Environmentally Preferable Purchasing

Laws and Policies

This page contains information on existing laws and policies that require and/or guide the practice of environmentally preferable purchasing. It also provides links to sample policies for organizations considering the adoption of such practices.

Existing California Law

Public Contract Code Section 12400—Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
This law, formerly known as AB 498 (Chan, Chapter  575, Statutes of  2002), addresses environmentally preferable purchasing and became California law in September 2002. It directs the Department of General Services, in consultation with the California Environmental Protection Agency, members of the public, industry, and public health and environmental organizations, to provide state agencies with information and assistance regarding environmentally preferable purchasing.

Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003
Covered Electronic Waste Payment System (SB 20/SB 50)
California enacted landmark legislation [SB 20 (Sher, Chapter 526, Statutes of 2003) and SB 50 (Sher, Chapter 863, Statutes of 2004)] to establish a funding system for the collection and recycling of certain electronic wastes. Procurement-related elements of the act include provisions for a reduction in hazardous substances used in certain electronic products sold in California and a directive to recommend environmentally preferred purchasing criteria for State agency purchases of certain electronic equipment.

Proposed Legislation

Visit our status of priority bills page for a weekly status report on current bills of interest to the CIWMB.

Sample Policies

Model Policy (MS Word, 72 KB)
Prepared by: Alameda County Waste Management Authority and Source Reduction and Recycling Board.

Model Policy And Implementation Guidance (MS Word, 119 KB)
Prepared by: Alameda County Waste Management Authority and Source Reduction and Recycling Board.

Additional sample procurement policies are available from the Board's Local Assistance Library as well as the Board's Green Procurement Policies page.