Taxpayers and the Earth save ‘green’ with King County’s environmental purchasing policy- King County

May 15, 2008

Taxpayers and the Earth save ‘green’ with King County’s environmental purchasing policy

A new report shows taxpayers in King County are saving money while safeguarding the environment through the county's Environmental Purchasing Program.

And it's no small amount of cash. By purchasing $41 million worth of items such as recycled paper and toner cartridges, biodiesel and hybrid cars, King County realized a savings of $875,000 when compared to purchasing those items a year ago.

"This is a significant savings for the taxpayers of King County, and for the environment as a whole," said County Executive Ron Sims. "Our Environmental Purchasing Program is proof positive that making wise, 'green' choices makes environmental and fiscal sense."

Sims has submitted to the Metropolitan King County Council for review the 2007 Environmental Purchasing Program Report. Annual report and other program information can also be found at the program's Web site, at your.kingcounty.gov/procure/green.

King County's Environmental Purchasing Policy reflects a long-term commitment to purchasing environmentally preferable products. The original recycled product procurement policy was adopted in 1989 in response to rapidly filling landfills and the need to create markets for newly collected recyclables.

Environmentally preferable procurement considers multiple product attributes, such as toxicity, durability, recycled content and conservation of resources, in addition to price, performance and availability.

The county's Environmental Purchasing Program provides county personnel with information and technical assistance to help them identify and evaluate, and ultimately buy, economical and effective environmentally preferable products and services.

Since 1990, the program has earned awards from numerous organizations, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Association of Counties and others.

King County uses recycled paper in all major government functions, including printing more than nine million bus schedules annually, tax statements, court forms, pet license notifications, business cards, reports, stationery, and internal printing.

Other environmentally sound purchases include: remanufactured toner cartridges; re-refined antifreeze and motor-oil; ultra-low sulfur diesel; biodiesel; hybrid vehicles; bio-based oils; low-VOC asphalt cold-patch; plastic lumber, compost, shredded wood -waste and tire-retreading services.

The program helps King County agencies obtain the benefits of changing marketplace opportunities by supporting them with information and technical assistance. Educational seminars, e-mail and a Web site all dedicated to environmental purchasing issues are used to keep agencies, suburban cities and the community at-large in touch with the county's environmental purchasing experience.

The purchasing program reports annually on the status of policy implementation and the environmental purchasing accomplishments of agencies. King County's Procurement and Contract Services, Finance and Business Operations Division, in the Department of Executive Services, administers the program.

Copies of the annual report and other program information can also be found at the program's Web site, at: your.kingcounty.gov/procure/green.

King County Executive, Ron Sims County news Executive initiatives Executive offices Biography Contact information King County Executive Office Ron Sims, King County Executive 701 Fifth Ave. Suite 3210 Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: 206-296-4040 Fax: 206-296-0194 TTY Relay: 711	KING COUNTY HOME \| NEWS \| SERVICES \| DIRECTORY \| CONTACT King County Executive, Ron Sims King County Executive You're in: King County Executive, Ron Sims print May 15, 2008 Taxpayers and the Earth save ‘green’ with King County’s environmental purchasing policy A new report shows taxpayers in King County are saving money while safeguarding the environment through the county's Environmental Purchasing Program. And it's no small amount of cash. By purchasing $41 million worth of items such as recycled paper and toner cartridges, biodiesel and hybrid cars, King County realized a savings of $875,000 when compared to purchasing those items a year ago. "This is a significant savings for the taxpayers of King County, and for the environment as a whole," said County Executive Ron Sims. "Our Environmental Purchasing Program is proof positive that making wise, 'green' choices makes environmental and fiscal sense." Sims has submitted to the Metropolitan King County Council for review the 2007 Environmental Purchasing Program Report. Annual report and other program information can also be found at the program's Web site, at your.kingcounty.gov/procure/green. King County's Environmental Purchasing Policy reflects a long-term commitment to purchasing environmentally preferable products. The original recycled product procurement policy was adopted in 1989 in response to rapidly filling landfills and the need to create markets for newly collected recyclables. Environmentally preferable procurement considers multiple product attributes, such as toxicity, durability, recycled content and conservation of resources, in addition to price, performance and availability. The county's Environmental Purchasing Program provides county personnel with information and technical assistance to help them identify and evaluate, and ultimately buy, economical and effective environmentally preferable products and services. Since 1990, the program has earned awards from numerous organizations, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Association of Counties and others. King County uses recycled paper in all major government functions, including printing more than nine million bus schedules annually, tax statements, court forms, pet license notifications, business cards, reports, stationery, and internal printing. Other environmentally sound purchases include: remanufactured toner cartridges; re-refined antifreeze and motor-oil; ultra-low sulfur diesel; biodiesel; hybrid vehicles; bio-based oils; low-VOC asphalt cold-patch; plastic lumber, compost, shredded wood -waste and tire-retreading services. The program helps King County agencies obtain the benefits of changing marketplace opportunities by supporting them with information and technical assistance. Educational seminars, e-mail and a Web site all dedicated to environmental purchasing issues are used to keep agencies, suburban cities and the community at-large in touch with the county's environmental purchasing experience. The purchasing program reports annually on the status of policy implementation and the environmental purchasing accomplishments of agencies. King County's Procurement and Contract Services, Finance and Business Operations Division, in the Department of Executive Services, administers the program. Copies of the annual report and other program information can also be found at the program's Web site, at: your.kingcounty.gov/procure/green.
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	Updated: March 17, 2010