The move from hazardous waste management to pollution prevention is viewed as a paradigm shift in American industry. Pollution prevention involves source reduction to reduce the amount of hazardous waste that is generated, and recycling of those wastes that cannot be prevented within the production process. The first piece of federal pollution prevention legislation was enacted in 1990. Subsequently, six states have passed similar laws that require industries producing hazardous waste to shift to less polluting practices. The Oregon Toxics Use Reduction and Hazardous Waste Reduction Act of 1989 requires businesses to develop and implement a hazardous waste reduction plan that reduces not only the amount of hazardous waste generated, but also the type and amount of materials classified as "toxic". Within the geographical region of Oregon, California, Washington, Alaska, and Idaho, only four studies exist that have researched waste reduction opportunities in the automobile industry. The purpose of this study was: 1) to determine the number of Small Quantity Hazardous Waste Generators within the Oregon automobile dealership industry, 2) to determine the amount of used radiator coolant and used crankcase oil that is generated by Oregon dealerships (two waste streams that are not being tracked by the regulatory community), 3) to compare the waste disposal practices of urban and rural facilities, and 4) to develop a "Model" Toxics Use Reduction and Hazardous Waste Reduction Plan to be used in regional training sessions. Based on a 74% rate of return (160 out of 215 dealerships), the results indicated that the gross quantities of the materials investigated (solvents, used oil, and used antifreeze) were greater in urban dealerships. These differences were not significant when quantities of material were standardized to the number of repair orders written. Urban dealerships generate 0.462 gallons of used oil per repair order written and rural dealerships generate 0.481 gallons. Urban dealerships also generate 0.209 pounds of hazardous waste for each repair order while rural dealerships generate 0.412 pounds. The data were used to develop a "Model" Toxics Use Reduction and Hazardous Waste Reduction Plan for this industry. The plan, which was published by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), provides dealerships and the entire automobile repair industry with a step by step guideline to comply with Oregon law in reducing the amount of toxic materials used and hazardous waste generated. / Graduation date: 1994

Current evidence suggests that development and industrialization has engendered the manufacture and use of chemical products which may harm human health and degrade the environment. One of the most pressing environmental needs since World War II is perhaps the issue of how society either manages or mismanages hazardous wastes. The purpose of this study was to assess current management and disposal practices among Small Quantity Generators (SQG) and Conditionally Exempt Generators (CEG) in Benton County, Oregon. Study objectives included identification of the number of registered and nonregistered SQGs and CEGs, identification of the types of businesses, estimation of the quantities of hazardous wastes produced and used, and assessment of current levels of awareness among generators of hazardous wastes of pertinent regulations and safe environmental practices. A survey instrument was used to collect data during in-person interviews with representatives from a total of 48 businesses in Benton County. Findings indicated that the majority of both the registered (70%) and nonregistered (72.2%) businesses performed cleaning and degreasing activities at their business locations. Other activities, in order of importance, included fabrication, retail sales, manufacturing, and painting. With respect to the types of wastes produced or used, the majority of the respondents indicated the production or use of waste oils and aqueous liquids. Similarly, the majority of registered businesses (96.7%) indicated that they provided employee training in hazardous waste management. Asked to identify their method of disposal, both SQG and CEG respondents listed return to supplier, recycle on-site, treatment, storage and disposal facilities, garbage/landfills, evaporation, and sales of wastes, in order of importance, as their preferred method of disposal. Most of the respondents indicated that their principal recycled wastes were solvents and oils, followed by refrigerated gases and other products. The study also considered the influence of state and federal laws and regulations as applied to hazardous wastes, and whether or not these administrative rules created a problem for Benton County businesses. In contrast to prior studies which have indicated that among most businesses federal and state laws and regulations were regarded as too complex and inflexible, or who complained that lack of access to information or lack of time to remain informed served as significant constraints upon their ability to comply, the majority of Benton County businesses indicated "no problem" with the administrative rules. The conclusion of the study was that an overall comparison of Benton County SQGs and CEGs does not provide clear and convincing evidence that nonregistered businesses, by virtue of the regulatory exemption, practice illegal hazardous waste disposal and management procedures to a greater degree than the more fully regulated registered business. / Graduation date: 1993

Every year, the United States produces at least 236 million metric tons of hazardous waste. Hazardous waste is defined as solid waste that can pose a substantial threat to human health and the environment when disposed of incorrectly. Some commonly used household products, when disposed of, become hazardous waste; historically, much of this household hazardous waste (HHW) has been disposed of into systems not designed to safely handle hazardous waste. One solution to this disposal problem is providing safe disposal systems for household hazardous waste in the community. The purpose of this study was to survey the population of Benton County, OR to assess the residents' HHW disposal practices, attitudes and beliefs about HHW as an environmental health risk, and preferences for a safe disposal system. Benton County residents' awareness of the current community program for recycling used household items was also investigated. This study indicated that incorrect disposal methods were used by the majority of subjects for almost all HHW surveyed, and that for nonautomotive HHW, landfilling was the most common means of disposal. The majority of subjects in this study disposed of used motor oil and lead-acid batteries by recycling these HHW. A permanent collection site for HHW disposal was the preferred disposal option for 62% of subjects, and 100% of those subjects choosing this option said they would drive up to 5 miles to use this facility. This study indicates that the largest number of subjects preferred the option of paying a user fee for HHW disposal as a means of funding a HHW disposal system. Three-fourths of the subjects reported a high or moderate amount of concern about the contribution of HHW to pollution of surface and groundwater, and 68% of the subjects stated that they lacked confidence in the landfill to safely contain chemical wastes. Approximately one-half of the subjects recalled reading or hearing about HHW disposal in the past year, and 62% of the subjects stated that they would call their garbage disposal company for HHW disposal information. The results of this study indicate that 90% of the Benton County residents surveyed were aware of their curbside recycling program. This study suggests that Benton County residents are concerned about the possible adverse environmental health effects of incorrect HHW disposal, and supports a permanent collection site for the safe disposal of HHW, as well as increased public education, as means of reducing the risks to human health and the environment caused by incorrect HHW disposal. / Graduation date: 1992