Green purchasing

The program is a joint initiative of the Municipal Association of Victoria, EcoRecycle Victoria, and the Victorian Greenhouse Strategy. ECO-Buy works with Victorian Councils to increase their purchasing of recycled, greenhouse friendly and environmentally preferred products.

ECO-Buy aims to:

• Use the combined purchasing power of local government to stimulate demand for greenhouse friendly and recycled products.
• Create a partnership of local governments committed to green purchasing.
• Increase awareness in local government about the range and quality of recycled and greenhouse friendly products.
• Support sustainable long-term markets for recyclable materials collected from kerbside.
• Encourage the sustainable use of resources.
• Reduce local government's greenhouse gas emissions.
• Stimulate local government's participation in greenhouse abatement activities.

What is green purchasing?

Green purchasing involves products that are made from recycled materials, as well as products that are energy or water efficient, non-toxic, re-used or environmentally friendly.   

Why buy green?

• Reduce waste to landfill
• Reduce greenhouse emissions
• Reduce energy consumption
• Reduce water use
• Reduce the use of toxic chemicals
• Minimise damage to human health
• Stimulate demand for recyclable materials collected at kerbside
• Support and encourage new clean green industries

Council’s progress

Council adopted Environmental Considerations as part of it’s purchasing Guidelines and subsequently Council’s green purchasing has steadily increased.

• 100 per cent recycled copy paper
• Brochures, newsletters and other printed materials on recycled paper
• New recycling and garbage bins made from recycled plastic milk bottles
• Crushed concrete
• Fuel efficient fleet vehicles
• Rain water tanks
• Waterless urinals
• Reused mulch

Further information about the program can be found at the ECO-Buy website.