Definitions

De-inked stock - Paper that has been processed to remove inks, clays, coatings, binders, and other contaminants.

High grade printing and writing papers - Includes offset-printing paper, duplicator paper, writing paper (stationery), tablet paper, office paper, note pads, xerographic paper, envelopes, form bond including computer paper and carbonless forms, book papers, bond papers, ledger paper, book stock, and cotton fiber papers.

Paper and paper products - High-grade printing and writing papers, tissue products, newsprint, unbleached packaging, and recycled paperboard.

Postconsumer material - Only those products generated by a business or consumer, that have served their intended end uses, and that have been separated or diverted from solid waste; wastes generated during the production of an end product are excluded.  Postconsumer material includes:

• Paper, paperboard, and fibrous waste from retail stores, office buildings, homes and so forth, after the waste has passed through its end usage as a consumer item, including used corrugated boxes, old newspapers, mixed-waste paper, tabulating cards, and used cordage; and

• All paper, paperboard, and fibrous wastes that are diverted or separated from the municipal waste stream.

Recovered paper material - Paper waste generated after the completion of the papermaking process, such as postconsumer material, envelope cuttings, bindery trimmings, printing waste, cutting and other converting waste, butt rolls, and mill wrappers, obsolete inventories, and rejected unused stock.  “Recovered paper material,” however, does not include fibrous waste generated during the manufacturing process such as fibers recovered from waste water or trimmings of paper machine rolls (mill broke), or fibrous by-products of harvesting, extraction or woodcutting processes, or forest residues such as bark.  Recovered paper material includes:

• Postconsumer material;

• Dry paper and paperboard waste generated after completion of the papermaking process (that is, those manufacturing operations up to and including the cutting and trimming of the paper machine reel into smaller rolls or rough sheets), including envelope cuttings, bindery trimmings, and other paper and paperboard waste resulting from printing, cutting, forming and other converting operations, or from bag, box, and carton manufacturing, and butt rolls, mill wrappers, and rejected unused stock; and

• Finished paper and paperboard from obsolete inventories of paper and paperboard manufacturers, merchants, wholesalers, dealers, printers, converters or others.

Recycled paperboard - Includes paperboard products, folding cartons and pad backings.

Tissue products - Includes toilet tissue, paper towels, paper napkins, facial tissue, paper doilies, industrial wipers, paper bags, and brown papers.  These products shall also be unscented and shall not be colored.

Unbleached packaging - Includes corrugated and fiber storage boxes.

Procurement Procedures and Specifications for Products and Supplies 

Procurement procedures and specifications for products and supplies shall be periodically reviewed to ensure that the District is:  (a) purchasing products and supplies that are reusable, durable, or made from or contain recycled materials, if economically and practically feasible, and (b) giving preference to products and supplies containing the highest amount of recycled material and that  are consistent with the effective use of the product or supply, if economically and practically feasible.

Recycled Paper and Paper Products Purchases 

1. I. Whenever economically and practically feasible, at least 75% of the total dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by the District will be recycled paper and paper products

All paper purchased for publishing student newspapers must be recycled newsprint.  Paper and paper products purchased from private sector vendors pursuant to printing contracts are exempted from this requirement.

II. Wherever economically and practically feasible, recycled paper and paper products shall contain postconsumer or recovered paper materials as follows:

• Recycled high grade printing and writing paper shall contain at least 50% recovered paper material and shall consist of at least 50% de-inked stock or postconsumer material.

• Recycled tissue products shall contain at least 45% postconsumer material.

• Recycled newsprint shall contain at least 80% postconsumer material.

• Recycled unbleached packaging shall contain at least 55% postconsumer material.

• Recycled paperboard shall contain at least 95% postconsumer material.

These regulations do not apply to art materials, nor to any newspapers, magazines, textbooks, library books or other copyrighted publications that are purchased or used by the District or any school or attendance center within the District, or that are sold in any school supply store operated by or within any such school or attendance center.

Solid Waste Reduction 

The Superintendent will appoint a team of interested individuals representing various District departments to

1. Periodically review methods and procedures to reduce solid waste generated by academic, administrative, and other institutional functions.  These procedures must be designed to, when economically and practically feasible, recycle the District’s waste stream, including without limitation landscape waste, computer paper, and white office paper.

2. Establish a goal for reduction in the amount of solid waste generated by the District, when it is economically and practically feasible to do so. 

3. Identify indicators to monitor the District’s progress toward achieving any established solid waste reduction goal.  As necessary, the procedures and methods shall be adjusted and refined.

4. Make periodic progress reports to the Superintendent or designee.

The team shall devise and oversee methods for making the following activities part of the District culture: 

1. Staff members actively pursue waste reduction and prevention activities.  Examples include:

2. Printing and copying individual documents on both sides of the page.

3. Setting computer software for default two-sided printing including word processing, spreadsheets, electronic mail, and others.

4. Printing or copying only the pages needed.

5. Routing memos and newsletters.

6. Providing trays to collect and reuse one-sided paper.

7. Reducing unwanted mail and eliminate excess mailings.

8. Staff members and students seek to reuse or recycle materials to divert them from the waste stream whenever possible.

9. A training plan instructs staff members and students in waste reduction and recycling practices.

10. The District’s solid waste reduction program is publicized and its benefits are emphasized, including cost savings by lowering supply acquisition and disposal costs.

11. An incentive program to reduce solid waste exists, e.g., through school recognition programs.

12. Staff and students are encouraged to be innovative and suggest improvements to procedures and practices.

LEGAL REF.:    105 ILCS 5/10-20.19c.

UPDATED:    June 2024