Reducing Toxics in Oregon 

Content on this page includes:

Toxics Reduction Strategy Links to DEQ Toxics Reduction and Assessment Programs What Can You Do?

Contact Information Toxics Stakeholder Group Community Involvement

Protecting Oregonians from the impacts of toxic pollutants is one of DEQ’s top priorities. Thousands of toxic chemicals are in products that individuals and businesses use daily. Old chemicals that may not be used today but are stored in homes, schools and businesses also pose risks. Whether used in their raw form or in products, these chemicals can be released into Oregon's air, water and land as toxic pollutants in a variety of ways. Once in the environment, toxic pollutants can adversely affect the health of people and other living organisms.

DEQ has air, land and water quality programs designed to prevent and reduce toxic pollutant releases as well as assess, clean up and reduce risks from toxics already in our environment. DEQ works with a diverse range of state and local agencies, businesses and community organizations to reduce toxics in Oregon’s environment.

In April 2012, Gov. John Kitzhaber signed a “green chemistry” executive order that fosters environmentally friendly purchasing and product design in an effort to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals around us. The order directs DEQ to coordinate a statewide toxics reduction strategy and work with other state agencies to build awareness in the business community about the economic, environmental and public health benefits of green chemistry. DEQ will also work with the state Department of Administrative Services to devise new guidelines that will ensure the purchase and use of less-toxic chemicals by state agencies, universities and businesses throughout Oregon, encompassing building materials, electronics, cleaning products and other items.

DEQ Toxics Reduction Strategy

DEQ takes an integrated approach to reducing toxic chemicals and pollutants in the environment. An integrated approach is essential because these chemicals can readily transfer from one part of the environment to another (as in the case of mercury, which can be released to the air, deposited on the land, and run off into water bodies). DEQ's Toxics Reduction Strategy focuses on:

• Making the most efficient use of agency resources by focusing on the highest-priority toxic chemicals in a coordinated way.
• Implementing actions that reduce toxics at their source whenever feasible.
• Establishing partnerships with other agencies and organizations to increase effective use of public and private resources.
• Using environmental outcome statistics to measure the effectiveness of strategy implementation where feasible.

DEQ completed a draft of its Toxics Reduction Strategy in December 2011. It hopes to finalize the strategy, after getting public input, in fall 2012. The strategy includes a Focus List of priority toxic chemicals and 25 actions to reduce and assess toxics in Oregon. The following two documents describe the strategy:(1) A short summary of draft toxics reduction and assessment actions, and (2) More detailed (1-2 page) descriptions of each of the draft actions.

• Summary of Draft Toxics Reduction Strategy Actions PDF 
• Descriptions of Draft Toxics Reduction Strategy Actions PDF 

DEQ shared its draft strategy with the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission at the commission’s December 2011 meeting to receive initial feedback and direction. DEQ now seeks public comment on the draft strategy. Interested persons are encouraged to provide comments on the strategy by July 30, 2012 through the email link below. You can also contact the individual listed at the bottom of this page for more information.

Email your comments

Additional information on DEQ’s Toxics Focus List and existing toxics programs can be found in the following documents:

• Detailed DEQ Toxics Focus List PDF
• Source Lists for the DEQ Focus List PDF
• Summary of existing DEQ toxics-related programs PDF

Links to DEQ Toxics Reduction and Assessment Programs

Air Toxics		Geographically Focused Programs
Air Toxics Program Burning and Smoke      Clean Diesel Mercury Controls at Ash Grove Cement Co. Woodstoves		Columbia River Toxics Reduction Portland Harbor Cleanup Portland Air Toxics Solutions Willamette Toxics Monitoring
Household		Water Toxics
Household Hazardous Waste Electronic Waste (E-Cycles) Product Stewardship Woodstoves		Drinking Water Protection Groundwater Protection Persistent Pollutants Water Quality Standards
Industry		Cleanup
Dry Cleaner Program Gasoline Vapor Recovery Oregon's Utility Mercury Rule PDF Toxics Use and Hazardous Waste Reduction Waste Prevention Strategy		Emergency Response Environmental Cleanup Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
Voluntary Partnerships
Pesticide Stewardship Partnerships Inter-Agency Water Quality Pesticide Management Team Eco-Logical Business Program

What Can You Do?

You can reduce your exposure to toxic pollutants and reduce the toxics you contribute to your environment. Here are some resources to get you started:

• Oregon E-Cycles – Information about free recycling of computers, monitors and TVs.
• Healthy Lawns, Healthy Families – Learn about natural alternatives for lawn and garden care.
• Household Hazardous Waste – How to identify, minimize and dispose of hazardous waste in your home.
• Oregon Dept of Human Services Environmental Public Health Toxicology Program – Information on environmental contaminants and ways to mitigate and/or prevent health risks to the public.
• Children's Health in the Home – Keeping kids safe at home, school and play. Hosted by the Oregon Dept of Human Services Environmental Toxicology Program.
• Household Products Database – General information about ingredients in household products. Hosted by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
• EPA Design for the Environment – A list of products that are good for the environment. Hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Contact Information

For more information about DEQ's agency-wide toxics reduction strategy, contact Kevin Masterson at 503-229-5615.

 

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