In This Issue It's Now Illegal to Trash that Computer or TV! DEQ Hosts Toxics Reduction Forum When It Comes to Drinking Water, DEQ Confirms: 'Reduce First, then Recyle'	It's Now Illegal to Trash that Computer or TV! The new year brings an important reminder to all Oregonians: Beginning Jan. 1, 2010, it's illegal to dispose of computers, monitors or TVs in the garbage or at disposal sites such as landfills, transfer stations and incinerators. This disposal ban is part of the same law that created Oregon E-Cycles, which provides free recycling of computers, monitors and TVs at any of the program’s 220 collection sites statewide. The law states that anyone violating the ban could receive a penalty of up to $500 for each violation. Each computer, monitor or TV disposed of improperly is considered a separate violation. Visit Oregon E-Cycles to find a conveniently located collection site or call the toll-free hotline at 1-888-5-ECYCLE (1-888-532-9253). Neither the ban nor Oregon E-Cycles covers computer peripherals (keyboards, mice, etc.) or other types of electronics, but DEQ encourages all Oregonians to recycle these items as well.  You can find a partial list of other electronics recyclers on the Oregon E-Cycles website. For questions about the new disposal ban, check out DEQ’s Q&A on the topic.  Photo caption: Oregon State Senators Jackie Dingfelder and Frank Morse at the Oregon E-Cycles' kick-off event in February 2009. DEQ Hosts Toxics Reduction Forum Oregon DEQ is making inroads on one of its major strategic directions: to protect Oregonians from toxic pollutants. More than 150 people --representing a diverse range of community groups, tribal nations, industry and government organizations -- attended the DEQ-hosted Toxics Reduction Workshop Nov. 17 in northeast Portland. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency assisted DEQ in staging the event. Director Dick Pedersen talked about DEQ’s multi-layered efforts to reduce toxic pollutants in Oregon’s water, air and land. Participants exchanged ideas and information about the many things we all can do to reduce the impact of toxic substances. Companies talked about how they’re developing new products that leave less of a toxic imprint on the earth, and agriculture officials spoke about how they’re reducing the toxic effects of fertilizer in the Hood River Valley through programs linking agricultural organizations, local farmers and government agencies such as DEQ. Read more about the workshop, and learn about DEQ’s efforts to do battle against toxic on our Toxics Reduction Strategy page. When It Comes to Drinking Water, DEQ Confirms: 'Reduce First, then Recyle' If you think it makes more sense to drink tap water in reusable bottles rather than to keep buying bottled water and recycling the containers, you’re absolutely right. A recent DEQ analysis of drinking water delivery systems confirms that it’s best to reduce or reuse first, then recycle. The DEQ study compared dozens of scenarios and examined a range of environmental effects across the entire life cycle of single-use, five-gallon reusable and tap water delivery methods. Among the conclusions: Buying and then recycling a typical bottle of water reduces energy consumption by 24 percent and greenhouse gas emissions by 16 percent over the entire life cycle, compared to buying then throwing way the same water bottle. However, consuming the same quantity of water from the tap in a reusable bottle reduces energy consumption by 85 percent and greenhouse gases by 79 percent (compared to buying bottled water and disposing of each bottle). “The most important message for consumers is: reduce first, then recycle,” says DEQ solid waste policy analyst David Allaway. “Drinking tap water and recycling single-use bottles are equally effective ways of keeping waste out of landfills and incinerators, but DEQ’s study shows that most effects on the environment from bottled water occur from manufacturing and transportation, not disposal … If you have single-use water bottles, please recycle them. But it’s better to avoid them in the first place."	New Portland Vehicle Inspection Hours Starting Jan. 1, 2010 all Portland area VIP stations will close at 7 p.m. on Wednesday evenings. Check station hours and lines with the Web lane cameras before heading out to get your vehicle tested.  2010 Furlough Day Closures All DEQ offices and vehicle inspection stations will be closed due to state budget cuts on the following days in 2010:  March 19 April 16 June 18 Aug. 20 Sept. 17 Nov. 26 Access DEQ’s online calendar for additional information on closures and DEQ events! Choose EcoBiz-Certified Auto Shops and Landscapers The next time you need your car worked on or your yard landscaped, remember the Eco-Logical Business (EcoBiz) Program. EcoBiz makes it easy to find auto shops and landscapers in Oregon that excel in pollution prevention. Use the EcoBiz website to find an Eco-Logical Business. Benefits for businesses that become EcoBiz-certified include free technical assistance, cost savings through process changes, and promotions through the EcoBiz website, brochures and events. The EcoBiz Certification Program is sponsored by the Pollution Prevention Outreach Group, comprised of Oregon DEQ, the Northwest Automotive Trades Association, Association of Professional Landscape Designers, Oregon Environmental Council and various city and county governments across Oregon. For more information about EcoBiz-certified businesses, go to www.ecobiz.org.

Sending this quarterly newsletter electronically rather than in hard copy format saves about 67,000 sheets of paper a year. This equals an estimated 17 million BTUs of energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 2.1 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (240 gallons of gasoline).  Please don’t print this newsletter unless necessary.

To unsubscribe or edit your account click here.

This e-mail was sent to you by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality in partnership with GovDelivery · 811 SW 6th Avenue · Portland OR 97204 · 503-229-5696