Attachment_C_Admin_Memo_B-33.pdf

This is an Administrative Memorandum from the County of San Mateo, specifically issued by the Office of Sustainability, detailing state-mandated procurement requirements under California Senate Bill 1383. The document outlines a policy for all county departments to comply with new regulations regarding recycled organic-material procurement established in September 2016. The requirements mandate that the county: 1) procure recycled-content paper products that can be recycled, 2) procure a specified amount of qualifying compost, mulch, and renewable natural gas annually, and 3) maintain detailed records of all such procurements.

The memorandum provides comprehensive guidelines for paper product and organic material procurement, requiring county departments, contractors, and vendors to source products with specific postconsumer fiber content (at least 30%, with encouragement to use 100% where possible). All procurements must be documented using specific reporting forms submitted to the Office of Sustainability. The policy aligns with the county's Climate Emergency Declaration from 2019 and aims to reduce organic waste in landfills by 75 percent from 2014 levels by 2025, addressing climate change impacts such as methane emissions. The provisions of this policy took effect on March 1, 2022, and are designed to create markets for recycled materials while supporting the county's Climate Action Plans.