Batteries and Flashlights

Green purchasing guidance for batteries and flashlights, including:

Required specifications

Purchasers must include these specifications, unless not possible:

EO 20-01: State Efficiency and Environmental Performance (SEEP) states, “When making purchasing, construction, leasing, and other decisions that affect state government’s emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) or other toxic substances, agencies shall explicitly consider the benefits and costs (including the social costs of carbon) of available options to avoid those emissions. Where cost-effective and workable solutions are available that will reduce or eliminate emissions, decision makers shall select the lower-emissions options.”
RCW 70A.230.060: Mercury-free Product Preference and DES' Nonmercury-Added Products Purchasing Preference (POL-DES-70A.230-00) state, “The department of enterprise services must give priority and preference to the purchase of equipment, supplies, and other products that contain no mercury-added compounds or components, unless: (a) There is no economically feasible nonmercury-added alternative that performs a similar function; or (b) the product containing mercury is designed to reduce electricity consumption by at least forty percent and there is no nonmercury or lower mercury alternative available that saves the same or a greater amount of electricity as the exempted product. In circumstances where a nonmercury-added product is not available, preference must be given to the purchase of products that contain the least amount of mercury added to the product necessary for the required performance.” Accordingly, bidders may not offer mercury-containing batteries on this contract unless there is no technically feasible alternative.
State agencies should include on their market basket list nickel-metal-halide (NiMH) rechargeable batteries in common sizes (AA, AAA and D) that have a relatively high power rating (in milliamp hours) and are low-self-discharge (LSD), which means they maintain a minimum of 80% of its capacity after 1 year in storage or 75% of their capacity after 3 years in storage. For specifications by battery type (AA, AAA and D cells), see Charging Ahead: How to Find Powerful Rechargeable Batteries
To save money and reduce consumption, state agencies should:
- Require all flashlights to have an LED light source, to help reduce battery consumption/waste.
- Purchase and use rechargeable rather than single-use batteries whenever possible.
- Remove single-use alkaline batteries from their market basket list.
- Pilot test rechargeable batteries in non-emergency battery-powered equipment such as flashlights, computer mice, and automatic paper towel dispensers.
- Look for battery-free equipment, whenever it is practical and safe to do so.
- Offer Best Value non-cost points to bidders that offer to help state agencies collect and recycle used rechargeable and alkaline batteries.
- Recycle used rechargeable batteries through the Call2Recycle Program.

Laws, rules, and executive orders

These laws, rules, and executive orders must be included in the contract language:

Find these products on statewide contracts

Find products that meet Washington’s green purchasing specifications:

Contract 05820: Computer equipment, related peripherals and services (NVP)
Contract 06019: Office supplies

End of life

Surplus goods that still can be used

Use surplus disposal to get rid of items you no longer need. Keep materials out of landfills and make funds for your agency.

Recycling and disposal

Hazardous waste disposal guidelines and options:

Department of Ecology: Dispose, recycle, or treat dangerous waste
Washington Recycles