Thurston County Environmental Health has conducted several voluntary technical assistance campaigns to help
Thurston County businesses understand and comply with the County's Nonpoint Source Pollution Ordinance, also known as
Article VI [PDF]. This ordinance requires businesses to
provide secondary containment for all hazardous liquids and to legally dispose or recycle hazardous materials.
To find out more about how the County's technical assistance visits work, see Technical Assistance Process or view one of the previous campaigns below:
Automotive Services
The Automotive Services campaign
focused on commonly generated wastes streams, which
include used oil, antifreeze, solvents, and
paint-related waste. Technologies that allow for the use of
non- or less-toxic cleaners were emphasized, as were
proper storage, disposal or recycling of waste
materials. Additionally, aqueous parts washers, spill prevention and secondary containment
were highlighted. For more information, please
see the following.
Auto Recyclers
This
campaign helped Thurston County auto recyclers become aware of seven hazardous materials (gas, oil, antifreeze, batteries, Freon, lead tire weights, and
residual liquid from crushing) contained in automobiles that should be removed from vehicles and reused, recycled, or disposed according to
regulations. The County developed options for each of these hazardous wastes with an emphasis on reuse and recycling. For additional information, see the following documents.
Dental Waste
This campaign helped Thurston County dentists become aware of potentially hazardous wastes that are generated by dental facilities, such as
silver-containing x-ray chemicals, scrap mercury amalgam, chair-side sink traps, and vacuum pump filters that contain heavy metals that must be managed properly. To find out more, visit the links below:
Furniture
This campaign helped County furniture manufacturing, repair, and finishing businesses become aware of the hazardous materials they use, offering
less-hazardous materials and processes in their operations. See the links below for more information:
Marinas
This campaign worked with Thurston County marinas in providing hazardous waste
collection bins along with gloves, containers, and labels so that boaters could label and deposit hazardous materials. For additional information, see the following documents.
Nurseries
This campaign helped Thurston County nurseries, including tree and turf farms, become aware of environmental and public health risks from improper
storage, use, or disposal of hazardous materials. The primary issues were disposal and secondary containment. To find out more, visit the links below:
Photographic
This campaign helped Thurston County photo developers become aware of the various hazardous wastes photo developing products, which must be managed
properly to protect the environment and worker health and safety. These hazardous chemicals must be disposed of by recycling or through a permitted hazardous waste management facility.
Printing
This campaign helped commercial printers in the County become aware of the wide variety of hazardous wastes their businesses generate and how to treat,
recycle, or dispose of them. For additional information, see the Commercial Printing Fact Sheet [PDF].
School Labs
This
campaign focused on Thurston County school labs, emphasizing chemical management, safety, purchasing, record keeping, and removal of high-risk
chemicals. To read about this campaign, visit the links below:
Small Engines
This
campaign helped Thurston County small engine repair shops become aware of proper handling of hazardous wastes and modify outdoor marine engine testing to
eliminate the release of environmental pollutants. To find out more, visit the following links:
X-Ray Processors
This county campaign raised awareness of proper handling of silver waste from X-rays, including disposal options (drop-off and pick-up services and on-site silver treatment). To find out more, visit the following links:
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