Policies

Environmental Purchasing

• King County Environmentally Preferable Purchasing and Practices Policy:
  King County's EPP Policy (KCC 18.20), originally established in 1989, was updated in 2011 to include revisions for paper reduction and purchase of 100 percent recycled-content paper, electronics recycling and reporting requirements.

Related Environmental Policies

King County has many other policies and plans that complement environmentally preferable purchasing:

• King County Strategic Plan, 2010–2014: Working Together for One King County
• Goals:
  • Justice and Safety. Support safe communities and accessible justice systems for all.
  • Health and Human Potential. Provide equitable opportunities for all individuals to realize their full potential.
  • Economic Growth and Built Environment. Encourage a growing and diverse King County economy and vibrant, thriving and sustainable communities.
  • Environmental Sustainability. Safeguard and enhance King County's natural resources and environment.
• Energy Plan
  This updated 2010 Energy Plan builds on King County's existing efforts and sets the stage for even greater strides towards energy efficiency and renewable energy use in county internal operations.
• Green Building Ordinance
  This updated 2008 Ordinance requires the use of green building and sustainable development practices in all capital projects that the county plans, designs, constructs, remodels, renovates and operates.
• Climate Plan
  The 2007 Climate Plan provides an overview of how King County seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and works to anticipate and adapt to projected climate change impacts, based on best available science.
• Approving Participation in the Cool Counties Program
  This 2007 Executive Order approves participation in the Cool Counties program, requiring King County Departments’ implementation of an action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for projected regional effects of climate change.
• Empowering Development and Implementation of Strategies for E-Waste Reduction
  This 2007 Executive Order requires King County agencies to develop and implement strategies to reduce the county’s contribution to environmental impacts from its purchase and use of electronic equipment.
• Evaluation of Climate Change Impacts through the State Environmental Policy Act
  This 2007 Executive Order requires and empowers King County Departments to evaluate the climate impacts of those actions being evaluated under authority of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).
• Non-Revenue Vehicle Anti-Idling Policy
  This 2007 Executive Order requires department to protect public health and improve the environment by reducing emissions while conserving fuel.
• Environmental Management Strategies for Global Warming Preparedness
  This 2006 Executive Order requires that King County Departments employ innovative environmental management as a means for the region to mitigate and adapt to global warming.
• Global Warming Preparedness
  This 2006 Executive Order requires King County Departments to employ increasingly aggressive strategies to mitigate regional contribution to global warming, including setting a goal of increasing the amount of biodiesel used in all County diesel vehicles to 20%.
• Land Use Strategies for Global Warming Preparedness
  This 2006 Executive Order requires that King County Departments employ coordinated strategies of land use to mitigate and adapt to global warming.
• Renewable Energy and Related Economic Development
  This 2006 Executive Order requires that at least 50% of King County’s total non-transit energy use come from renewable energy sources by the year 2012.