[HISTORY: Adopted by the Albany County Legislature 2-14-2011 by Res. No. 411-2011. Amendments noted where applicable.]
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 - List of Recycled Products
In this time of economic recession, municipalities and counties need to prioritize investment in employment strategies to protect the climate, conserve energy, reduce public health hazards and strengthen local economies. The Albany County Legislature believes that climate change poses a real and increasing threat to our local and global environments which is primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels. The Albany County Legislature believes that the scale of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reductions required for climate stabilization will require sustained and substantial efforts on the part of local governments. One third of municipal solid waste is recycled nationally, and nearly 90% of what is currently disposed in landfills and incinerators is readily recyclable and compostable, including paper and paperboard, food scraps and yard waste, plastics, metals, glass and wood. It is in the national, state and County's interest to promote and enhance recycling and composting activities to conserve energy and reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions across many industry sectors. Albany County does not have a formal recycling and energy sustainability policy or agenda outlining recycling procedures for County employees or departments. The Albany County Legislature hereby finds that such a policy would help enhance recycling and provide direction pertaining to waste reduction programs and energy sustainability.
It shall be the policy of Albany County for all departments and agencies to divert and reduce waste to the greatest extent possible in all aspects of County operations. This policy formally establishes such practices and creates an internal structure to help achieve this goal, and all County employees in all departments and divisions shall make waste diversion and reduction a routine part of their respective jobs whenever feasible to the extent it does not adversely affect health, safety or operational efficiency and effectiveness, as determined by each department.
Waste reduction strategies shall include but are not limited to the following:
A. 
Double-sided copying whenever feasible;
B. 
Eliminating duplicate subscriptions and duplicate incoming and outgoing mail whenever feasible;
C. 
Consolidating orders and ordering in bulk whenever feasible, especially with regard to office supplies;
D. 
Use of durable containers for coffee and other drinks at the workplace whenever feasible, instead of disposable or recyclable containers;
E. 
Purchase and use of reusable/refillable products whenever feasible, instead of disposable products; and
F. 
Computer networking and "paperless" offices whenever feasible.
Each department shall review purchasing specifications and contract requirements and where feasible revise such specifications and contract requirements to encourage the use of recycled products. Where feasible, each department shall consider the ability of products and/or their packaging to be reused, reconditioned or recycled. Where feasible, each department shall purchase products which minimize waste and toxic by-products in their manufacture, use, recycling and disposal. Where feasible, each department shall also purchase/lease capital equipment which is compatible with the use of products containing recycled materials.
A Countywide Waste Diversion and Reduction Task Force is hereby established (hereinafter "Task Force"). This function shall initially be assigned to the Department of Public Works. The Director of the Department of Management and Budget is hereby directed to provide support to this function as needed.
A. 
Each department within the County shall appoint a departmental waste diversion and climate coordinator to assure maximum participation in the County's recycling and energy sustainability policy.
B. 
The Task Force shall be comprised of the above representatives and chaired by the head of the County Department of Public Works. The purpose of the Task Force will be to encourage cost-effective waste diversion and reduction strategies, to monitor the County's progress in this regard, to identify and resolve related problems, and to make recommendations as appropriate. Such Task Force shall meet no less than six times a year. The Task Force shall also assess the County's energy use and needs and develop an energy or climate plan. The Chair of the Task Force or a designated representative thereof shall report to the County Legislature or a duly designated committee thereof no less than four times a year regarding the implementation of this policy and the County's progress in implementation.
C. 
The County's waste diversion and reduction ethic and related policies and practices shall be included in the orientation of all new County employees.
It shall also be the policy of the County of Albany to purchase products which are recyclable or reusable or contain recycled materials if the quality and fitness of such products are equal to unrecycled products, including a price preference not to exceed 10% over the lowest price quoted by suppliers of comparable unrecycled products. The 10% price preference allowed may be granted only if the fitness and quality of recycled products are at least equal to unrecycled products as determined solely by the buying department. Product price comparison shall include lifecycle cost considerations, when applicable.
Each Department shall make every reasonable effort to purchase and use recycled products or those with recycled content whenever feasible, to the extent such use does not adversely affect health, safety or operational efficiency and effectiveness as determined by each department, including but not limited to the items indicated on Attachment 1, attached hereto and incorporated by reference. The term "recycled products" shall be construed to mean products which contain recycled materials or are reusable or recyclable; provided, however, that recycled paper products must contain recycled materials.
A. 
When recycled products are used, vendors shall make reasonable efforts to label such products to indicate they contain recycled materials. All departments shall use for their masthead stationery, envelopes and business cards, recycled paper that includes post-consumer recycled content and some indication they contain recycled material. Other recycled products used by the County shall also indicate they contain recycled material.
B. 
The County will cooperate to the greatest extent practicable with other local governments in an effort to develop a comprehensive, consistent and effective procurement effort intended to stimulate the market for recycled products.
C. 
The Department of Management and Budget, in conjunction with the Task Force, shall prepare and submit to the County Legislature an annual report summarizing the results of implementing this policy. This annual report shall include but not be limited to the County purchase by type during the preceding fiscal year, the quantity and cost of products and recommendations for the exclusion or addition of specific products pursuant to this policy.
D. 
All departments shall work cooperatively to further the purpose of this policy. The County's economic development activities shall strive to promote the markets for recycled material whenever feasible.
The County shall purchase and make available in all commonly used and public County-owned spaces and property, clearly identified recycling containers for, at a minimum, paper, glass and plastic bottles. Such bins and containers shall be identified by bright colors and clearly labeled for identification purposes. Recycling of materials disposed of in said containers shall be incorporated into the County's routine maintenance and trash removal schedules.
A copy of this policy shall be conspicuously posted in every department and agency within Albany County.
[Amended 3-10-2014 by Res. No. 70-2014]
The County shall adopt a goal of reducing electricity usage by 15% from projected levels by no later than 2015. Efforts to reduce County energy consumption and usage, as well as updates and improvements to real property owned by Albany County, shall occur through the following efforts:
A. 
The County shall inventory current building electricity usage and identify opportunities for conservation and efficiency retrofits. In furtherance of this goal, the County shall obtain energy audits and assessments from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Such audits shall be completed by December 31, 2015, and findings shall be provided to the Clerk of the Legislature within two weeks thereafter.
B. 
The County shall purchase energy-efficient equipment and appliances, improving lighting through the installation of new energy-efficient bulbs Countywide, setting of thermostats for maximum energy conservation and decreasing plug load from office equipment.
C. 
The County shall achieve at least minimum U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Standards (LEED) Silver for all new construction, renovation or rehabilitation projects to County-owned facilities. Such building requirements shall be clearly set forth in the bid requirements and solicitations released to the general public.
D. 
Improve the average fuel efficiency of County fleet vehicles. When purchasing new vehicles, the County shall, at a minimum, purchase not less than 1/3 of vehicles commonly referred to as "hybrids" or vehicles similar to hybrids which expend the equivalent or less in energy consumption.