CITY COUNCIL POLICIES
POLICY NAME:
Purchasing Environmentally Preferable
Products
POLICY NUMBER: 2000-03
Effective Date: October 21, 2008 Last Revised Date: March 03, 2026 Status: Active Page: 1 of 3
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to require departments to actively seek out environmentally preferable products for use in day-to-day operations when quality, performance, price, and functionality are comparable to their non- environmentally preferable counterparts or when meeting state requirements.
II. POLICY
The City of Chula Vista shall promote the use of environmentally preferable products and Extended Producer Responsibility through proactive buying practices.
Departments shall comply with recycled paper procurement targets by requiring all paper products to be purchased with a minimum of 30% post-consumer recycled paper as defined by Public Contract Code Article 4 section 12209.
Departments shall purchase and use environmentally preferable products whenever possible.
Departments shall purchase recycled products instead of non- recycled products whenever recycled products are available at the same or lesser total cost than non- recycled products and the fitness and quality are equal.
Departments shall purchase products from venders that agree to collect and recycle their products when they reach the end of their useful life, through producer operated or producer funded collection and recycling programs, whenever practicable and at no additional cost to the City.
Departments may, with the approval of the Purchasing Agent, require procurement of environmentally preferable products.
Departments shall require outside contractors and consultants to use environmentally preferable products in the performance of their service, whenever practicable or required.
Departments shall comply with state requirements as contained in the Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) procurement regulations to procure a specified amount of recovered organic waste products to support organic waste disposal targets and markets for products made from recycled and recovered organic waste materials.
III. SCOPE
This policy applies to all departments.
CITY COUNCIL POLICIES
POLICY NAME:
Purchasing Environmentally Preferable
Products
POLICY NUMBER: 2000-03
Effective Date: October 21, 2008 Last Revised Date: March 03, 2026 Status: Active Page: 2 of 3
IV. DEFINITIONS
“Environmentally Preferable Products” means those products that are more energy efficient, less toxic, less polluting, and which generate less waste overall.
“Environmentally Preferable Purchasing” means the procurement or acquisition of goods and services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing goods or services that serve the same purpose. The comparison takes into consideration, to the extent feasible, raw material acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, disposal, energy efficiency, product performance, durability, safety, the needs of the purchaser, and cost.
“Extended Producer Responsibility” means the extension of the responsibility of producers, and all entities involved in the product chain, to reduce the impact of a product and its packaging.
“SB 1383 Procurement Regulations” means the state regulations for procurement of recovered organic waste products and recycled paper targets as well as recordkeeping requirements outlined by 14 CCR § 18993.1-18993.4.
“Total Cost of Ownership” means a summary of all purchase, operating, and related costs for a product or service, including the acquisition, transportation, receiving, inspection, training, maintenance, operating, energy use, and disposal costs.
V. PROCEDURE
Each Department shall take the lead in including environmentally preferable product and service specifications in bid documents and Citywide contracts, as appropriate.
Total cost of ownership shall be considered when purchasing environmentally preferable products. With some exceptions, environmentally preferable products shall be required when procuring recovered organic waste products and paper, if fitness and quality are equal to that of non-recycled items and are available at the same or lesser cost.
A department wishing to require the use of a product that may not qualify under SB 1383 procurement regulations shall deliver to the Purchasing Agent a written memorandum describing the compelling reasons for the use of non- environmentally preferable products. The Purchasing Agent shall review the memorandum and decide if the environmentally preferable product will be required. The decision of the Purchasing Agent shall be final.
CITY COUNCIL POLICIES
POLICY NAME:
Purchasing Environmentally Preferable
Products
POLICY NUMBER: 2000-03
Effective Date: October 21, 2008 Last Revised Date: March 03, 2026 Status: Active Page: 3 of 3
VI. RESPONSIBLE PARTY
Each department is responsible for purchasing environmentally preferred products that comply with state regulations and monitoring the product performance.
VII. REPORTS
Departments shall provide the City Manager with reports regarding purchase of environmentally preferable products in such form and at such times as the City Manager may direct.
HISTORY
DATE ACTION RESOLUTION NO.
10/21/2008 Adoption 2008-243
03/03/2026 Revision TBD