AN ACT Relating to environmental standards of paper products for printers and copiers that are purchased by the state, for state agencies; amending RCW 43.19A.022; reenacting and amending RCW 43.19A.010; and creating a new section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that there are environmental advantages to having state agencies purchase paper that is produced in a manner that reduces carbon dioxide to combat climate change.

((Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the))The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Biosolids" means municipal sewage sludge or septic tank septage sludge that meets the requirements of chapter ((70.95J))70A.226 RCW.

(2) "Compost products" means mulch, soil amendments, ground cover, or other landscaping material derived from the biological or mechanical conversion of biosolids or cellulose-containing waste materials.

(5) "Local government" means a city, town, county, special purpose district, school district, or other municipal corporation.

(7) "Mixed waste paper" means assorted low-value grades of paper that have not been separated into individual grades of paper at the point of collection.

(8) "Municipal sewage sludge" means a semisolid substance consisting of settled sewage solids combined with varying amounts of water and dissolved materials generated from a publicly owned wastewater treatment plant.

(10) "Postconsumer waste" means a material or product that has served its intended use and has been discarded for disposal or recovery by a final consumer.

(11) "Procurement officer" means the person that has the primary responsibility for procurement of materials or products.

(13) "Recycled materials" means waste materials and by-products that have been recovered or diverted from solid waste and that can be utilized in place of a raw or virgin material in manufacturing a product and consists of materials derived from postconsumer waste, manufacturing waste, industrial scrap, agricultural wastes, and other items, all of which can be used in the manufacture of new or recycled products.

(14) "Re-refined oils" means used lubricating oils from which the physical and chemical contaminants acquired through previous use have been removed through a refining process. Re-refining may include distillation, hydrotreating, or treatments employing acid, caustic, solvent, clay, or other chemicals, or other physical treatments other than those used in reclaiming.

(16) "State agency" means all units of state government, including divisions of the governor's office, the legislature, the judiciary, state agencies and departments, correctional institutions, vocational technical institutions, and universities and colleges.

(((16)))(17) "USEPA product standards" means the product standards of the United States environmental protection agency for recycled content published in the Code of Federal Regulations.

(1) ((All))By July 1, 2023, all state agencies shall purchase one hundred percent recycled content white cut sheet bond paper or paper produced in a process that yields at least 40 percent less carbon dioxide than standard copy paper, which constitutes a substantial reduction in carbon dioxide, used in office printers and copiers. State agencies are encouraged to give priority to purchasing from companies that produce paper in facilities that generate energy from a renewable energy source.

(2) State agencies that utilize office printers and copiers that, after reasonable attempts, cannot be calibrated to utilize such paper referenced in subsection (1) of this section, must for those models of equipment:

(a) Purchase paper at the highest recycled content or produced in a process that yields a high reduction in carbon dioxide that can be utilized efficiently by the copier or printer;

(b) At the time of lease renewal or at the end of the life cycle, either lease or purchase a model that will efficiently utilize one hundred percent recycled content white cut sheet bond paper or paper produced in a process that yields at least 40 percent less carbon dioxide than standard copy paper.

(3) Printed projects that require the use of high volume production inserters or high-speed digital devices, such as those used by the department of enterprise services, are not required to meet the one hundred percent recycled content ((white cut sheet bond paper standard))requirement or requirement of being made in a process that yields at least a 40 percent reduction in carbon dioxide than standard copy paper, but must utilize the highest recycled content or a high reduction in carbon dioxide that can be utilized efficiently by such equipment and not impede the business of agencies.

(4) The department of enterprise services shall identify for use by agencies paper products that are one hundred percent recycled ((paper products that))or produced in a process that yields at least 40 percent less carbon dioxide than standard copy paper and process efficiently through high-speed production equipment and do not impede the business of agencies.