Environmentally preferable purchasing by city agencies.

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to environmentally preferable purchasing by city agencies, and by repealing and reenacting subdivision e of section 6-306 of such code concerning power-supply standards for computer products procured by city agencies, and by repealing subdivision e of section 6-317 of such code concerning a program to recognize certain city agency contractors in connection with packaging reduction guidelines

This bill would make updates to the City’s Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) laws, including: (1) clarifying definitions and specifying applicability of such EPP laws, including specific exceptions; (2) requiring the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services (MOCS) to regularly review and revise guidelines for green cleaning products, packaging reduction and furniture procured by city agencies; (3) requiring MOCS to promulgate rules promoting additional environmental objectives beyond the original EPP laws; (4) requiring MOCS to post an annual environmental procurement report on its website which would include a list of solicitations for EPP-eligible products and a list of contracts that do not comply with EPP standards; (5) requiring contracting agencies to report whenever meeting an EPP standard would be inconsistent with such agency’s ability to procure the highest quality product at the lowest possible price; and (6) prohibiting city agencies from purchasing computers, servers, tablets or other computer products that do not meet global Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) standards.