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~ Education <br />Problem Summary <br />EDUCATION <br />The cost of generating waste is ultimately borne by everyone. In order to make sound <br />purchasing and business decisions, people must be made aware of the social, environmental <br />and economic impacts of our "throw-away" society. These include such things as the short- <br />and long-term costs of disposal, effects on natural resource availability and conservation, as <br />well as national and international business competition.. In addition, business and industry <br />will require a workforce with the knowledge and technical skills to implement effective waste <br />reduction measures. <br />Objective 1 <br />Develop education programs and materials that promote an understanding of the <br />environmental impact of the manufacture and use of products and packaging and the true <br />cost of disposal. <br />Strategies: A. Enable consumers to communicate to manufacturers <br />and businesses their product and packaging preferences. <br />o Responsible Party: Department of Environmental Quality <br />o Resource: Local Govemments <br />• Timeline: First Third <br />B. Develop consumer guides for "environmentally sound" <br />purchasing choices. <br />o Responsible Party: Department of Environmental Quality <br />• Resources: Manufacturers, Retailers, Scientific Community <br />o Timeline: First Third <br />C. Develop "material-specific" public education <br />campaigns to target specific materials and/or markets <br />and other activities that promote waste prevention and recycling. <br />• Responsible Party: Deparhnent of Environmental Quality, Local Govemments <br />o Resonrces: Business, Manufacturers, Retailers <br />• Timeline: First Third <br />14 <br />Education ~ <br />D. Participate with other states in labeling program initiatives to <br />ensure consistency in labeling policy and requirements for <br />national consistency. <br />e Responsible Party: Department of Environmental Quality <br />• Resources: Manufacturers, Environmental Groups, Scientific Community <br />• Timeline: As appropriate <br />E. Provide technical assistance to local governments to incorporate <br />waste prevention and reuse education into their recycling <br />programs. - <br />• Responsible Party: Department of Environmental Quality <br />• Resource: Local Governments <br />• Timeline: First Third <br />F. Provide information on waste prevention, recycling and residual <br />disposal to businesses located in or relocating to Oregon. <br />• Responsible Party: Local Governments <br />• Resource: Department of Environmental Quality, Economic Development <br />Department <br />• Timeline: First Third <br />G. Establish a local recognition and award program for businesses, <br />manufacturers, institutions and government agencies which <br />incorporate waste prevention into their operation practices. <br />• Responsible Party: Department of Environmental Quality <br />Resources: Chamber of Commerce, Local Governments <br />• Timeline: First Third <br />Objective 2 <br />Expand curricula in primary and secondary levels of education that include waste <br />prevention and reuse. <br />Strategies: A. Develop and make available comprehensive solid waste <br />curricula for primary and secondary schools that provide a <br />15 <br />