Bulletins

These bulletins contain information about the results of product evaluations and other accomplishments of County agencies.

Note: Documents on this page are available in portable document format (PDF).

Recent Bulletins:

• 2009
• 2008
• 2007
• 2006

2009

2009 Responsible Purchaser
of the Year Awards Ceremony

3rd International Conference
on Green Purchasing

• 112 - Final Edition (549KB PDF)
  This is the final edition of the King County Environmental Purchasing Bulletin. Due to cutbacks, Eric Nelson will be managing the Environmental Purchasing Program and Karen Hamilton will be moving on to another county position.
• 111 - International Conference on Green Purchasing (192KB PDF)
  On October 21st, Karen Hamilton, King County Environmental Purchasing Program Manager, delivered a presentation at the 3rd International Conference on Green Purchasing, held in Suwon, South Korea.
• 110 - 2008 Environmental Purchasing Annual Report and Award (82KB PDF)
  For another year, King County agencies have continued to increase their purchase of environmentally preferable products. The report details 54 million dollars worth of epp purchases and over $800,000 in savings.

2008

Cleaning bathroom
with green cleaners and
microfiber mop.

• 109 - Green Cleaning at Transit Facilities (85KB PDF)
  King County Transit Division's Custodial Maintenance work group has successfully implemented a green cleaning program. This work included a new policy, chemicals, equipment, training and operating procedures. Refer to documents listed below for additional information:
  Transit Custodial Green Cleaning and Conservation Program Presentation (705KB PDF)
  Transit Custodial Maintenance Operating Manual (283KB PDF)
  Transit Custodial Maintenance Green Cleaning Policy (520KB PDF)
  Washington State Cleaning Industry Professionals Sustainable Cleaning Standards (226KB PDF)
• 108 - Remanufactured Toner Cartridge (64KB PDF)
  King County has purchased quality remanufactured toner cartridges for 17 years. The Procurement and Contract Services Section established a new contract in 2008, which was awarded to a local office supply vendor that partners with a Washington State remanufacturer. Please see the attached bulletin for contract details.
• 107 - 2007 Environmental Purchasing Annual Report (55KB PDF)
  For another year, King County agencies have continued to increase their purchase, knowledge and use of environmentally preferable products. Find out more in the "Environmental Purchasing 2007 Annual Report" in the attached bulletin.

2007

Construction crew pouring 1100
sq. yards of porous concrete.
• 106 - Greenwashing (66KB PDF)
  According to a new report by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing, nearly every green product on the market is making claims that are either inaccurate, inappropriate, or unsubstantiated. Find out more about the "Six Sins of Greenwashing" in the attached bulletin.
• 105 - Porous Concrete (234KB PDF)
  The King County Road Services Division is underwent construction of an intersection improvement project, in 2007, that features low impact development techniques, including 1,100 square yards of porous concrete sidewalks and a bioretention facility.
• 104 - Green Procurement Case Studies (94KB PDF)
  In 2007, the City of Portland, Oregon, known for many of its green initiatives, published 12 Green Purchasing Case Studies. These case studies include a summary, benefits, cost, performance, lessons learned and contact information.

King County committed to purchasing
up to 500 hybrid buses over the next
five years.
• 103 - Natural Vegetation Management (Goats) (363KB PDF)
  In 2007, King County Metro Transit hired a goat herder and 270 of his goats from Eastern Washington to assist with vegetation management at two sites that had been difficult to maintain due to steep hillsides and uneven ground. The goats are a more efficient way to control the weeds than crews of human workers, present less risk of injury to the human staff, and eliminate the need for chemical maintenance.
• 102 - Hybrid Bus Purchase (81KB PDF)
  King County announced a landmark agreement for the order of up to 500 buses from GM and New Flyer to add to the 214 hybrids already in its fleet. The current hybrid fleet reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 30%. The eventual use of over 700 buses will save 1.1 million gallons of fuel per year.
• 101 - 2006 Environmental Purchasing Annual Report (56KB PDF)
  The 2006 King County Environmental Purchasing Annual Report details the 36 million dollars worth of environmentally preferable products purchased by County agencies. These purchases include items such as recycled paper, toner cartridges, re-refined oil, biodiesel, and hybrid cars. In addition to increasing King County's level of support of markets for these materials, these purchases also brought $640,000 in savings to County agencies.

2006

King County Fleet Inventory
will total 175 hybrids by end
of 2006.

• 100 - Green Fleets (72KB PDF)
  The focus of this bulletin is on King County’s Fleet Administration and their continued effort to add hybrids to their fleet, use biodiesel and ultra-low sulfur diesel, re-refined motor oil, remanufactured antifreeze and bio-based hydraulic fluids.
• 99 - Best Practices - Practix Report on King County's Environmental Purchasing Program (61KB PDF)
  The King County Environmental Purchasing Program was the focus of a recent research project a Boise State University professor, and is featured this month in the Practix Guide, Best Practices in Purchasing & Supply Chain Management.