ABSTRACT
In order to set the scope of environmental purchasing, this chapter addresses a variety of issues and identifies some key opportunities. It provides some practical steps relating to the work being done at Manningham Council. The chapter examines the role of purchasing, both in the context of Victoria and the country as a whole. The importance of purchasing is seen as vital, given the increasing globalisation of markets and the potential impact of electronic commerce. Local government purchases a range of goods and services from a wide variety of suppliers. Total outlays by Victorian local government in 1995/96 were $1,474,000,000. The total aggregate outlays for Australian local government were $15,495,000,000. Individually, there are enormous variations in the ways councils nominate, categorise and spend their resources. Councils in Victoria have changed their purchasing practices over the years. There has been a steady growth in joint purchasing and, the advent of Compulsory Competitive Tendering.
