Drafter
Clerk 04/18/2008
Title
A MOTION requesting the executive to research and report to the council on the environmental, health and economic benefits of expanding the county's environmentally preferable purchasing program to include cleaning products and cleaning methods.
Body
WHEREAS, King County has been a strong leader on behalf of the environment and has been committed to helping county agencies to purchase environmentally preferable products that contain fewer toxic materials, minimize waste, maximize recycling and conserve energy and other resources, and
WHEREAS, King County has demonstrable economic influence and buying power, and
WHEREAS, in 1989 the county adopted a Recycled Produced Procurement Policy directing county agencies to purchase recycled products whenever practicable, and
WHEREAS, in 1995 the county expanded this policy and developed an environmental purchasing program requiring county agencies to purchase recycled and other environmentally preferable products whenever practicable and directing agencies to purchase materials with lower toxicity that provide greater conservation of energy, water and other resources, and
WHEREAS, in 2007 the county purchased 41 million dollars worth of environmentally preferable products, and
WHEREAS, in 2007 the county saved and estimated $877,000 by purchasing environmentally preferable products, and
WHEREAS, in 2007, King County procurement and contract services section solicited bids for cleaners that have been certified to meet the GS-37 standard set by Green Seal, an organization that establishes consensus standards of environmental
performance, and
WHEREAS, in 2007, King County Metro transit started using environmentally preferable cleaning products and methods and has reduced the amount of chemicals and water needed to clean transit bases, bathrooms and offices, and
WHEREAS, the council wishes to ensure that all products purchases and expenditures of public money are made in a manner consistent with the county's human health and environmental policies, and
WHEREAS, the council wishes to reduce occupational health hazards for county staff as well as reduce exposure of county residents and visitors to potentially toxic chemicals, and
WHEREAS, the council wishes to reduce the environmental impacts of toxic chemicals and conserve its natural resources, and
WHEREAS, the council finds it to be in the best interest of science, public health, economics and the environment to investigate the benefits of environmentally preferable cleaning products and methods for use in all appropriate county facilities;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. The metropolitan King County council requests the executive to research and report on the environmental, health and economic benefits of expanding the county's environmentally preferable purchasing program to include cleaning products and cleaning methods for all county agencies. This report shall include a study on the feasibility of using environmentally preferable cleaning products and cleaning methods at different types of county facilities and properties including, but not limited to:
1. General office space;
2. Public restrooms;
3. Health and human service clinics;
4. Housing facilities;
5. Public transportation vehicles;
6. Fleet vehicles, and
7. Community centers.
B. The executive's report should be transmitted by motion to the council by August 15, 2008.