Washington State’s Compost Procurement Law
New law is designed to ensure that state, county and municipal projects purchase compost, and encourages municipal buyback agreements.
By Karen Dawson
Biocycle
July 7, 2020
Excerpt:
“Directing organic materials from landfills into generating compost conserves landfill capacity, keeps high methane producing materials out of landfills, and creates a product that can filter storm water, helping to restore salmon, brings nutrients to our soil for our farms and lands recovering from forest fire, and helps sequester carbon for our planet,” said Washington State Representative, Amy Walen, prime sponsor of the legislation.
Washington State’s compost manufacturers divert hundreds of thousands of tons of yard trimmings and food scraps from the landfill, decreasing carbon emissions. Composting infrastructure is well distributed so that organic waste can be processed often within the same zip code it is generated.
Washington State House Bill 2713 stipulates that state agencies and local governments are required to consider whether compost products can be used in government-funded projects when planning or soliciting and reviewing bids. If compost products can be utilized in the project, the agency or local government must do so, subject to the following exceptions:
Compost products are not available within a reasonable amount of time.
Compost products that are available do not meet existing purchasing standards or federal or state health and safety standards.
Compost purchase prices are not reasonable or competitive.
