At the 2023 Bee Jazzy stage, from L to R: Emily Matlock, Krystal Abrams, Mason Leavitt, Alyssa Rueda, Paige Hopkins, Arjorie Arberry-Baribeault, Teryn Yazdani, Jennifer Eisele, Lisa Arkin (on stage), Rayna Viles, and John Jordan-Cascade.
Beyond Toxics provides leadership to create a community-driven environmental justice movement for a thriving and just Oregon. We envision a society where everyone has equitable access to healthy food and clean air and water, and underserved communities are included in decision making processes that affect them. Together, we move beyond the damaging environmental practices of the past and collectively work to support and maintain ecological resilience and balance.
Governor Kotek: We need a special day set aside to honor native bees in Oregon!
Let's bring back Oregon Native Bee Conservation Day and protect our essential pollinators for thriving ecosystems! Sign the petition TODAY!
Photo by Sherrie Pelsma
Learn more about What You Can Do to Save Bees (PDF)
Chef Mason enjoys cooking in his kitchen. Photo by Emily Matlock.
From Culinary Luxury to Silent Threat: The Dark Side of Gas Appliances
A blog by Mason Leavitt, Beyond Toxics GIS and Spatial Data Coordinator
Photos of FLIR camera testing sessions by Emily Matlock
[While measuring emissions from my gas stove] I watched in horror as the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in my kitchen skyrocketed to levels considered dangerous for humans to breathe....I promptly opened all the windows and let in as much fresh air into the house as possible. I wondered, how is this amount of air pollution legally allowed inside people’s homes? | Read more
Read the Beyond Toxics Report: "Seeing is Believing: Visualizing Indoor Air Pollution from Gas Stoves" (PDF)
Learn more about the issue | Read: "Beyond Toxics releases report on potential environmental and health impacts of gas stoves" by Miranda Cyr, Register-Guard
Position Title: Environmental Justice Statewide Projects Manager for Beyond Toxics
Contract Status and Hours Distribution: Full-time: Exempt, salaried
Workstation at the Beyond Toxics Office, Eugene, Oregon
Reports to: Executive Director at Beyond Toxics
Location: The position is based at the Eugene office and requires a minimum of three days per week in office combined with remote work.
Start Date: We will be reviewing applications this summer until the position is filled.
UPDATE:
Governor Kotek has signed a crucial package of climate bills--that included our Natural Climate Solutions bill (SB 530)--and is now the law!
LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES!
SB 530 Natural Climate Solutions - Gov. Kotek has signed this bill into law!
SB 530, Natural Climate Solutions, passed both the House and the Senate and is headed for the Governor's desk as part of a larger package of climate solution legislation: the “Climate Resilience Package” (HB 3409 & HB 3630)! This comprehensive package brings together and provides $90 million in funding for more than a dozen priority bills related to climate action. We await the governor's signature for this package of bills to become law. Read more details about the legislation passed.
AND...
SB 488 Medical Waste Incinerator - Gov. Kotek signed this bill into law Aug. 7th!
The Oregon State Senate and House both passed Senate Bill 488! SB 488, a bill to cap and monitor toxic emissions from waste incineration, passed both the Senate and House. The bill now moves to the Governor's desk to be signed into law. Beyond Toxics, an Oregon environmental justice organization, is the primary advocate, leading a coalition of groups concerned about waste incineration for more than four years.
SB 488 will require Covanta Marion, a large municipal waste incinerator located northeast of Salem, to deploy continuous emissions monitoring for the most hazardous chemicals known to harm human health and the environment. In addition, medical waste incineration, which produces the most dioxin, will be capped at 18,000 tons/year. DETAILS
...and a LOSS!
SB 426 Toxic Free Schools
Beyond Toxics is sad to announce the shocking news that SB 426, the Toxic Free Schools bill failed to advance past the Joint Ways and Means Committee. We remain baffled by the failure of legislators to pass this bill! Toxic Free Schools had met every criteria to be a top priority for passage. We thank you for all of the outstanding and compelling oral and written testimonies at all public hearings this session! You all spoke so passionately and inspired many Oregon legislators to ramp up their efforts to protect children's health!
Read our 2023 Legislative Agenda page for more information
about the 3 bills we supported and which passed!
ALSO: See the other bills we supported in the 2023 legislative session.
In The News
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