Toxics Use and Hazardous Waste Reduction (TUHWR)  

Oregon’s Toxics Use and Hazardous Waste Reduction (TUHWR) Act of 1989 was one of the first laws in the nation to mandate pollution prevention planning. In 2005, the Governor signed the TUHWR law passing the most significant changes since 1989.

The three groups of businesses that must comply with this new law are:

• Federal Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reporters submitting a Form A and/or R;
• Large quantity hazardous waste generators; and
• Small quantity hazardous waste generators.

Notice: Conditionally-exempt small quantity generators may, but not required to, join the TUHWR program.

For those businesses that must comply, there are four major requirements:

1. Develop a Reduction Plan or an environmental management system (EMS) with the 10 required elements;
2. Submit a Notice of Plan Completion or EMS Completion electronically;
3. Submit two Implementation Summaries electronically;
4. Update Reduction Plan or EMS when changes occur and keep it on site.

Resources

• TUHWR Training schedule PDF
• Oregon’s 2005 TUHWR Act PDF
  Summarizes requirements under the newly-revised Act that relate to facility planning and reporting. Find out whether the Act affects you!
• Getting technical assistance
  Technical assistance information and DEQ staff to help you.
• Online clearinghouse (under construction)
  The searchable, information system will house the Implementation Summaries that businesses submit. This system will include pollution prevention success stories and tips on how to further reduce toxics and hazardous wastes.
• Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 465.003 to 465.037
  The TUHWR law is in Oregon Laws 2005 effective June 9, 2005.
• Oregon’s toxics use and hazardous waste reduction rules
  Oregon Administrative Rules 340-135-0000 through 340-135-0110 effective August 15, 2006.
• TUHWR Program Comparison PDF
  See a side-by side comparison between the old and new program requirements. Most helpful to businesses in the pre-2005 program.
• TUHWR Requirements PDF
  Ten most commonly asked questions about the requirements.

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