emptions and purchase only the high-recycled content
paper, the market would become more stable because
DOD is such a dominant consumer.
Manufacturers previously were reluctant to pur-
sue green or sustainable options for many products
because the market had not been proven or is small
and hence the per-item cost remains high. With a ro-
bust and consistent buyer, manufacturers can take
advantage of economies of scale and green or sustain-
able products can become more cost competitive with
traditional items. The DOD has the opportunity to
serve as the ‘tipping point’ for any number of prod-
ucts and services to enable economies of scale to make
remunerative sense so the environmental and social
benefits can be realized, both for the DOD and society.
As a significant purchaser, the DOD is subsequent-
ly a significant disposer of material. The military has
had solid success in reuse and recycling programs. In
Army Environmental Management Good News pub-
lications, more than 10 different installations high-
lighted their success with recycling efforts (Stine and
Cockerill-Kafka 1992; Cockerill et al. 1993). The DLA
Disposition Services operates programs which enable
the private sector to purchase surplus defense prod-
ucts, extend the lifespan of these products and con-
serve resources. The DLA also operates large recovery
and recycling programs. For example, over a 30-year
period, the DLA recovered nearly $300 million in pre-
cious metals (DLA 2009; Joy 2010). As with purchasing
power, the DOD plays a strong role in ensuring there is
sufficient recyclable material in the marketplace to en-
courage private sector entities to develop technologies
and processes to turn these used materials into new
products. Additionally, waste reduction/recycling
offers opportunities for installations to work closely
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