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.” 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.”
• Accordingly, no degreasers or solvents may contain:
  • Any chemicals that are known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm (including, but not limited to methylene chloride, perchloroethylene, benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, etc.)
  • 2-butoxyethanol (“butyl”), which can be easily absorbed through the skin, damaging organs
  • PFAS compounds
• RCW 39.26.310 and DES’ Purchasing Preference for Products that Do Not Contain Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) (DES- 310-00) direct state agencies to offer a preference of at least 5% to vendors that bid products that contain either (1) no HFCs or (2) HFCs with a relatively low global warming potential (GWP) if HFC-free products are unavailable. It also directs state agencies to purchase products that have been awarded a preference under this law.
  Additional desirable environmental and health attributes for degreasers include the following third-party certifications:
  • Green Seal (especially products that are certified under its GS-34 degreaser standard)
  • Safer Choice, UL ECOLOGO
  • Cradle to Cradle Product Certificate or Material Health Certificate: v3.1 at the Gold level or higher OR v4.0 at the Silver level or higher
  • USDA Biobased
• Replace solvent-based parts degreasing systems with water-based degreasing systems whenever possible.

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 39.26.310
• DES’ Purchasing Preference for Products that Do Not Contain Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) (DES- 310-00)

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