Multnomah County launches sustainable purchasing policy

Starting July 1, Multnomah County began to follow a new purchasing policy designed to strengthen fiscal responsibility, environmental stewardship and social equity on county procurement practices.

The new policy was adopted to meet goals outlined in the Multnomah/Portland 2009 Climate Action Plan and to simplify the application of more than a dozen existing policies.

A new sustainable purchasing checklist will guide employees who purchase goods and services on behalf of the county to integrate sustainability principles in their selections. In part, the intentions of the policy, according to county officials, is to stimulate a new market for recycled materials and green products.

"In adopting this policy, Multnomah County is taking a leadership position in this region and in the nation by applying environmental and social equity principles not only to all the goods we buy, but also to the tremendous amount of professional and human services we buy," said Brian Smith, purchasing manager for the county, in a news release.

On Wednesday, the county will host a kick-off for the Sustainable Purchasing Policy at noon in the Multnomah County Boardroom at 501 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.