• Thurston County Hazardous Waste Program
  • Participates in the Pollution Prevention Partnership
    • Funded through the Department of Ecology
  • Provides free technical assistance to businesses generating, handling, or storing hazardous materials or waste
• Technical Assistance Visits
  • Aim to reduce or eliminate hazardous waste and pollutants at the source
  • Local pollution prevention specialists evaluate current activities and practices
  • Discuss concerns, observations, and solutions
  • Address challenges around dangerous wastes, stormwater, solid waste, and spill prevention
  • Collaborative process limits liability, reduces risk, and improves work environments
• Compliance Goals
  • Aim to bring businesses into compliance with Thurston County's Nonpoint Source Pollution Ordinance (Article VI of the Sanitary Code)
  • Provide resources for managing waste streams
    • If necessary, set up follow-up visits to address needed changes
  • Formal enforcement is not preferred for achieving compliance
• Notices Issued
  • Notice of Compliance (NOC)
    • Given when a business is compliant
    • Describes managed waste stream, monthly amount, and management methods
  • Notice of Non-Compliance (NONC)
    • Issued if not compliant at the conclusion of the visit
    • Details wastes or products that need addressing for compliance
• Business Feedback
  • Most businesses are pleased with visit outcomes due to free resources from the Dept. of Ecology 
  • Some may need to invest in pollution prevention equipment or supplies
  • Many are compliant before visits or can make simple changes to manage waste streams
• Further Information
  • Learn more about the Department of Ecology Pollution Prevention program

• Thurston County PHSS Environmental Health has developed many fact sheets for local businesses to use as a reference and to answer questions that may arise
  • We try to hand these fact sheets out at visits for free for educational purposes
  • You are welcome to download/print and use these for your businesses needs! 

Contact Ecology Southwest Region Spills 360-407-6300 or call 911.

To the best of your ability, please be ready with the following information:

• Where is the spill?
• What spilled?
• How much spilled?
• How concentrated is the spilled material?
• Who spilled the material?
• Is anyone cleaning up the spill?
• Are there resource damages (e.g. dead fish or oiled birds)?
• Who is reporting the spill? (This can be kept confidential if you choose)

Thurston County will assist citizens and real estate agents by providing information about contaminated properties. However, if you suspect that a property is currently being used as a illicit drug lab/storage site, please call the Thurston County Sheriff's non-emergency number at 360-704-2740.

Thurston County’s ordinance for contaminated properties from illegal drug manufacturing or storage.  Title 10; Chapter 10.92

Washington State regulations for contaminated properties. TItle 64; Chapter 64.44 RCW

Washington State regulations for decontamination of illegal drug manufacturing or storage sites Title 246; Chapter 246-205 WAC