of the item.
EPA's recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency from
purchasing park benches or picnic tables made from other materials.
They simply require that procuring agencies, when purchasing park
benches or picnic tables made from plastic, aluminum, concrete, or
steel purchase these items made with recovered materials when these
items meet applicable specifications and performance requirements.
Specifications: EPA did not identify any specifications for park
benches or picnic tables made from steel or aluminum and requests
comments on whether any specifications exist or are appropriate for
these materials when used in park benches and picnic tables.
EPA recommends that procuring agencies use the ASTM specifications
referenced in Table E-3b for park benches and picnic tables made from
plastic lumber.
Table E-3b.--Recommended Specifications for Plastic Lumber Used In Park
Benches and Picnic Tables
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASTM specification number Title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
D 6108-97........................ Standard Test Method for Compressive
Properties of Plastic Lumber.
D 6109-97........................ Standard Test Method for Flexural
Properties of Unreinforced and
Reinforced Plastic Lumber.
[[Page 45586]]
D 6111-97........................ Standard Test Method for Bulk Density
and Specific Gravity of Plastic
Lumber and Shapes by Displacement.
D 6112-97........................ Standard Test Method for Compressive
and Flexural Creep and Creep Rupture
of Plastic Lumber and Shapes.
D 6117-97........................ Standard Test Method for Mechanical
Fasteners in Plastic Lumber and
Shapes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section E-4. Playground Equipment
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table E-4a, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing playground
equipment made from plastic lumber, steel, or aluminum containing
recovered materials.
Table E-4a.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for
Playground Equipment Containing Recovered Plastic, Steel, or Aluminum
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
Post-con- recovered
Material sumer materials
content content
(%) (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plastics........................................... 90-100 100
Plastic Composites................................. 50-75 95-100
Steel.............................................. 25-100 25-100
Aluminum........................................... 25 25
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: ``Plastics'' includes both single and mixed plastic
resins. Playground equipment made with recovered plastics may also
contain other recovered materials such as wood or fiberglass. The
percentage of these materials contained in the product would also
count toward the recovered materials content level of the item.
EPA's recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency from
purchasing playground equipment made from other materials. They simply
require that procuring agencies, when purchasing playground equipment
made from plastic, aluminum, or steel purchase these items made with
recovered materials when the item meets applicable specifications and
performance requirements.
Specifications: EPA recommends that procuring agencies use the
specifications in Table E-4b when procuring playground equipment.
Playground equipment may also be subject to state and local codes and
standards as well as Federal child safety laws. EPA also recommends
that procuring agencies use the ASTM specifications referenced in Table
E-4c for playground equipment made from plastic lumber.
Table E-4b.--Recommended Safety Specifications for Playground Equipment
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Specification Title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consumer Product Safety Commission Handbook for Public Playground
(CPSC) Publication No. 325. Safety.
ASTM F-1487-95......................... Safety Performance
Specification for Playground
Equipment for Public Use.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table E-4c.--Recommended Specifications for Plastic Lumber Used in
Playground Equipment
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASTM specification number Title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
D 6108-97.................... Standard Test Method for Compressive
Properties of Plastic Lumber.
D 6109-97.................... Standard Test Method for Flexural
Properties of Unreinforced and
Reinforced Plastic Lumber.
D 6111-97.................... Standard Test Method for Bulk Density and
Specific Gravity of Plastic Lumber and
Shapes by Displacement.
D 6112-97.................... Standard Test Method for Compressive and
Flexural Creep and Creep Rupture of
Plastic Lumber and Shapes.
D 6117-97.................... Standard Test Method for Mechanical
Fasteners in Plastic Lumber and Shapes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part F. Landscaping Products
Section F-2. Compost Made From Yard Trimmings and/or Food Waste
(Revised)
Note: Following are EPA's revised recommendations for purchasing
compost. The revisions add recommendations for purchasing compost
made from food waste to EPA's 1995 recommendations for purchasing
yard trimmings compost. When EPA issues final recommendations for
purchasing composts made from yard trimmings and/or food waste,
procuring agencies should substitute them for the recommendations
found in Section F-2 of the 1995 RMAN I.
Preference Program: EPA recommends that procuring agencies purchase
or use compost made from yard trimmings, leaves, grass clippings and/or
food wastes in such applications as landscaping, seeding of grass or
other plants on roadsides and embankments, as nutritious mulch under
trees and shrubs, and in erosion control and soil reclamation.
EPA further recommends that those procuring agencies that have an
adequate volume of yard trimmings, leaves, grass clippings, and/or food
wastes, as well as sufficient space for composting, should implement a
composting system to produce compost from these materials to meet their
landscaping and other needs.
Specifications: EPA recommends that procuring agencies ensure that
there is no language in their specifications relating to landscaping,
soil amendments, erosion control, or soil reclamation that would
preclude or discourage the use of compost. For instance, if
specifications address the use of straw or hay in roadside revegetation
projects, procuring agencies should assess whether compost could
substitute for straw or hay or be used in combination with them.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's ``Standard Specifications
for Construction of Roads and Bridges on Federal Highway Projects
1996,'' specifies compost as one of the materials suitable for use in
roadside revegetation projects associated with road construction. These
standards do not preclude the use of compost made from yard trimmings,
leaves, grass, clippings, and/or food waste.
The State of Maine has developed quality standards for compost
products
[[Page 45587]]
that are used by its agencies and/or purchased with state funds. The
quality standards have been set for six types of compost products,
ranging from topsoil (three classes), to wetland substrate, to mulch
(two classes). For each of these types of compost product, standards
for maturity, odor, texture, nutrients, pH, salt content, organic
content, pathogen reduction, heavy metals, foreign matter, moisture
content, and density have been established. EPA recommends that
procuring agencies obtain and adapt this or another suitable
specification for their use in purchasing compost products.
The Composting Council is helping to define and develop industry
wide standards for composts made from various combinations of
materials, including yard trimmings, leaves, grass clippings, and food
wastes. The Composting Council publishes these standards in an
operating guide for composting facilities entitled, ``Test Methods for
Examination of Composting and Compost.'' The guide also provides
standards for the suitability of different types of composts made for
different applications, depending on the compost mix.
Section F-5. Plastic Lumber Landscaping Timbers and Posts Containing
Recovered Materials
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table F-5a, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing plastic
lumber landscaping timbers and posts containing recovered materials.
Table F-5a.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Plastic
Lumber Landscaping Timbers and Posts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
Post- recovered
Material consumer- materials
content content
(%) (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HDPE.............................................. 25-100 75-100
Mixed Plastics/Sawdust............................ 50 100
HDPE/Fiberglass................................... 75 95
Other mixed resins................................ 50-100 95-100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: EPA's recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency
from purchasing wooden landscaping timbers and posts. They simply
require that procuring agencies, when purchasing plastic landscaping
timbers and posts purchase these items made with recovered materials
when the items meet applicable specifications and performance
requirements.
Specifications: EPA recommends that procuring agencies use the ASTM
specifications referenced in Table F-5b for plastic lumber landscaping
timbers and posts.
Table F-5b.--Recommended Specifications for Plastic Lumber Landscaping
Timbers and Posts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASTM specification No. Title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
D 6108-97........................ Standard Test Method for Compressive
Properties of Plastic Lumber.
D 6109-97........................ Standard Test Method for Flexural
Properties of Unreinforced and
Reinforced Plastic Lumber.
D 6111-97........................ Standard Test Method for Bulk Density
and Specific Gravity of Plastic
Lumber and Shapes by Displacement.
D 6112-97........................ Standard Test Method for Compressive
and Flexural Creep and Creep Rupture
of Plastic Lumber and Shapes.
D 6117-97........................ Standard Test Method for Mechanical
Fasteners in Plastic Lumber and
Shapes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part G. Non-Paper Office Products
Section G-8. Solid Plastic Binders, Plastic Clipboards, Plastic File
Folders, Plastic Clip Portfolios, and Plastic Presentation Folders
Containing Recovered Plastic
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table G-8, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing solid plastic
binders, plastic clipboards, plastic file folders, plastic clip
portfolios, and plastic presentation folders containing recovered
materials.
Table G-8.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Solid Plastic Binders, Clipboards, File Folders,
Clip Portfolios, and Presentation Folders
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
Postconsumer recovered
Product Material content (%) materials
content (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Solid plastic binders......................... HDPE................................. 90 90
PE................................... 30-50 30-50
PET.................................. 100 100
Misc. Plastics....................... 80 80
Plastic clipboards............................ HDPE................................. 90 90
PS................................... 50 50
Misc. Plastics....................... 15 15-80
Plastic file folders.......................... HDPE................................. 90 90
Plastic clip portfolios....................... HDPE................................. 90 90
Plastic presentation folders.................. HDPE................................. 90 90
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: EPA's recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency
from purchasing binders, clipboards, file folders, clip portfolios,
or presentation folders made from another material, such as paper.
They simply require that procuring agencies, when purchasing these
items made from solid plastic, purchase them made with recovered
plastics when these items meet applicable specifications and
performance requirements. For EPA's recommendations for purchasing
pressboard binders and paper file folders containing recovered
materials, see table A-1c in the Paper Products RMAN (61 FR 26986,
May 29, 1996). See Table G-3 in RMAN I for EPA's recommendations for
purchasing plastic-covered binders containing recovered materials.
Specifications: EPA did not identify any specifications for solid
plastic
[[Page 45588]]
binders, clipboards, file folders, clip portfolios, and presentation
folders and requests comments on whether any specifications exist or
are appropriate for these items containing recovered plastic.
Part H. Miscellaneous Products
Section H-2. Sorbents
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table H-2a, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing sorbent
materials for use in oil and solvent clean-ups and for use as animal
bedding.
Table H-2a.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Sorbents
Used in Oil and Solvents Clean-ups and for Use as Animal Bedding
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
Post-con- recovered
Material sumer materials
content content
(%) (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paper.............................................. 90-100 100
Textiles........................................... 95-100 95-100
Plastics........................................... ........ 25-100
Wood............................................... ........ 100
Other Organics/Multi-Materials..................... ........ 100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: ``Wood'' includes materials such as sawdust and lumber
mill trimmings. Examples of other organics include, but are not
limited to, peanut hulls and corn stover. An example of multi-
material sorbents would include, but not be limited to, a polymer
and cellulose fiber combination.
EPA's recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency from
purchasing sorbents made from other materials. They simply require that
procuring agencies, when purchasing sorbents made from paper, wood,
textiles, plastics, or other organic materials, purchase them made with
recovered materials when these items meet applicable specifications and
performance requirements.
Specifications: EPA recommends that procuring agencies ensure that
there is no language in their specifications for sorbents that would
preclude or discourage the use of products containing recovered
materials.
EPA recommends that procuring agencies use the ASTM specifications
in Table H-2b when procuring sorbents for use on oil and solvent clean-
ups.
Table H-2b.--ASTM Specifications for Absorbents and Adsorbents
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASTM specification No. Title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
F 716-81........................ Standard Method of Testing Sorbent
Performance of Adsorbents.
F 716-82........................ Standard Method of Testing Sorbent
Performance of Absorbents.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section H-3. Industrial Drums Containing Recovered Steel, Plastic, and
Paper
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table H-3, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing steel,
plastic, or fiber industrial drums containing recovered materials. EPA
further recommends that procuring agencies reuse drums, purchase or use
reconditioned drums, or procure drum reconditioning services, whenever
feasible.
Table H-3.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Steel,
Plastic, and Fiber Industrial Drums
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post Total
con- recovered
Product Material sumer materials
content content
(%) (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steel drums.................... Steel............. 16 20-30
Plastic drums.................. HDPE.............. 30-100 30-100
Fiber drums.................... Paper............. 100 100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: EPA's recommendation does not preclude a procuring agency
from purchasing another type of industrial drum. It simply requires
that procuring agencies, when purchasing steel, plastic, or fiber
industrial drums, purchase these items made with recovered materials
when these items meet applicable specifications and performance
requirements.
Specifications: EPA is not aware of specifications unique to
industrial drums containing recovered materials. EPA notes that
industrial drums containing recovered materials can meet applicable
U.S. Department of Transportation specifications for packaging
hazardous materials. Additionally, the National Motor Freight Traffic
Association specifications for containers used to transport goods via
truck do not prohibit the use of industrial drums containing recovered
materials.
Section H-4. Awards and Plaques
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table H-4, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing awards and
plaques containing recovered materials.
Table H-4.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Awards
and Plaques Containing Recovered Materials
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
recovered
Material Postconsumer materials
content (%) content
(%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Glass.......................................... 75-100 100
Wood........................................... ............ 100
Paper.......................................... 40-100 40-100
Plastic and Plastic/Wood Composite............. 50-100 95-100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: EPA's recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency
from purchasing awards or plaques made from other materials. They
simply require that procuring agencies, when purchasing awards or
plaques made from paper, wood, glass, or plastics/plastic
composites, purchase them made with recovered materials when these
items meet applicable specifications and performance requirements.
Specifications: EPA is not aware of specifications or standards for
awards or plaques containing recovered materials and requests comments
on whether any applicable specifications or standards have been
developed.
Section H-5. Mats
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table H-5, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing mats
containing recovered materials.
Table H-5.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Mats
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
recovered
Material Postconsumer materials
content (%) content
(%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rubber......................................... 75-100 85-100
Plastic........................................ 10-100 100
Rubber/Plastic Composite....................... 100 100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 45589]]
Note: EPA's recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency
from purchasing mats made from other materials. They simply require
that procuring agencies, when purchasing mats made from rubber and/
or plastic, purchase them made with recovered materials when these
items meet applicable specifications and performance requirements.
Specifications: EPA is not aware of specifications or standards for
mats containing recovered materials and requests comments on whether
any applicable specifications or standards have been developed. EPA is
aware of one ASTM specification for wrestling mats, but does not
believe that this type of mat is purchased in appreciable quantities by
procuring agencies.
Section H-6. Manual-Grade Strapping Containing Recovered Steel and
Plastic
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table H-6a, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing manual-grade
strapping containing recovered materials.
Table H-6A.--Recommended Recovered Materials Content Levels for Manual-
Grade Polyester, Polypropylene, and Steel Strapping
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
recovered
Product Material Postconsumer materials
content (%) content
(%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Polyester strapping.......... PET............. 50-85 50-85
Polypropylene strapping...... PP.............. 10-40
Steel strapping.............. Steel........... 10-15 25-100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: EPA's recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency
from purchasing another type of strapping, such as nylon. They
simply require that procuring agencies, when purchasing polyester,
polypropylene, or steel manual-grade strapping, purchase these items
made with recovered materials when these items meet applicable
specifications and performance requirements.
Specifications: EPA is not aware of specifications unique to
strapping containing recovered materials. EPA notes that strapping
containing recovered materials can meet the ASTM strapping
specifications and selection guide listed in Table H-6b.
Table H-6b.--Recommended ASTM Specifications and Guide for Strapping
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASTM specification/guide No. Title
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASTM D 3953........................ Standard Specification for
Strapping, Flat Steel and Seals.
ASTM D 3950........................ Standard Specification for
Strapping, Nonmetallic (and
Joining Methods).
ASTM D 4675........................ Standard Guide for Selection and
Use of Flat Strapping Materials.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section H-7. Signage
Preference Program: EPA recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table H-7, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing plastic signs
for non-road applications (e.g., building signs, trail signs) and
aluminum signs for roadway or non-road applications containing
recovered materials. EPA also recommends that, based on the recovered
materials content levels shown in Table H-7, procuring agencies
establish minimum content standards for use in purchasing sign supports
and posts containing recovered plastic or steel.
Table H-7.--Recommended Recov-ered Materials Content Levels for Signs
Containing Recovered Plastic or Aluminum and Sign Posts/Supports
Containing Recovered Plastic or Steel
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post Total
con- recovered
Item/material sumer materials
content content
(%) (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plastic signs...................................... 80-100 80-100
Aluminum signs..................................... 25 25
Plastic sign posts/supports........................ 80-100 80-100
Steel sign posts/supports.......................... 25-100 25-100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: Plastic signs and sign posts are recommended for nonroad
applications only such as, but not limited to, trailway signs in
parks and directional/informational signs in buildings.
EPA's recommendations do not preclude a procuring agency from
purchasing signs or sign posts made from other materials. They simply
require that procuring agencies, when purchasing signs made from
plastic or aluminum or sign posts made from plastic or steel, purchase
them made with recovered materials when these items meet applicable
specifications and performance requirements.
Specifications: EPA is not aware of specifications for non-road
signs containing recovered materials. Standard specifications for road
sign size, lettering, color, strength, and performance requirements can
be found in the ``Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices,'' which is
published by the Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-22794 Filed 8-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P