• Roads
• Parking Lots
• Driveways
• Sidewalks

Required specifications

Purchasers must include these specifications, unless not possible:

• RCW 43.19A: Recycled Product Procurement
  • Set a goal of substantially increasing the state’s purchases of recycled-content products, directs the state to set recycled-content standards, and authorizes state agencies to specify, give priority to and/or offer price preferences for products that contain recycled materials.
• DES’ Recycled Content Purchasing Preference Policy (DES-255-00)

  • States, “In establishing environmental requirements and preferences for products that contain recycled materials, agencies shall reference the current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (EPA CPGs) as the minimum standards for the state of Washington.” This policy also directs state agencies to offer a purchasing preference of at least 10% to bidders whose products have a recycled-content percentage that exceeds the EPA CPG minimum.

• Bidders shall offer (and use) concrete and cement with at least 50% recycled aggregate, except when it would not meet performance requirements. In addition, bidders that offer cement and concrete with a higher % of recycled content are eligible for a price preference of at least 10%.
• EO 04-01: Persistent Toxic Chemicals
  • Directs the state to make available for purchase and use by state agencies equipment, supplies, and other products that do not contain persistent and bioaccumulative toxic (PBT) chemicals unless there is no feasible alternative.
• Products may not be made with coal fly ash, which may contain high levels of PBTs such as lead and other heavy metal contaminants and supports the burning of coal, which releases greenhouse gas (GHG), mercury and other toxic chemical emissions into the environment.

Preferred specifications

Purchasers should include these specifications, unless not possible:

• EO 20-01: State Efficiency and Environmental Performance (SEEP)
  • “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.” It further states that “reducing…the use of dangerous toxics in the products state agencies purchase will all have a direct positive effect on human health, particularly for vulnerable children.”
• Porous cement and concrete.
• Certified Red List Free with an International Living Future Declare Health Product Declaration (HPD).
• Cradle to Cradle Certificate or Material Health Certificate: v3.1 or v4.0 at the Silver level or higher.
• Certification by UL GREENGUARD Gold (low emitting only).
• Carbon neutral-certified cement products.
• Vendors are strongly encouraged to offer cement and concrete products that have a third-party verified environmental health declaration (EPD) or health product declaration (HPD).
• Bidders that offer cement and concrete with a recycled-content percentage that exceeds the EPA CPG minimum are eligible for a price preference of at least 10%.

Things to avoid

Purchasers should avoid these specifications whenever possible:

• Products may not be made with coal fly ash, which may contain high levels of PBTs such as lead and other heavy metal contaminants and supports the burning of coal, which releases greenhouse gas (GHG), mercury and other toxic chemical emissions into the environment.

Laws, rules, and executive orders

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

• EO 20-01: State Efficiency and Environmental Performance (SEEP)
• RCW 43.19A: Recycled Product Procurement
• Recycled Content Purchasing Preference Policy (POL-DES-255-00)
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (EPA CPGs)
• EO 04-01: Persistent Toxic Chemicals

Find these products on statewide contracts

Find products that meet Washington’s green purchasing specifications:

• Contract 07121: Roadway Maintenance Products

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