Publication Summary

What are the current and projected future hazardous substance use and hazardous waste generation rates and trends? How has listing of wastes and regulatory changes impacted those trends? Is Ecology gathering the right information about toxics and public health threats in order to ensure that our priorities are set appropriately, according to degree of risk? What changes do we need to make in this area to move toward the Beyond Waste vision? How can Ecology use this information to inform others about public health, environmental problems, and progress, or lack thereof, toward Sustainability?

One of eight issue papers prepared by Ecology staff in developing strategic plans to help move Washington in a new direction: a society in which waste is seen as an inefficient use of resources and many wastes have been eliminated, which will contribute to social and economic vitality and environmental quality.