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Beauty of the Bee Results Are IN
Once again we have received numerous, incredible photos during our annual Beauty of the Bee photography contest! We are excited to share the winning photos with you!
Pollute, Dispute and Scoot!
Aerial view of JH Baxter creosote factory in West Eugene. When J.H. Baxter shut down in January 2022, the community heralded a new era of cleaner air and more livable neighborhoods. This creosote chemical company polluted both nearby communities and its own workers for seven decades. The day after the plant ceased operations, nearby neighbors…
Ask City For Change To Prevent More Baxter-Like Pollution Issues Now Facing West Eugene
(this article was originally published as an opinion editorial in the May 15th edition of the Eugene Register-Guard) For over 50 years, J.H. Baxter operated a wood treatment facility in West Eugene where wood products are infused with potent oil-based pesticides and chemical treatments. In recent months, J.H. Baxter, facing large civil penalties and an…
How Baby Foods Might be Damaging Your Baby’s Brain
As elements with a higher density than water, heavy metals occur naturally in the environment. However, while some are beneficial for our health, such as zinc and iron, others can wreak havoc on our nervous system. Four of the most dangerous heavy metals are arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury [1]. Shockingly, these heavy metals can…
New Law Lets Homeowners Opt-Out of Pesticides
Many Oregon homeowners in Homeowner Associations (HOAs) are concerned about landscape contractors spraying pesticides on their property. Oregon House Bill 2409, which became effective January 1, 2022, fixes this problem. However, Oregonians may still be unaware of this new law and how it affects them. It applies to homeowners in HOAs whose association maintains the…
Farmworker Overtime Bill and its Potential Protective Health Outcomes
The Oregon Legislative 2022 session has come to an end with the successful passage of the high-profile Farmworker Overtime Bill, HB 4002, now awaiting Governor Brown’s signature. More than 900 testimonies were submitted to the House Committee of Business and Labor and another 520 testimonies were submitted to the Joint Committee on Farmworker over time,…
Dorris Ranch Orchard: New Season, New Start
Dorris Ranch is a popular public park in Springfield and one of my favorite places to walk trails through a historic orchard and along the Willamette River. Although I have seen people picking blackberries and foraging for other edible plants and fungi in the forest near the orchard, I have never given much thought to…
Public Pressure Brings Down Polluting Giant
Laurie (left), a West Eugene neighbor, holds her daughter, Savannah in her arms. Standing beside them is her long-time friend Arjorie Arberry-Baribeault, the West Eugene Community Organizer for Beyond Toxics. Photo by Lisa Arkin. On Friday afternoon, I went with two other Beyond Toxics staff members to stand across the street from the JH Baxter…
Time to celebrate Oregon’s climate action success!
Did you hear the BIG news? On December 16th, 2021, the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission voted 3-1 in favor of establishing the Department of Environmental Quality’s new Climate Protection Program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels used in Oregon. Beginning in 2022, this program will help secure a healthy climate future, invest in…
Oregon Department of Forestry’s “Social License” for Aerial Spray Has Expired
Photo of Nehalem Bay, Oregon (above) by Don Best Beyond Toxics continues to stand up for Oregon’s forests, watersheds, and communities. Keep reading to see how we’re moving the mark on pesticide use in Oregon’s state forest lands. Tank Mixes on State Forest Lands At the September 8, 2021, Board of Forestry meeting, we presented…