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Advisory committee pushes city toward 30% recycled paper minimum, urges local purchasing
Summary
The committee reviewed quotes for recycled paper, found 30% recycled options affordable locally, and recommended moving municipal purchasing toward a 30% minimum while asking staff to refine exception and procurement language.
Committee members examined procurement quotes and debated whether an updated policy should be a broad recycled‑products policy or a narrower paper‑products purchasing policy.
A presenter reported local quotes: "30% recycled is $7.73 per ream; 50% recycled is $8.44; 100% recycled is $29.99 per ream." Members concluded that 30% recycled paper is a practical, low‑cost first step and discussed targeting large purchasers (city hall, clinic) to achieve most of the volume gains. The group discussed price‑preference language (10% and 25% margins in the existing code) and whether that should change in light of market prices and local availability.
Discussion focused on keeping the policy simple and actionable: several members favored a pragmatic "paper products" focus that would set a 30% recycled minimum for paper purchases, allow exceptions based on availability or small‑order thresholds, and encourage local purchasing (hardware store) where feasible. Staff was asked to check availability with suppliers and return recommended language clarifying exceptions and thresholds; committee members suggested targeting the largest city purchasers first.
The committee did not vote to adopt an amended purchasing policy at the meeting but asked staff to prepare language and outreach for a future vote.
