SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5539

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

    Environmental Quality & Water Resources, March 2, 1999

Title:  An act relating to state and local procurement of recycled content products.

Brief Description:  Providing for state and local procurement of recycled content products.

Sponsors:  Senators Fairley, Fraser and Kline.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Environmental Quality & Water Resources:  2/25/99, 3/2/99 [DP, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & WATER RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Fraser, Chair; Eide, Vice Chair; Jacobsen, McAuliffe and Swecker.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senators Honeyford and Morton.

Staff:  Richard Ramsey (786-7412)

Background:  Current law requires state and local governments, school districts and special purpose districts to evaluate and seek to increase their procurement of recycled content products.

Local governments review their procurement plans and policies, adopt minimum purchasing goals for recycled content products and report on their strategies to the Department of General Administration (GA).

GA has developed minimum recycled-content standards for paper, paper products, latex paint, compost plastics, retread tires, remanufactured tires, lubricating oils, automotive batteries and building insulation.  In addition, the agency maintains a database of recycled content products and a directory of businesses selling these recycled products.

In support of local government activities, GA conducts workshops on procurement requirements and provides information for intergovernmental agreements to facilitate recycled product procurement.

State and local government bids include a description of the requirements for postconsumer content in recycled products and the procurement preference program.

Summary of Bill:  A new position of "state procurement officer" is designated from within existing staff at the Department of General Administration to administer the recycled content procurement program.  The officer must survey local governments for their compliance with procurement policies and experience in reaching their recycled product content goals and report to the Legislature no later than December 31, 2000.  The officer must update the recycled-content product database with current product performance information.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Government purchasing programs can encourage markets for recycled products.  The reporting requirements in the bill are a means to gauge success of the program.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Ingrid Anderson and Kelly Anderson, Student Action for the Environment (pro).