Press Release
Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program Signs Historic Environmental
Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Department of Interior and
Environmental Protection Agency
August 21, 2000
For immediate release
Contact: Joan Smith
Phone: (703) 603-7740
email: jsmith@jwod.gov
The Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program cemented its partnerships
with the U.S. Department of Interior and the Environmental Protection
Agency with the signing of a historic environmental Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) on August 10, 2000. The goals of the MOA are to
maximize Federal Agency purchases of environmentally preferable
products and services, and purchasing the same from the JWOD Program,
a mandatory source of products and services for the government.
The agreement also enhances environmental initiatives the JWOD Program
implemented in response to Executive Order 13101: Greening the Government
Through Waste Prevention, Recycling and Federal Acquisition.
Whenever Federal customers purchase from the JWOD Program, a mandatory
source of supplies and services for Federal agencies, they help
create stable employment and training for people who are blind or
severely disabled. When they purchase JWOD environmental products
and services, they are also meeting Federal environmental mandates
as spelled out in the Executive Order, the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (Section 6002) of 1976, and the Pollution Prevention
Act of 1990. Currently all JWOD office paper products meet requirements
for recycled content. Additionally, the Program is looking to add
more environmentally responsible products and services to its Procurement
List to meet customer demand.
National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and NISH (serving people
with a range of disabilities) are two national nonprofit organizations
that are part of the JWOD Program. The leadership of these organizations
also signed the agreement pledging to take steps to help educate
more than 600 JWOD-associated nonprofit organizations about Federal
environmental initiatives. Meanwhile, as part of its commitment
to the MOA, the U.S. Department of Interior will develop training
guidance that will demonstrate how JWOD-associated nonprofit agencies
can "green" custodial and grounds maintenance services offered to
federal customers. The EPA will develop similar environmental guidance
designed to help nonprofit agencies that furnish products to the
government identify products and materials that will enhance the
"green appeal" of their offerings.
"This is a defining moment for the JWOD Program, as it-like the
country-transitions to the more resource conscious and resource
conservation buying practices of the 21st century. The JWOD Program
is committed to furnishing the environmental products and services
our customers demand, while at the same time, creating jobs for
people with disabilities," said Leon A. Wilson, Jr., Executive Director
of the Committee that administers the JWOD Program.
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