SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5143

            AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, MARCH 8, 1991

Brief Description:  Increasing the procurement of recycled products.

SPONSORS: Senators Metcalf, Murray and Conner.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5143 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Oke, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Barr, Conner, and Sutherland. 

Staff:  Atsushi Kiuchi (786‑7708)

Hearing Dates:January 23, 1991; February 13, 1991

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5143 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Gaspard, Hayner, Johnson, L. Kreidler, Metcalf, Murray, Niemi, Rinehart, Saling, Talmadge, West, Williams, and Wojahn. 

Staff:  Mary Poole (786-7715)

Hearing Dates:March 7, 1991; March 8, 1991

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.

The Department of General Administration (GA) shall develop minimum content standards as follows: paper, paper products and compost by July 1, 1992; and for plastics, retread tires, remanufactured tires, lubricating oils, automotive batteries and building insulation by July 1, 1993.

Preferential purchasing policy and planning shall be required for larger agencies depending upon operating budget size.  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.

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 organic recovered materials (such as compost) 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, 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 up to 50 percent of purchases by 1994.

A task force is formed to study increased use of sludge in state forest and agricultural lands and highway rights of way.

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

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

"Public agency" means all local government and state agencies.

"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.

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 budget threshold for state agencies is deleted.  They shall meet procurement goals established by the department.

The Regional Sludge Management Committee is added to the Sewage Sludge Task Force.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SECOND SUBSTITUTE:

The provision establishing the sewage sludge task force is eliminated.  The customary null and void clause is added making the bill contingent on funding in the budget.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue: none 

Fiscal Note: requested January 18, 1991

TESTIMONY FOR (Environment & Natural Resources):

Local and state governments should set the example for the general public by increasing their purchases of recycled content products.  The market for recycled products is enhanced by the increased purchases by public agencies.

TESTIMONY AGAINST (Environment & Natural Resources):  None

TESTIFIED (Environment & Natural Resources):  Meredith Jennings, Dept. of General Administration; Bill Alkire, Dept. of Ecology; Robert L. Berger, Dept. of Transportation; Carol Cann, Val Chabot, Fawn Swanson, Mukilteo Elementary School; Vicki Mercer, Black Hills Audubon Society; Dennis Kerber, Woodinville; Eric Johnson, WA Public Ports; Roger Fisk, SAFE, Shoreline Schools; Jake Ehler, Michael McGrath, Shannon Ott, Chad Sage, Beth Hoiby, Marisa Seto, Mukilteo Elementary School; Jerry Graham, King County Commission for Marketing Recyclables

TESTIMONY FOR (Ways & Means):  None

TESTIMONY AGAINST (Ways & Means):  None

TESTIFIED (Ways & Means):  No one