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Garden and Soaker Hoses
A garden hose conducts water through its tubing to a specific location using a nozzle, while a soaker hose is perforated tubing that gently irrigates gardens or planted areas. Recovered-content garden and soaker hoses help create new uses for old tires and recycled plastics. EPA's designation specifically covers garden and soaker hoses containing recovered plastic or rubber.
- Recommended Recovered Materials Content Ranges
- Product Specifications
- Product Information
- Additional Links
Recommended Recovered Materials Content Ranges:
EPA's Recovered Materials Advisory Notice (RMAN) recommends recycled-content levels for garden and soaker hoses as shown in the table below.
| Product | Material | Postconsumer Content (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Garden Hose | Rubber and/or Plastic | 60-65 |
| Soaker Hose | Rubber and/or Plastic | 60-70 |
¹EPA's recommendation does not
preclude a procuring agency from purchasing garden and soaker
hoses manufactured from another material. It simply requires
that a procuring agency, when purchasing garden and soaker
hoses made from plastic or rubber, purchase these items made
with recovered materials when these items meet applicable
specifications and performance requirements.
Product Specifications:
EPA recommends that procuring agencies use the following specifications when procuring garden and soaker hoses:
- ASTM D3901 Consumer Specification for Garden Hose. This specification addresses physical and performance characteristics (i.e., pressure, tensile, and ripping strength tests) and states that the material components are to be agreed upon by the purchaser and seller.
- Green Seal GC-2: Watering Hoses. This standard calls for use of 50 percent postconsumer rubber material in garden hoses and 65 percent postconsumer rubber material in soaker hoses. EPA recommends that, when purchasing garden hoses, procuring agencies reference the technical requirements of this specification but set a higher content standard.
Product Information:
Database of Manufacturers and Suppliers
GSA Advantage!
Garden and soaker hoses can be ordered through the
General Service Administration's (GSA's) online ordering
system. In addition, GSA publishes various supply catalogues,
guides, and schedules for recycled-content products available
through the Federal Supply Service.
Additional Links:
2007
Buy-Recycled Series: Landscaping Products (PDF) (7 pp, 120K, About PDF)
This fact sheet highlights the landscaping products
designated in the CPG, including garden and soaker hoses, and
includes case studies, recommended recovered-content levels,
and a list of resources.
Technical
Background Document (PDF) (215 pp, 381K, About PDF)
This background document includes EPA's product
research on recovered-content garden and soaker hoses as well
as a more detailed overview of the history and regulatory
requirements of the CPG process.
