Imaging Equipment

Green purchasing guidance for imaging equipment, including:

Copiers
Multifunction devices
Printers
Scanners

Required specifications

Purchasers must include these specifications, unless not possible:

RCW 39.26.265 directs state agencies to purchase sustainable electronic products meeting environmental performance standards that reduce or eliminate hazardous materials.
In addition, DES’ Electronics Products Purchasing Preference (POL-DES-265-00) establishes bid preferences authorized in RCW 39.26.265 for agencies purchasing electronic products that meet environmental performance standards relating to the reduction or elimination of hazardous materials. Specifically:
- All applicable electronics (e.g., servers, computers and displays, imaging equipment, mobile phones, and televisions) must be on the EPEAT Registry at the Bronze level or higher or meet another environmental standard that reduces the use of hazardous substances (e.g., the EU’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive)
RCW 19.27A: Energy Related Building Standards established the state’s strong statutory commitment to making public buildings models of energy efficiency, including purchasing products and services that are highly energy-efficient or powered with renewable energy (e.g., solar or wind).
Pursuant to RCW 43.19A: Recycled Product Procurement, copiers, printers and multi-function devices must be able to work reliably with 100% recycled-content paper. Accordingly, state agencies should give Best Value non-cost points to imaging equipment with duplexing capability and direct vendors to set it to default to two-sided copying or printing. In order to reduce energy consumption, state agencies should specify and purchase multi-function devices (MFDs) rather than separate imaging equipment.

Preferred specifications

Purchasers should include these specifications, unless not possible:

DES’ Electronics Products Purchasing Preference (POL-DES-265-00) establishes bid preferences authorized in RCW 39.26.265 for agencies purchasing electronic products that meet environmental performance standards relating to the reduction or elimination of hazardous materials. Specifically:
- Electronics on the EPEAT Registry at the Silver or Gold level are eligible for a purchasing preference of at least 5%
RCW 70A.350: The Pollution Prevention for Health People and Puget Sound Act directs Ecology to cyclically identify priority chemicals, priority products and then implement restrictions or reporting through rulemaking or take no action. At this point in time, halogenated flame retardants in the casings of electric and electronic equipment have been identified as a priority chemical-product combination but regulations have not been determined.
State agencies are encouraged to offer non-cost points to vendors that will takeback and recycle used imaging equipment at the end of its life, preferably with e-Stewards- or R2-certified recyclers. For more information, consult with Green Electronic Council (GEC) and see RPN’s Green Purchasing Best Practices: Imaging Equipment.
EO 20-01: State Efficiency and Environmental Performance (SEEP). directs state agencies to “dramatically reduce energy use in state-owned facilities.” If imaging equipment is not available on the EPEAT Registry, state agencies shall give priority to products with a TCO certification, that are RoHS compliant, or that are on the ENERGY STAR certification list.
State agencies are encouraged to offer non-cost points to vendors that will takeback and recycle used imaging equipment at the end of its life, preferably with e-Stewards- or R2-certified recyclers. For more information, consult with Green Electronic Council (GEC). and see RPN’s Green Purchasing Best Practices: Imaging Equipment.

Laws, rules, and executive orders

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

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