The U.S. Postal Service® has launched an exciting new program to assist federal agencies to recycle on a national level. The USPS® Federal Recycling Program allows the customer agencies and their employees to repurpose and recycle qualified end-of-life products free of charge.
Most federal agencies have some type of recycling program in place, but usually serve only the largest facilities or the headquarters location, and require a truck pick-up. The USPS Federal Recycling Program provides every federal agency with the opportunity to recycle at every location, no matter how large or small. Since the program is web-based, it is as simple as printing a label and sending recyclables out with the mail. This process makes recycling easy enough for every federal location to participate:
“The Federal Recycling Program does not require federal agencies to replace any of their existing recycling programs. It can easily supplement recycling programs already in place, said Tom Day, chief sustainability officer for the U.S. Postal Service.”
The Federal Recycling Program is free to every federal agency because the USPS designated recycler receives residual value from these products, and by agreement, funds the transportation cost via mail service from the federal agency’s location to the certified recycler’s destination.
The program is divided into two categories:
n A recycling program for federal agencies on a national level for government equipment, such as ink jet and toner cartridges and small electronics shipped via USPS from a government location.
n A recycling program for federal agency employees on a national level for disposal of their personal property, such as ink jet and toner cartridges and small electronics shipped via USPS from the employee’s home.
In each of the two categories above, the employee follows a simple process to access a customized website, input the required information, print a label, seal the items in a non-descript box provided by the agency or employee, and submit the parcel to a mail carrier through current standard mailing procedures.
The Federal Recycling Program provides a brand new revenue stream for the U.S. Postal Service and assists federal agencies in meeting President Obama’s Executive Order 13514, Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance, with reporting and analysis done on every item exchanged.
Currently, Phase One consists of eight federal agencies, including the U.S. Postal Service, each of which is in the process of launching the Federal Recycling Program. For information on how your agency can participate in the Federal Recycling Program, call 202-268-6300 or send an email to: govt.sales@usps.gov.
