County purchasing and procurement policies affect a county’s overall green goals.  Environmental impacts within office buildings include: paper usage; greenhouse gas emissions from electric power, air travel, commuting and deliveries; waste from offices, shipping, and cafeterias; internal water usage; use of chemicals in manufacturing processes; and disposal of electronics.    Green purchases can help your county save money, reduce harmful environmental impacts, improve worker safety, and generate publicity and educational opportunities in your community. 

U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance
This is a cooperative purchasing program offering local governments access to nationally solicited contracts that provide significant reductions in price and guaranteed delivery features.

Environmental Purchasing Program Guide
Create your own environmental purchasing program with this Step-by-Step Guide from U.S. Communities.

Green Purchasing in County Offices (PDF)
This fact sheet explains how counties can implement green purchasing policies for their own buildings.

Purchasing and Procurement: Go Green, Save Green, See Green
Presentations from a workshop at the 2007 NACo Annual Conference on Monday, July 16, 2007.

10/29/2007 - Financial Services News - County News
Having grown adept at seeking recycled products, government buyers now find the environmental bar raised higher.

07/09/2007 - In some counties, plastics become ‘bagga non grata’
This County News article explores the banning of plastic by various counties across the country.