Title 37
Public Property and Works

Chapter 2
State Purchases

§ 37-2-76. State purchase of recycled products.

(a) The state shall, through its purchasing policy and practice, affirmatively promote the use of recycled products. The department of administration in conjunction with the department of environmental management shall, through regulations, establish a time table requiring increased utilization by the state of recycled products. In January of each year, the department of administration shall report to the general assembly the state’s progress in utilizing recycled products materials and supplies for the preceding twelve (12) months.

(b) With respect to office paper products, at least fifty percent (50%) of the expenditure for office paper products purchased by the state of Rhode Island, its agencies, and departments, shall be recycled paper products by fiscal year 1995.

(c) The department of administration in conjunction with the department of environmental management shall annually establish comprehensive technical specifications based on research by the department of environmental management for the recycled products, materials, and supplies to be purchased by the state under this section. These specifications shall include the minimum performance and quality attributes as well as minimum preconsumer and post-consumer content.

(d) The director of the department of administration, acting as chief purchasing officer of the state, shall direct that all subsequent purchases of the subject recycled products, materials, and supplies by the state, its agencies, and departments shall meet the source certification of pre-consumer and/or post-consumer content standards established under subsection (c) of this section.

(e) Subsequent discovery by the state, its agencies, or departments that products delivered by vendors to the state as “recycled products” do not satisfy the specifications of “recycled” content stated in the award, shall be grounds for the return of all discrepant goods, refunding of all money paid, termination of all outstanding contracts and orders, and at the discretion of the chief purchasing officer suspension of the vendor’s involvement in state procurement for a period of up to twenty-four (24) months.