"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. Mulch is considered a Finished Compost Product if it contains a minimum of sixty percent composted material. Bark is not a Finished Compost Product.
(Ord. 2022-014, 2022)
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, provided it is not cost prohibitive to acquire. Cost prohibitive is defined as a product purchasing cost that exceeds 10% of the cost of another product that would serve the same purpose. Kittitas County is not required to use compost products if:
a. 
Compost products are not available within a reasonable period of time;
b. 
Compost products that are available do not comply with existing purchasing standards; and
c. 
Available compost products do not comply with federal or state health, quality, or safety standards. 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.
(Ord. 2022-014, 2022)
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. If locally produced compost is not available, compost shall be sourced from outside the County, with preference given to products sourced as close as possible to Kittitas County. Proof that locally produced compost was not available at the time of purchase or was cost-prohibitive shall be documented.
(Ord. 2022-014, 2022)
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.
(Ord. 2022-014, 2022)
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.
(Ord. 2022-014, 2022)
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 material purchased each year; and
c. 
The source(s) of the finished compost product purchased.
(Ord. 2022-014, 2022)