Purchasing Policy: Recycled Products
San Diego Municipal Code § 22.0517
in effect§22.0517 Purchasing Policy: Recycled Products
(a) Purpose and Intent
It is the intent of the City Council that the City of San Diego take a leadership role not only in recycling its waste products but also in the purchase of recycled products for use in the delivery of City services. It is the purpose of this section to provide direction to the City Manager and the Purchasing Agent in the procurement and use of recycled products.
(b) Policy
(1) It is the policy of the City of San Diego to purchase and use recycled products whenever possible to the extent that such use does not negatively impact health, safety, or operational efficiency.
(2) Purchase of products which cannot be recycled or reused is strongly discouraged.
(3) Recycled paper shall be purchased and used in all copy machines which will accept it and shall also be used for printing purposed. City staff will encourage the copier industry to develop high–speed copiers which will accept recycled paper. City departments and divisions shall use for their master–head stationery and envelopes recycled paper which includes both secondary and post–consumer recycled content. The percentages of post–consumer and secondary content shall be spelled out in the bid specifications for letterhead and other paper grades based on industry availability. A recycled paper designation shall be printed on all City stationery.
(4) City departments shall examine their purchasing specifications and, where feasible, restructure them to require the use of products which incorporate recycled materials in their manufacture.
(5) A ten percent (10%) preference, not to exceed $1,000.00 per contract, may be given to recycled products. The preference percentage shall be based on the lowest bid or price quoted by the supplier or suppliers offering non–recycled products.
(6) The City shall cooperate with the County of San Diego, SANDAG and other governmental agencies in the development of programs and procedures which will further this policy.
(“Purchasing Policy: Recycled Products” added 5–15–1989 by O–17296 N.S.)
Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter02/Ch02Art02Division05.pdf#page=4Fetched: 10/28/2026