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
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/36811 |
| Date | 13 January 1993 |
| Creators | Gebrewold, Fetene |
| Contributors | Lawson, David C. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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