FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 2287

C 356 L 09

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning paper conservation.

Sponsors: House Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Representatives Kessler and Van De Wege).

House Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections

Background:

The Department of General Administration (Department) oversees the state recycled content standards for several types of products, including paper.  The Department was directed to implement a plan for state agencies to increase their recycled content product purchases during in the late 1990s.  In the plan, a graduated increase in purchases of recycled content paper was required and the State Printer was also assigned specific percentage purchase requirements for recycled content paper.

Summary:

Each state agency, by July 1, 2010, is required to develop and implement a paper conservation program with a goal of at least a 30 percent reduction in current paper use, and a paper recycling program to encourage recycling of all paper products with the goal of recycling 100 percent of all copy and printing paper in all buildings with 25 employees or more.

The definition of state agency includes but is not limited to: colleges, universities, offices of elected and appointed officers, the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and administrative departments of state government.

By December 31, 2009, all state agencies must purchase 100 percent recycled content white cut sheet bond paper used in office printers and copiers.

State agencies that utilize office printers and copiers that, after reasonable attempts, cannot be calibrated to utilize such paper must purchase paper at the highest recycled content that can be utilized efficiently by the copier or printer. At the time of lease renewal or at the end of the life-cycle of a printer or copier, state agencies are directed to either lease or purchase a model that will efficiently utilize 100 percent recycled content white cut sheet bond paper.

Print projects that require the use of high volume production inserters or high speed digital devices are not required to meet the 100 percent recycled content standard but must utilize the highest recycled content that can be utilized efficiently.

Votes on Final Passage: