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Toxicity ! Persistence Context: Human-made chemicals are used in agriculture, health care, · Nearly all custodial chemicals used by Facilities are manufacturing, construction and many other important applica- certified by Green Seal, an independent organization that tions. Government and industry have tested only a few hundred of sets standards for and certifies a wide variety of environ- the estimated 70,000 chemicals in common use in the United mentally sound products. States for health impacts, and many of those are linked to health · Used computer equipment is disposed of by the following and environmental problems. The most persistent chemicals methods, depending on its usefulness: endure years beyond their use and often collect in the food chain. · Sale at auction for reuse, What's happening: · Donation to non-profit organizations for reuse, or · Since 1989, Parks Maintenance has actively managed · Given to organizations that remanufacture equipment chemicals according to its Integrated Pest Management and properly dispose of or recycle rest. Plan (IPM). Examples of how this works are: What's next: · In 2002, on the 548 acres of Eugene parkland, the City · A centralized chemical tracking system for Parks and Open used less than 13 gallons of non-persistent spot herbicides. This comes to approximately 3 ounces of Space is up and running. This system will track all pesticide herbicide per acre. applications bythe department and will eventually be expanded city-wide and will include fertilizer applications. · Since 1989, onlythree Iow-toxicity insecticide applications have been made at all buttwo ofthe City's · The City's pools are its largest chemical users. Unfortu- parks. At the other two parks, Hendricks and the Rose nately, every chemical used is required by state and local Garden, the specialized plants require a higher level of health codes. The City needs to work with health officials tc maintenance against pests, find an alternative to chemically intensive water treatment in pools. Solid waste / recycling Context: What's next: Eugene, like elsewhere, has experienced a long-term upward · The City will seek to determine its operations' recycling rate trend in the amount of solid waste generated. Although we so that a baseline can be set and improvements measured. produce waste like most other communities, our residential This involves gathering information on city-wide operations recycling rate is among the highest in the country. Recycling to discover the total amount of waste generated and the lessens our burden not just on landfills and trash collection percentage recycled. systems, but also on virgin resources. Additionally, recycling and · Implement the recommendations from the All Associates re-use industries are a growing piece of economic development. Group's report on reducing paper use in City operations. What's happening: · 90% of the material from the teardown of the former Agripac site was recovered for reuse with support from BRING ~oooo Recycling. 8000 · The City's Leaf Composting Program generates 1,500-3,000 cubic yards of compost a year from leaves collected from 6000 city streets. The graph at right shows the amount of leaves collected each 4000 year before composting. The dramatic reduction in leaves collected in 2003 is due to an increase in homeowner and 2000 Community Garden requests. 0 7999 2000 2OOl 2002 2003