FINAL BILL REPORT

                                   2SSB 5143

                                  C 297 L 91

                              SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Increasing the procurement of recycled products.

SPONSORS:Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Metcalf, Murray and Conner).

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

BACKGROUND:

The "Waste Not Washington" Act of 1989 established an orderly process of reducing the state's solid waste stream through waste reduction and recycling.

The planning process is underway by local governments. Household curbside collection systems are now in place in most of the major cities.  Private industry is increasing its processing and manufacturing of recycled content products.

The successful marketing and sale of recycled content products are essential to complete the waste reduction and recycling cycle.

Procurement of recycled content products by public agencies will both set an example and stimulate the market.

The state of Washington purchases about $1.5 billion in goods and services annually.  The Department of General Administration controls about $250 to $300 million in purchases.

Governmental agencies can set the example by increasing their purchases of recycled content products and contribute to the state's waste reduction and recycling goals.

SUMMARY:

All units of state and local governments, school districts and special purpose districts shall increase their procurement of recycled content products.

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

The $500,000 threshold for local governments' participation is for purchases of supplies as of fiscal year 1989, excluding expenditures for capital goods and purchases by cities for power, gas or water for resale.  Local governments shall 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 shall develop minimum content standards as follows: paper, paper products, latex paint, and compost by July 1, 1992; and for plastics, retread tires, remanufactured tires, lubricating oils, automotive batteries and building insulation by July 1, 1993.

A database of recycled content products and a directory of businesses shall be developed.   GA shall implement an information and technical assistance program for all public agencies.

GA is directed to conduct two or more annual workshops on procurement requirements.  GA is to provide information for intergovernmental agreements to facilitate recycled product procurement.

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

By 1995, 75 percent of paper purchased by the State Printer shall have recycled content.

Vendors shall certify the amount of recycled content in their products.

To increase use of compost products in landscaping materials, GA and the Department of Transportation (DOT) shall set purchasing goals for these products.  In addition, DOT shall prepare a report on recycled materials use in transportation projects by January 1, 1992.

The State Building Council shall study increased use of recycled building materials from construction and building demolition debris, mixed waste paper and waste plastics.

The larger local governments preparing procurement strategies under the act shall increase the use of composted materials on road projects.  Goals shall be set for procurement, leading to 50 percent of purchases by 1994.

School directors shall consider use of recycled materials from shredded waste tires for playground matting.

Bidders shall submit written statements listing in 5 percent increments the range of recycled content in their product when bidding under the preferential purchase program.

The bill is contingent on funding in the budget.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate      49    0

House 98    0     (House amended)

Senate      45    0     (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:  July 28, 1991