W.1.1.BUpdate current Procurement of Recycling Products policy to establish a municipal Environmentally Preferable Purchasing policy (EPP) that focuses on reducing consumption, particularly of single-use items.

Municipal purchasing decisions influence waste, emissions, and market demand. This action updates Plymouth’s procurement policy to establish an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) approach focused on reducing consumption—especially single-use items—while encouraging products that are durable, reusable, repairable, recycled-content, and lower-impact. EPP policies reduce waste upstream, improve operational sustainability, and can lower long-term costs by prioritizing quality and lifecycle value. Success looks like updated purchasing standards, reduced single-use product procurement, increased adoption of reusable alternatives, and stronger alignment between Town operations and climate/waste reduction goals.