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 Governor's Exectuive Order: Green Chemistry

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 Toxics Reduction Strategy

To address toxic pollutants in Oregon, DEQ has developed a Toxics Reduction Strategy.  The strategy includes 25 actions to reduce and assess toxics in Oregon, including five priority actions identified for short-term (2012-13) implementation. The following documents describe the strategy: (1) A summary of the strategy (2) More detailed descriptions the strategy’s toxics reduction and assessment action. (3) summary of the five priority actions for short-term implementation (2012-13)

• Summary of Toxics Reduction Strategy Nov. 2012 
  
  

• Descriptions of Toxics Reduction Actions Nov. 2012

  • Original draft with modifications

    
    

• Five Priority Actions for short term implementation (2012-13)

DEQ takes an integrated approach to reducing toxic chemicals and pollutants in the environment. This 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.

Governor's Exectuive Order: Green Chemistry

In April 2012, Gov. John Kitzhaber signed a “green chemistry” executive order that fosters environmentally friendly purchasing and product design 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 is also working with the state Department of Administrative Services to devise new guidelines that will ensure the purchase and use of less-toxic products by state agencies.

Additional Toxics Reduction Strategy Documents

AAdditional information on DEQ’s Toxics Focus List and existing toxics programs are found in the following documents:

• Detailed DEQ Toxics Focus List 

•  Source Lists for the DEQ Focus List

•  Summary of existing DEQ toxics-related programs 

Links to DEQ Toxics Reduction and Assessment Programs

Air Toxics		Geographically Focused Programs
Air Toxics Program Burning and Smoke      Clean Diesel 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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