HomeMy WebLinkAboutCompost Ordinance (2)ORDINANCE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY OF KITTITAS
STATE OF WASHINGTON
ORDINANCE NO. 2022________
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A COMPOST PROCUREMENT POLICY FOR
KITTITAS COUNTY.
WHEREAS, in March 2022, ESSHB 1799 was signed into Washington law; and
WHEREAS, the primary goal of the law is to increase the diversion of organic materials going
to landfills in order to reduce methane emissions as landfills are a significant source of methane
emissions; and
WHEREAS, as more organic materials are diverted and recycled, it is critical that the compost
manufactured be procured by local jurisdictions and others in order to support the economic
viability of these processes and programs; and
WHEREAS, the legislature has found that compost production and use provide significant
environmental benefits to our soil and food; and
WHEREAS, ESSHB 1799 requires that most cities and counties in Washington adopt a compost
procurement ordinance by January 1, 2023,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, that:
Kittitas County Code Chapter 8.22 is created to read as follows and Kittitas County Information
Technology (IT) is hereby directed to make such changes to the published online version of
Kittitas County code:
Chapter 8.22
COMPOST PROCUREMENT
Sections
8.22.010 Definition.
8.22.020 General Policy
8.22.030 Local Purchasing.
8.22.040 Planning.
8.22.050 Education.
8.22.060 Reporting.
8.22.010 Definition. A “Finished Compost Product” means a product created with “composted
material” as defined in RCW 70A.205.015(3). Finished Compost Products include, but are not
limited to, 100% finished compost or blends that include compost as a primary ingredient.
ORDINANCE
Mulch is considered a Finished Compost Product if it contains a minimum of sixty percent
composted material. Bark is not a Finished Compost Product.
8.22.020 General Policy. Kittitas County shall purchase finished compost products for use in
public projects in which compost is an appropriate material in county projects or on county land.
Pursuant to RCW 43.19A.130, Kittitas County will strive to purchase an amount of finished
compost products that is equal or greater than fifty percent of the amount of organic materials
delivered to the compost processor.
8.22.030 Local Purchasing. Kittitas County will purchase finished compost products from
companies producing compost locally, are certified by a nationally recognized organization, such
as the United State Composting Council, and produce finished compost products that are derived
from municipal solid waste compost programs while meeting quality standards adopted by the
department of transportation or adopted by rule by the Department of Ecology.
8.22.040 Planning. In order to meet the general policy, Kittitas County shall plan for compost
use in the following categories:
(a) Landscaping projects;
(b) Construction and postconstruction soil amendments;
(c) Applications to prevent erosion, filter stormwater runoff, promote vegetative
growth, or improve the stability and longevity of roadways; and
(d) Low-impact development of green infrastructure to filter pollutants to keep water
onsite or both.
This plan will be re-assessed by December 31, 2024, and each December 31st of even-numbered
years thereafter as part of its reporting obligations in Section 5.
8.22.050 Education. Kittitas County Solid Waste shall conduct educational outreach to inform
residents about the value of compost and how the jurisdiction uses compost in its operations each
year.
8.22.060 Reporting. By December 31, 2024, and each December 31st of even-numbered years
thereafter, Kittitas County shall report the following information to the Department of Ecology:
(a) The total tons of organic material diverted each year;
(b) The volume and cost of composted material1 purchased each year; and
(c) The source(s) of the finished compost product purchased.
Effective Date. The effective date of this Ordinance is January 1, 2023.
The Prosecuting attorney’s Office, at its sole discretion, is hereby given the authority to direct IT
to correct scrivener’s errors in the published website version of this code without needing to
return to the BOCC for any further authorization.
ADOPTED this day of 2022.
ORDINANCE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Chair
Vice-Chair
Commissioner
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CLERK OF THE BOARD ____________________________
☐ Clerk of the Board- Julie Kjorsvik D. R. Mitchell, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
☐ Deputy Clerk of the Board- Mandy Buchholz