SENATE BILL REPORT
ESHB 1518
As of February 9, 2022
Title: An act relating to environmental standards of paper products for printers and copiers that are purchased by the state, for state agencies.
Brief Description: Concerning environmental standards of paper products for printers and copiers that are purchased by the state, for state agencies.
Sponsors: House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations (originally sponsored by Representatives Stonier and Ormsby).
Brief History: Passed House: 1/28/22, 94-0.
Committee Activity: State Government & Elections: 2/09/22.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Permits state agencies to purchase paper that has at least 30 percent recycled content and is certified as responsibly sourced by a third party.
  • Requires the Department of Enterprise Services to identify and approve organizations that can certify paper as responsibly sourced.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT & ELECTIONS
Staff: Melissa Van Gorkom (786-7491)
Background:

The Department of Enterprise Services (DES) oversees the state recycled content standards for several types of products, including paper.  In 2009 the Legislature required state agencies to purchase 100 percent recycled content white cut sheet bond paper used in office printers and copiers.  If the agency's printers and copiers cannot be calibrated to use such paper, paper must be purchased at the highest recycled content that can be efficiently used and the equipment must be replaced, at the end of its lease or life cycle, with equipment that can use 100 percent recycled paper.

 

The requirement to use 100 percent recycled content paper does not apply to printed projects that require the use of high-volume production inserters or high-speed digital devices.  Those projects must use the highest recycled content that can be efficiently used.
 
DES must identify 100 percent recycled paper products that process efficiently through high-speed production equipment and do not impede the business of agencies.
Summary of Bill:

State agencies must purchase paper for use in office printers and copiers that:

  • is 100 percent postconsumer recycled content white cut sheet bond paper; or
  • has at least 30 percent recycled content and is certified as responsibly sourced by a third party approved by DES.

 
Printed projects that require the use of high-volume production inserters or high-speed digital devices that cannot use 100 percent recycled paper must use 30 percent recycled content paper that is certified as responsibly-sourced, rather than using paper with the highest recycled content that can be used.
 
DES must identify compliant paper products that process efficiently through high-speed production equipment and do not impede the business of agencies.  DES must also identify and approve organizations that can certify paper as responsibly sourced.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  One of the largest single- site paper mills in North America, which produces over 2000 tons of paper per day, is right here in Longview, WA.  It is in the top 20 of paper recycling facilities in the United States for turning waste paper into recycled packaging.  It is one of the largest users of clean electricity in the state and uses clean energy to create pulp to produce unique copy paper trade named natural choice.  This is a great time to re-examine the state's purchasing requirement of only purchasing 100 percent recycled paper.   Natural choice copy paper has environmental benefits and will save the state money and support jobs in southwest Washington.  We initially had concerns but have worked on the bill.  We do feel that there was an inadvertent error and would like to add the word postconsumer to the recycled content for 100 percent.  We understand that DES has some concerns and would like to understand those concerns and continue the discussion on that. 
Persons Testifying: PRO: Heather Trim, Zero Waste Washington; Craig Anneberg, North Pacific Paper Company (NORPAC); Tom Crowley, North Pacific Paper Company (NORPAC); Trevor Justin, North Pacific Paper Company (NORPAC).
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.