Baltimore requires city agencies to consider environmental impacts in procurement, prioritizing recycled-content products, energy-efficient equipment, and minority-owned green businesses. The Bureau of Purchases issues green specifications under the Climate Action Plan implementation framework.
Sustainable procurement standards apply to city departments buying paper, fleet vehicles, cleaning supplies, electronics, and construction materials. Specifications favor EPA-recommended recycled content, ENERGY STAR equipment, and low-VOC products. The Department of Finance Bureau of Purchases issues bid solicitations that score sustainability factors. Vendor diversity requirements interact with green procurement to support local minority and women-owned green businesses. Council Bills periodically update lists of restricted items including single-use plastics in city operations. The Office of Sustainability reviews specifications annually and publishes purchases dashboards showing spend on green-certified goods.
Vendors providing non-compliant goods face contract termination, debarment, and recovery of payments. Agencies bypassing green specifications may have purchases voided by the Bureau of Purchases on review.
Baltimore, MD
Baltimore declared a climate emergency in 2019 and operates under the 2012 Climate Action Plan, refreshed in 2024. The Office of Sustainability tracks greenh...
Baltimore, MD
Baltimore provides single-stream curbside recycling collection on a weekly or biweekly schedule, accepting paper, cardboard, plastics #1-7, glass, and metals...
See how Baltimore's sustainable procurement rules stack up against other locations.
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