Spring/Summer 2025 Newsletter
Celebrating 25 Years in 2025
At Beyond Toxics, we have a long history of empowering communities to build an environmental justice movement across Oregon. What evolved from our roots as Oregon Toxics Alliance, working to stop aerial pesticide spraying, has blossomed into the environmental justice organization we are today. After 25 years, we have a proven track record of passing impactful local and statewide policies for a thriving Oregon. We’re proud of the work we’ve accomplished, but the fight for justice is never ending.
As the organization enters a new chapter with the retirement of longtime Executive Director Lisa Arkin, we are deeply grateful for her vision and foundational leadership, which has positioned Beyond Toxics for continued success. As always, we will continue to use research and facts to inform legislative action and inspire community activism to tackle ongoing and emerging challenges of the future.
We’re honored to serve this community and excited for continued growth. Our team is expanding–not only are we welcoming a new Executive Director and new staff members this summer, we’re building our volunteer base and internship programs as well. Now is the time to get involved. Whether you’re interested in engaging with your community, wanting an internship, or interested in becoming a first-time donor and member, we encourage you to reach out. No matter what, we still need you to succeed in this work.
In transitional or uncertain times, we’re stronger together. Please join us in continuing the fight for environmental justice across the state. Thank you for your years of advocacy and support, and we look forward to celebrating the next 25 years and beyond with you!
Signed, the BT Team
Staff News & Updates
Congratulations on Your Promotions!
Krystal Abrams
Programs Director
We’re delighted to announce Krystal’s new role as Program Director! Since joining the team in 2016, she’s been inspired by the passion and dedication of our advocates, researchers, educators, and community leaders—all united for environmental and climate justice. Krystal is excited to take on new challenges and help drive our movement forward across Oregon. Thank you for being part of this journey with us!
Emily Matlock
Communications Manager
We’re thrilled to announce that Emily is stepping into the role of Communications Manager! With a journalism degree from the University of Oregon and three years of dedicated service at Beyond Toxics, Emily has already made her mark as our Membership and Communications Coordinator—connecting with members at events like Bee Jazzy and powering our outreach efforts. She’s eager to keep sharing the inspiring stories of the people and programs that drive our mission forward.
Welcome to the Team!
Joe Campbell
Environmental Justice Communications Associate
Joe joined Beyond Toxics in February 2025, bringing fresh energy from Minneapolis to Eugene. With a strong background in community nonprofits and organic foods, he’s delighted to dive into environmental justice work. Since coming on board, Joe has been lighting up our online presence and social media channels. Outside the office, you’ll catch him climbing, backpacking, snowboarding, or editing photos at a favorite local coffee shop.
What's New with Waste Management
Community members attend a Benton County Planning Commission meeting to oppose the landfill expansion
Waste management is a hidden driver of climate pollution—and we’re taking action! Our latest report reveals that private landfills are skipping methane monitoring on nearly half of their sites, letting dangerous emissions slip by. That’s why we championed Senate Bill 726, pushing for tougher landfill methane tracking, which is on its way to be signed by Governor Tina Kotek!
We’re also standing strong with local partners to stop the proposed Coffin Butte Landfill expansion, rallying thousands of voices against more pollution. And thanks to our advocacy, Oregon’s biggest waste incinerator remains closed, keeping our air clean and our climate safe.
Together, we’re making waste work for—not against—our communities and our state.
Oregon’s Secret Climate Killers: Our new report, published in March 2025, provides an analysis on how landfill operators monitor methane emissions and report findings to the state. We found that privately owned landfills are omitting nearly 50% of the landfill from reporting, leaving a huge gap in emissions monitoring and leak mitigation.
Coffin Butte Expansion Opposition: Benton County is holding public hearings for the proposed landfill expansion. Local grassroots group Valley Neighbors for Environmental Quality and Safety (VNEQS), in partnership with Beyond Toxics, garnered thousands of testimonies in opposition of the expansion. This is grassroots organizing at its finest! A decision will be made late July.
Preserving Senate Bill 488: In 2023, we advocated for SB 488, which required continuous emissions monitoring at Oregon solid waste incinerators. Rather than comply with this directive, ReWorld (formerly Covanta) announced the closure of its facility in Brooks. Four bills were introduced this session to bring the incinerator back, and we fought to make sure none of these made it out of committee! Incineration is not a sustainable or safe solution to solid waste, and we are proud to keep Oregon on the right track to holistic waste solutions.
Legislative Updates
House Bill 2684: Toxic Free Schools
Our Toxic Free Schools initiative, which aims to protect school children from exposure to pesticides on school grounds, is finding success in the legislature. At the time of publication, the bill has successfully passed through the House and awaits a final decision in the Senate. This bill updates the original School Integrated Pest Management Law, passed in 2009. It mandates that Oregon schools update their IPM plans every five years and ensure these plans are accessible on district websites. It also includes school gardens as part of campus management plans. This approach prioritizes non-chemical pest control methods over low-impact pesticides to ensure a safe, healthy learning environment for school children across the state.
House Bill 2679: Pollinator and Wildlife Protection
The Pollinator and Wildlife Protection bill, which would have restricted neonicotinoid pesticides, unfortunately did not pass out of its committee this legislative session. This bill would have added Oregon to a list of 11 other states, including Washington and California, that restrict the sale of neonicotinoids to licensed applicators and limit residential uses. These highly systemic pesticides harm our pollinators but also impact birds and aquatic life. Neonicotinoids impact bees’ ability to navigate and reproduce, and have led to massive bee die-offs in recent years. The goal of this bill is to reduce its use near homes and gardens to protect wildlife and humans and support biodiversity. We plan to bring it back to the legislature in the future to ensure Oregon doesn’t fall behind its neighboring states in protecting pollinators!
Ecosystems and Communities Project Manager Jennifer Eisele during the Building Resilience Day at the Capitol this May
Buzzing with Excitement
This spring’s annual Bee City Eugene survey at Rasor Park was a true highlight—bringing together community, science, and Oregon’s amazing pollinators. We welcomed about 60 first graders for a hands-on bee adventure, thanks to our dedicated partners and volunteers. Together, we spotted mason bees, bumble bees, mining bees, and more, all thriving in this restored prairie.
Moments like watching kids light up as they discover native bees remind us why this work matters. Huge thanks to everyone who makes these events possible—your passion keeps Eugene buzzing! Stay tuned for more ways to join our pollinator efforts.
Here are just a few of the lovely native bee species we observed this May:
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Mason bees (Osmia spp.)
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Small carpenter bees (Ceratina and Ceratina acantha)
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Sweat bees (Halictus farinosus, H. tripartitus)
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Bumble bees (Bombus californicus, B. vosnesenskii, B. melanopygus)
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Mining bees (Andrena spp.)
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And even a Protosmia rubifloris and a bright red Nomada (cuckoo bee)!
Surveys provide a snapshot of the health of pollinators and their habitat, and it’s great to see budding environmentalists learn about and grow to love our bees.
Kids and adults alike exploring Rasor Park and learning about nature at our bee survey!
Crossbow® Herbicide Banned
After years of relentless advocacy by Beyond Toxics and our partners, the EPA has approved a new Crossbow® herbicide label that bans its use in residential settings nationwide and eliminates misleading “low volatility” claims. This victory means fewer toxic fumes and less property damage in neighborhoods—but it will take time for the new label to appear on store shelves as Oregon’s Department of Agriculture awaits updates from manufacturers.
Why is this so important?
Crossbow® is a potent, highly volatile herbicide, often sold at local retailers and used to control brush and blackberries. Its negligent use in residential areas has led to widespread property damage and serious health complaints, including headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Community reports and state investigations have linked Crossbow® drift to these harms, especially when used by untrained homeowners.
Our Impact
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We fielded statewide complaints about the dangers of Crossbow® and uncovered over 150 state investigations into its negligent use.
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Our policy advocacy—petitions, public records requests, and persistent dialogue with regulators—directly contributed to this new, stronger label restriction.
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We’re not stopping here! Beyond Toxics will keep monitoring incidents and pushing for enforcement to keep our communities safe.
Help us keep up the fight!
This win shows that grassroots advocacy works, but real change takes time and resources. Join us to keep efforts like this moving forward as a member today!
Bethel Clean Energy Project
BCEP Cohort 3 Participant"I couldn't have done any of this without this workshop... [It] gave me the courage to actually move forward to get a new heat pump."
We’ve just wrapped up our third round of the Bethel Clean Energy Project (BCEP), thus far helping 26 low-income Eugene households learn about—and access—clean energy upgrades for their homes. Thanks to our partnership with Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB), participants received free home energy assessments, expert guidance, and help securing rebates and zero-interest loans. So far, nine families have completed upgrades totaling $72,000, with most paying nothing out-of-pocket!
An additional 125 people joined our Weatherization Workshops, getting the tools they need to save energy and money in extreme weather. Many more are lined up for future upgrades as new funding becomes available.
This work is changing lives—participants say they couldn’t have made these improvements without BCEP. Thank you to our funders and partners for making clean energy accessible to those who need it most!
These nine clean energy upgrades through the Bethel Clean Energy Project will slash 234 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the lifetime of the project. Imagine the impact if every low-income household could access these upgrades—together, we’d make huge strides toward climate goals in Eugene and beyond! This is proof that community-powered solutions can drive real change.
J.H. Baxter & Public Health Standards Update
After decades of polluting West Eugene and dodging accountability, J.H. Baxter’s story hit a turning point this Earth Day. On April 22, the president and CEO Georgia Baxter-Krause was sentenced to 90 days in jail, followed by one year of supervised release. The company will also pay a total of $1.5 million in fines for federal environmental crimes—including illegally boiling off hazardous waste for at least 136 days and lying to regulators. The company faces five years of probation.
For residents, the sentence is bittersweet. Many community members watched in court, frustrated that decades of toxic pollution—linked to asthma, cancer, and more—resulted in just 90 days behind bars. Limited health data made it tough to prove the full extent of harm, but this sentence finally brings a measure of justice to West Eugene families.
What’s next? We’re pushing for stronger protection. Beyond Toxics is advocating for the City of Eugene to adopt Public Health Standards in local land use codes, building on our Public Health Overlay Zone proposal. These standards will help keep polluters away from homes and schools, protecting vulnerable communities from future harm.
This win shows what’s possible when communities demand accountability—let’s keep the momentum going for a healthier Eugene.
Staff and community members attended the J.H. Baxter hearing at the Federal Courthouse in Eugene
Arjorie Arberry-Baribeault, West Eugene Community Organizer"I have made myself look at the silver lining of this tragic situation. And there is one. We did something people said was impossible, we took down [...] a polluter with decades of violations, political protection, and deep pockets."
Join Us at Bee Jazzy!
Save the date for the 11th Annual Bee Jazzy!
Join the Beyond Toxics team at Silvan Ridge Winery on June 26 from 5:30-9 p.m. for a benefit concert to Save Oregon’s Bees! Join us for jazzy tunes, tasty wine, and a silent auction!
Buy your tickets NOW!
Don’t miss the fanciest and danciest event of the year. We can’t wait to see you! Get your tickets today at beejazzy.org & tell your friends!
Featuring performances by:
Halie Loren Jazz Quartet
Invisible Arts Project, featuring Beyond Toxics’ own Eric Richardson on bass
Brought to You By
Membership Matters
For 25 years, Beyond Toxics has been fighting for you. We’re tackling pollution and pesticides and advocating on behalf of legislation and policies that point us toward a resilient and just future.
We are committed to fighting for clean air, safe schools, and equitable clean energy access, because these are some of the areas where community inequity is the most apparent. We want to see Oregonians stay healthy and safe for generations to come.
For decades, our members have shown up for Beyond Toxics with support, resources, and inspiration so that we can stand up for under-resourced communities across the state. Thank you for everything you’ve done to get us here.
Today, we need your help to set us up for the next 25 years. By 2050, we envision an Oregon that rose to the challenges of the climate crisis because of our joint, forward-thinking efforts today. We envision an Oregon that embraces true, transformative environmental justice, for every community of people, flora, and fauna that call this state home.
Will you help us make this vision a reality?
Your contribution, especially if you choose to give monthly, gives us the foundation we need to continue and expand our work.
We are so grateful for your involvement in this crucial, timely work. Please join us in making a difference with your gift today.
Thank you so much for your support!
With gratitude,
The BT Team
Ways you can support our work:
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Give a meaningful summer donation
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Donate monthly
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Give appreciated stock
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Contribute through your IRA (for those 70 1/2 or older)
