Ordinance 3911-22 - Laserfiche WebLink

Overview Methane is a greenhouse gas at least 75 times more potent than carbon dioxide over 20 years. The primary goal of the 2022 Organics Management Law is to reduce the emissions of methane created when organic materials, like food and yard waste, decompose in a landfill. To achieve this goal, the bill established milestones based on 2015 disposal levels that require actions by state and local agencies, residents, and businesses to: • Jurisdictions with a population of fewer than 25,000 in which curbside organics collection services are provided may be required to adopt a CPO and submit compost procurement activity reports to Ecology. This is required in the following situations: — Counties with a population of 25,000 or fewer in which curbside organics collection services are provided including services provided in unincorporated or incorporated parts of the county. • Rescue 20% of previously disposed edible food for human consumption by 2025. — Incorporated cities or towns with a population of 25,000 or fewer in which curbside organics • Divert 75% of previously disposed organic collection services are provided. materials from landfills by 2025. The purpose of the compost procurement provisions in the law —now codified in RCW 43.19A.150, RCW 43.19A.160, and in an amendment to RCW 39.30.040 - is to strengthen markets for the anticipated large amounts of additional compost that will be produced as organics collection programs expand. Specifically, these amended statutes require cities and counties that meet certain criteria to adopt compost procurement ordinances (CPO) and to report their compost purchases to Ecology. Below are answers to key questions about how these new provisions affect local governments: Which local governments are required to adopt a CPO and submit compost procurement activity reports to Ecology? • Counties and incorporated cities with a population of more than 25,000 based on the latest Office of Financial Management data are required to adopt a CPO and submit compost procurement activity reports to Ecology_ What options do jurisdictions have for meeting the CPO adoption and reporting requirements? 1. A county, city, or town can adopt their own CPO and submit their own compost procurement report to Ecology. 2. Counties, cities, or towns with existing recycled product procurement ordinances can amend them to include compost. 3. Cities can sign onto a county CPO and have the county submit procurement reports that include city purchases. This could be done through a separate interlocal agreement or by amending the County's solid waste management plan (Plan) to include a CPO. The amendment would then cover these requirements for all signatories to the Plan. 4. Two or more cities or towns can sign joint CPOs and submit joint procurement reports. 5. Two or more counties can sign joint CPOs and submit joint procurement reports. Publication xx-xx-xxxx � Month Year Solid Waste Management