Shelton staff present compost procurement ordinance tied to state RCWs; council forwards ordinance to Oct. 21

City staff presented a proposed ordinance that would add a compost procurement requirement to the Shelton Municipal Code and require annual reporting to comply with Washington state law. The council voted to place Ordinance No. 2033-825 on the Oct. 21 meeting agenda for further consideration.

The presentation, led by engineering staff, said the ordinance implements requirements in RCW 43.19A.150 and RCW 43.19A.120 enacted by the Legislature (House Bill 1799). The staff summary said the rules require the city to “continuously evaluate whether compost can be used in specific city projects” and, when reasonably available, to purchase compost for city uses such as landscaping, construction/post-construction soil amendments, specific stormwater applications, roadway stabilization, and low-impact development/green infrastructure.

“Where compost can be utilized, city departments shall purchase compost for use in city projects,” a staff presenter said, noting a reasonableness standard and several exemptions: products need not be used when not reasonably available, when they do not meet health/quality/safety standards, or when purchase prices are not reasonable or competitive. Staff said the ordinance also emphasizes use of locally produced, certified compost where feasible and requires tracking of the city’s diverted organic material and compost purchases.

Staff described required annual reporting: by March 31 each year, Public Works must report the prior year’s total tons of organic material diverted, the facilities that processed that material, the volume and cost of compost purchased by the city, and the source(s) of purchased compost. Staff also said the RCWs call for an education component; the city will continue cooperating with the Mason Conservation District to coordinate public outreach tied to the city’s NPDES stormwater permit.

Council discussion included a staff comment that the population-based thresholds in the RCW (25,000 population) were noted but the city is adding the requirement to code now so it is ready if and when thresholds or services change. A council member moved to place Ordinance No. 2033-825 on the Oct. 21 action agenda; another council member seconded. The council vote was unanimous and the ordinance was forwarded for consideration on Oct. 21.

If adopted on a future date, staff said the ordinance will require annual tracking and reporting of diverted organics and compost purchases and encourage use of local, certified compost where reasonable.