• Binders
• Clipboards
• Paperclips
• Staples
• Scissors

Required specifications

Purchasers must include these specifications, unless not possible:

• Whenever available, non-paper office supplies must contain at least 30% post-consumer recycled content or 50% total recycled content.

Preferred specifications

Purchasers should include these specifications, unless not possible:

• Products with a higher percentage of recycled content than the applicable U.S. EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guideline for Non-Paper Office Supplies are eligible for a price preference of at least 10%.

Things to avoid

Purchasers should avoid these specifications whenever possible:

• Non-paper office supplies may not contain vinyl (polyvinyl chloride or PVC), PFAS fluorinated stain-resistance chemicals, formaldehyde, antimicrobial coatings, or flame retardants.

Laws, rules, and executive orders

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

• 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 (POL-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 exceeding the EPA CPG minimum.
• 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.”
• 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.

Find these products on statewide contracts

Find products that meet Washington’s green purchasing specifications:

• Contract 06019: Office Supplies

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