Cook County Sustainable Procurement Ordinance 14-O-2543 directs the Chief Procurement Officer to weigh environmental impact, recycled content, energy efficiency, and minority-owned business participation when awarding county contracts above set thresholds.
Ordinance 14-O-2543, codified at Cook County Code Ch. 34 Art. IV (Sustainable Practices), requires the Chief Procurement Officer to incorporate sustainability criteria into specifications and award scoring. Vendors must report recycled content for paper goods, EnergyStar certification for equipment, and EPEAT ratings for electronics. The Department of Environment and Sustainability sets minimum thresholds. The ordinance integrates with the Minority and Women Business Enterprise program. Construction contracts over $250,000 must follow Cook County green-building standards including diversion of construction waste from landfills.
Vendor non-compliance triggers contract scoring penalties, debarment review, and possible loss of payment. The ordinance does not impose civil fines on private residents, only on county vendors.
See how Des Plaines's sustainable procurement rules stack up against other locations.
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