West Eugene Community Health
Polluting industries surround homes, schools and parks in West Eugene, causing disproportionate health impacts in nearby neighborhoods.
In West Eugene, 550,000 pounds of toxic emissions were released in 2019. This pollution - emitted in the 97402 zip code area - accounted for 96% of all the emissions released in the City of Eugene that year, and every year. Polluted air in West Eugene persists due to outdated zoning laws, housing built near pollution and weak air regulations. Air pollution is linked to heart ailments, lung disease, asthma attacks, cancer, and an overall reduction in life expectancy. These conditions have become the lived experience of the West Eugene community.
Projects
Bethel Clean Energy Project
Bethel Clean Energy Project is an innovative pilot initiative that makes clean energy technologies accessible to Bethel residents.
Polluter J.H. Baxter Has SHUT DOWN!
After years of organizing and fighting, notorious polluter J.H. Baxter was shut down in 2022 and became a National Superfund Site in 2025.
Why We Do The Work
An Environmental Justice podcast by Beyond Toxics Community Organizer Arjorie Arberry-Baribeault, covering the stories and experiences of West Eugene.
Justice for Trainsong
Beyond Toxics and the Trainsong neighbors will not stand by while our community is subjected to even more dangerous pollutants and disaster risks.
Victories
- POLLUTER JH BAXTER SHUTTING DOWN: Discovery of dioxin-contaminatED soil and intense pressure from Beyond Toxics and the West Eugene community leads to JH Baxter closing down.
- Initiated the Clear Lake Overlay Zone, a model local land use law that lifts up environmental justice, climate protection, and places restrictions on new heavy industry.
- Played a pivotal role in the adoption of Oregon’s Cleaner Air Oregon air quality regulations.
- Led the way to stop legislation seeking to give tax credits to carbon polluters and waste incinerators.
- Introduced toxics emissions reporting requirements that were adopted by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
- Successfully filed a complaint under the US EPA Civil Rights Office that required the local air regulatory agency to adopt environmental justice practices.
- Filed complaints that forced industrial polluters to clean up hazardous waste dump sites, stop surface water pollution and mitigate vapors from groundwater plumes.
