Policies

Environmental Purchasing

• King County Enviornmental Purchasing Policy (Executive Policy):
  To direct implementation of the Recycled Product Procurement ordinance, the King County Executive established an Environmental Purchasing Policy (CON 7-1-2) in 1995. This executive policy provides explicit direction and assigns responsibility for implementation to County agencies.
• King County Environmental Purchasing Policy (18KB, PDF) (Ordinance):
  The King County Council established the King County Recycled Product Procurement Policy, Ordinance 9240 (codified in King County Code chapter 10.16), in 1989 and later (2003) revised it to become the King County Environmental Purchasing Policy to incorporate environmentally preferable products and update the policy to take advantage of our experience in implementation. King County Ordinance Title 10 can be viewed in its entirety.
• Model Environmentally Preferable Procurement Policy (22KB, PDF):
  The model directs agencies to purchase recycled and other environmentally preferable products whenever practicable.

Related Environmental Policies

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

• 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.
• Energy Plan
  This updated 2008 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.
• 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.
• 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%.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.