OREGON MEDICAL WASTE INCINERATION ACT – SB 488

SB 488 is a bill to cap and monitor toxic emissions from waste incineration, passed both the Senate and House. SB 488 requires 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.

Beyond Toxics led a coalition of groups concerned about waste incineration for more than four years.  With the passage of SB 488, Oregon leads the nation in promoting increased understanding, monitoring and regulating of the highly hazardous pollution created when plastics, petroleum products, industrial waste and other materials are burned.