• Composting
• Trash
• Recycling
• Medical waste bags

Required specifications

Purchasers must include these specifications, unless not possible:

• Black, gray or brown plastic bags – also called trash can liners – made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) must have at least 10% post-consumer recycled content, which meets the U.S. EPA’s Comprehensive Procurement Guideline (CPG) for Plastic Bags.
• Biodegradable plastic bags must be certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) and have the BPI logo and the words compostable printed on the bag.
• All medical waste bags shall be cadmium-free. All medical waste bags shall be plastic, red in color, impervious to moisture, marked prominently with the universal warning sign or the word ‘biohazard’, and be of a strength sufficient to resist ripping, tearing, or bursting under normal conditions of use and handling by current U.S. Department of Transportation regulations.
• Body bags must be free of PVC and other sources of chlorine to be cremation compatible. Vendors shall identify all products that contain PFAS (e.g., Goretex, PTFE and other materials and chemical treatments).

Preferred specifications

Purchasers should include these specifications, unless not possible:

• DES’ Recycled Content Purchasing Preference Policy (DES-255-00) 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.
• Certification by UL ECOLOGO (multi-attribute standard)
• Recycled cKreyontent verified by third party (e.g., Scientific Certification Systems (SCS))
• Recycled content in bags of other colors and materials

Things to avoid

Purchasers should avoid these specifications whenever possible:

• All medical waste bags shall be cadmium-free.

Laws, rules, and executive orders

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

• RCW 43.19A: Recycled Product Procurement
• DES’ Recycled Content Purchasing Preference Policy (DES-255-00)
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (EPA CPGs)
• U.S. EPA’s Comprehensive Procurement Guideline (CPG) for Plastic Bags

Find these products on statewide contracts

Find products that meet Washington’s green purchasing specifications:

• Contract 16722: Food Service Disposables

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