Toxics Use and Hazardous Waste Reduction  

Oregon’s Toxics Use and Hazardous Waste Reduction Act of 1989 was one of the first laws in the nation to mandate pollution prevention planning. The law was most recently revised in 2005.

Three groups of businesses must comply with this law:

• Federal Toxics Release Inventory reporters submitting a Form A and/or R;
• Large quantity hazardous waste generators; and
• Small quantity hazardous waste generators.

Notice: Conditionally-exempt small quantity generators may, but are not required to, join the Toxics Use and Hazardous Waste Reduction program.

For businesses that must comply, there are four major requirements:

1. Develop a Reduction Plan or an Environmental Management System with the 10 required elements;
2. Submit a Notice of Plan Completion or EMS Completion electronically;
3. Submit two Implementation Summaries electronically;
4. Update a Reduction Plan or EMS when changes occur, and keep the pertinent document on site.

Resources

• Oregon’s Toxics Use & Hazardous Waste Reduction Act PDF
  Summarizes requirements under the revised Act that relate to facility planning and reporting. Find out whether the Act affects you!
• Getting technical assistance
  Technical assistance information and DEQ staff to help you.
• Oregon Revised Statute 465.003 to 465.037
  The Toxics Use and Hazardous Waste Reduction law is in Oregon Law.
• Oregon’s toxics use and hazardous waste reduction rules
  Oregon Administrative Rules 340-135-0000 through 340-135-0110 effective August 15, 2006.
• TUHWR Requirements PDF
  Ten most commonly asked questions about the requirements.
• TUHWR Clearinghouse
  Oregon’s first-ever Web-based, searchable database for toxics use reduction and hazardous waste reduction success stories.

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