Section 13:1E-99.27 - Increasing percentage of recycled papera.(1) On or after December 1, 1992, not less than 55% of the total dollar amount of paper or paper products purchased by the State shall be made from recycled paper or recycled paper products having a total weight consisting of not less than 50% secondary waste paper material and with not less than 10% of its total weight consisting of post-consumer waste material.(2) On or after July 1, 1993, not less than 60% of the total dollar amount of paper or paper products purchased by the State shall be made from recycled paper or recycled paper products having a total weight consisting of not less than 50% secondary waste paper material and with not less than 15% of its total weight consisting of post-consumer waste material.(3) On or after January 1, 1995, not less than 65% of the total dollar amount of paper or paper products purchased by the State shall be made from recycled paper or recycled paper products having a total weight consisting of not less than 50% secondary waste paper material and with not less than 25% of its total weight consisting of post-consumer waste material; except that high-grade office paper, fine paper, bond paper, offset paper, xerographic paper, mimeo paper and duplicator paper shall be made from recycled paper having a total weight consisting of not less than 50% secondary waste paper material and with not less than 15% of its total weight consisting of post-consumer waste material. Priority procurement consideration shall be given to recycled paper or recycled paper products with the highest percentage of post-consumer waste material.
b. The Director of the Division of Purchase and Property, after formal advertisement and solicitation of proposals for recycled paper or recycled paper products, and having received no competitive proposals for recycled paper or recycled paper products, may award the contract for paper or paper products manufactured or produced from virgin paper products in the manner prescribed by law. Any award or contract made for virgin paper products shall not relieve the director of any future obligation to purchase recycled paper or recycled paper products as provided in subsection a. of this section. For the purposes of this section, "competitive" means a price no more than 10% above the price of items which are manufactured or produced from virgin paper products; except that the director, upon consultation with the department, may make contracts available for recycled paper or recycled paper products at a price no more than 15% above the price of virgin paper products whenever the director determines that a 15% price preference is in the best interest of the State.L.1987, c.102, s.19; amended 1993, c.109, s.4.