THOUSAND OAKS : Recycled Goods on City’s Shopping List

Thousand Oaks managers will scour the stores to buy recycled memo pads, business cards, post-it notes and scissors, now that council members have approved new purchasing guidelines designed to limit waste.

To help build a market for recycled goods, council members are urging city buyers to look for products made from recycled material--even if they cost slightly more. Compliance is voluntary, but officials expect widespread participation.

“The work of our recycling group has just been tremendous,” City Manager Grant Brimhall said. “It’s really exciting to see what kind of recycled materials we have to use.”

The purchasing guidelines approved earlier this week also encourage contractors and consultants to use recycled paper and, where possible, other recycled products when dealing with the city.

Thousand Oaks already uses recycled paper in the city print shop, and has installed benches and trash cans made from recycled plastic milk jugs. The same plastic lumber has been crafted into wheel stops in the Civic Arts Plaza parking lot.

“So if you damage your car,” Mayor Alex Fiore quipped, “it’s no use crying over spilled milk.”