+Studies of the U.S. Navy  
 
 
 
 
+4.0 Affirmative Procurement  
 
 

Section 6002 of Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) directs government agencies to promote recycling by increasing their purchases of products containing recovered materials. RCRA section 6002(e) requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate items that are or can be produced with recovered materials and prepare guidelines to assist procuring agencies in complying with their affirmative procurement responsibilities set forth in paragraphs (c), (d), and (i) of section 6002. Once EPA has designated items, section 6002 requires that any procuring agency spending more than $10,000 a year of Federal funds on an item must purchase the highest percentage of recovered materials practicable.

Procuring agencies are Federal, state, and local agencies, and their contractors, which use appropriated Federal funds. Executive Order 12873 reinforced RCRA’s Federal buy recycled program by directing EPA to adopt modified procedures for designating items and providing procurement recommendations. Under the order, EPA issued a regulation known as Comprehensive Procurement Guideline (CPG) which contains the item designations, and also prepared a guidance document known as a Recovered Materials Advisory Notice (RMAN). The RMAN contains EPA’s recommendations to procuring agencies to assist them in purchasing the designated items and meeting their statutory obligations. The RMAN also provides general guidance for developing an affirmative procurement program. An affirmative procurement program is an procuring agency’s strategy for maximizing its purchases of EPA-designated items, and must consist of the following:

Recovered materials preference program
An agency promotion program
A program for requiring vendors to reasonably estimate, certify, and verify the recovered materials content of their products; and
A program to monitor and annually review the effectiveness of the affirmative procurement program.

On September 16, 1998 Executive Order 12873 was replaced by Executive Order 13101 which expanded the affirmative procurement program to include bio-based products on the EPA designated item list. A bio-based product list will be developed and published by USDA in the Federal Register no later than March 23, 1999. The list shall also be updated biannually after publication to include additional items. It is assumed that the bio-based product evaluated in this report will be included in the list.
In the spirit of section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Executive Order 13101, Federal procuring agencies and personnel should strongly consider implementing sustainable bio-based products when selecting items to meet the goals of the affirmative procurement program.

  
 
+5.0 ANFE-SORB (KENAF) Absorbent  
 
 

5.1 Product Description
ANFE-Sorb absorbent is manufactured from the dry stalk of a kenaf plant, an annual agricultural crop. It is a member of the hibiscus family (Hibiscus cannabinus L.), is related to cotton, hemp, and okra. The stalk of the plant is comprised of two fiber types. About one- third of the stalk’s dry weight is bark fiber known as bast. The remaining fiber is the white inner core commonly referred to as “kenaf”. Refined bast fibers, similar to softwood fibers, are used to make writing paper, cigarette paper, filtration paper, and, with the addition of polypropylene, a fiberglass-like product. The refined core fibers, similar to hardwood tree fibers, are used to make a range of paper products including composite panels, animal bedding, potting media, and oil absorbent materials. The plant grows quickly, often reaching 12-14 feet in as little as about five months. It is generally planted in May and harvested in March after drying in the field during the winter months. The plant is collected into loose bales or “modules” and usually stored outside, open to the elements until processing. There is a proprietary manufacturing process and absorbent applications. It is sold in small, large, or mixed particles for a variety of applications. The absorbent products are non-reusable and are intended for oil spills on land, water, or hard surfaces such as floors. On request, it can be packaged into socks although this may reduce the absorbency of the product. It is reported that only a small amount of herbicide and pesticides are used in the crops. In addition, no chemicals or biological organisms are added during or after processing. However, there are indigenous microbes in the plant that feed on hydrocarbons that promote bioremediation.

Also a white rot fungus is added to further enhance the bioremediation properties

5.2 Vendor Claims

In regards to their oil absorbent material, the manufacturer claims the following: Products are made from a completely renewable annual agricultural crop (no
depletion of natural resources).

Products are all natural and 100% biodegradable.

Products are non-toxic to humans and have no adverse effect on plants or animals. Products may be used for spills on land, on water, or as a floor sweep.

Products absorb up to six to eight times their weight

Products are best suited for light oils.

Products have less than a 1% leaching capability.

Products enhance bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons.

Products are lightweight thus reducing landfill or incineration disposal costs. Incineration yields less than 2% ash and a high BTU rating of 7,500 BTU/lb. Products are not soluble in water.

Products used on water spills aid filtration of any liquid contaminants in water.