Pollution Prevention

Preventing pollution at the source offers critical opportunities to keep toxics out of the Columbia River. Do your part to advocate for pollution prevention and learn about personal choices to support clean water.

riparian zone illustration
Eating Salmon

Let’s explore what we know about toxics in Columbia River fish

Stopping pollution illustration of people questioning

The Columbia River, and the communities that depend on it, face serious threats from toxic pollution. Let’s explore what we know about toxics in Columbia River fish.

riparian zone illustration
Comer pescado

El río Columbia, y las comunidades que dependen de él, enfrentan serias amenazas por la contaminación tóxica.

Graphic of cars with skull and cross bones, coho salmon stormwater drains, and rain.
Tire Chemicals & Salmon

For decades, researchers have puzzled over an alarming phenomenon in Seattle-area streams in the Puget Sound: a large proportion of adult coho salmon die before they get the chance to spawn.

Graphic of car, cyclist, person walking a dog on a sunny day
Webinar: 3/2

“Driven to Extinction: Tire Chemicals and Salmon,” featuring Sean Dixon from Puget Soundkeeper Alliance and Dr. Jenifer McIntrye from Washington State University. 

graphic of a coho salmon with an "X" across it, and a skull and crossbones stamp.
El salmón y las llantas para autos

Durante décadas, los investigadores se han preocupado por un fenómeno alarmante en los arroyos del área de Seattle en Puget Sound: una gran proporción de salmones coho adultos mueren antes de tener la oportunidad de desovar.

Plastic Pollution Graphic in the River
Microplastics & the Columbia River: A Not So Tiny Problem
Graphic for Pollution Prevention Curriculum
Webinar: Microplastics & the Columbia River
A Not So Tiny Problem

Learn about microplastic pollution in the Columbia, how microplastics impact the river, and what we can do about it.

Plastic Pollution Graphic in the River
Microplásticos y el Río Columbia: Un problema no tan pequeño
home bodies
Help Keep the Columbia Clean without Leaving Home
Clean Water, hands in the Columbia
¡Ayuda a mantener limpio el Columbia sin siquiera salir del hogar!
Pipes
Don’t Dump Meds, Keep the Columbia Clean
water sampling
No Tires Medicamentos, Mantén Limpio el Columbia
Tips for Disposing of Unused Meds
Water quality monitoring along the Columbia River.
Encuentra una ubicación de devolución de medicamentos en tu comunidad.
Harmful algae blooms, photo credit oregon.gov
What are harmful algal blooms?
Algal blooms are overgrowths of algae or algae-like bacteria.  

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are algal blooms that produce dangerous toxins that can make people and pets sick.

HABs
What’s causing blooms on the Columbia River?

Nutrient pollution from fertilizer, animal manure, wastewater, detergents, stormwater, cars, power plants, and pet waste.

Warm water temperatures driven by climate change, hydroelectric dams, and other causes.

Slow-moving water caused by hydroelectric dams and climate change.

Harmful algae blooms, photo credit oregon.gov
¿Qué son las oraciones de algas nocivas?
Las oraciones de algas son crecimientos excesivos de algas o bacterias similares a las algas.

Las oraciones de algas nocivas (FAN) son oraciones de algas que producen toxinas peligrosas que pueden enfermar a las personas y a los animales domésticos.

 

On February 24, 2021, Dr. Arlene Blum, Executive Director with the Green Science Policy Institute, spoke about the harmful chemicals found in household items, how they end up in the river, their impacts, and what you can do. Miss the event? Check on the recorded webinar here and share it with your friends:

Learn more about the Columbia River Water Quality

 

Don't Flush Meds

Tips to Get Rid of Meds, Keep Columbia Clean

A growing body of science shows pharmaceuticals are reaching the Columbia River. How? Pharmaceuticals enter the Columbia through human excretion, when people flush drugs down the toilet, and from livestock operations. Unfortunately many pharmaceuticals pass through wastewater treatment plants and wind up in the Columbia.

Don’t flush your meds! Find a drug take-back location in your community. Live in Washington state? Residents can request a free prepaid envelope, put the unused medication in the envelope and mail the package as if it were a regular package.

Washington State
  • Click here to find a dropbox in your community.
Oregon
  • Click here to find a dropbox in your community.
Cheat Sheet 

Skim the list below to find a selection of drop-box locations in your community. We recommend you double-check these locations still accept unused pharmaceuticals before making the trip.

  • Astoria: 
    • Astoria Police Department: 555 30th St.
    • Columbia Memorial Hospital: 2111 Exchange St.
  • St. Helens:
    • St.Helens Police Department: 150 S.13th St.
  • Longview:
    • Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office: 312 SW 1st Ave. Ste. 233
    • Rite Aid Pharmacy: 364 Triangle Shopping Center
  • Kelso:
    • Kelso Police Dept.: 201 S Pacific Ave.
    • Rite Aid Pharmacy: 230 Kelso Dr.
  • The Dalles:
    • The Dalles Police Department: 401 Court St.
    • Mid-Columbia Medical Center: 1800 E 9th St.
  • Hood River:
    • Hood River Sheriff’s Department: 309 State St.
    • Providence Health and Services: 810 12th St.
  • White Salmon:
    • Hi-School Pharmacy: 291 E Jewett Blvd.
    • Skyline Hospital Pharmacy: 211 Skyline Dr.
  • Stevenson: 
    • Skamania County Sheriff’s Office: 200 Vancouver Ave.
    • Wind River Pharmacy: 280 SW 2nd St.
  • Kennewick:
    • Rite Aid Pharmacy: 1901 N Steptoe St.
    • Rite Aid Pharmacy: 101 N Ely St.
    • Tri-Cities Community Health: 721 S Auburn St.
  • Pasco:
    • Tri-Cities Community Health: 515 W Court St.
    • Rite Aid Pharmacy: 1308 N 20th Ave.
  • Richland:
    • West Richland Police Department: 3805 Van Giesen St.
    • Rite Aid Pharmacy: 1549 George Washington Way
    • Tri-Cities Community Health Pharmacy: 915 Goethals Dr.
    • Rite Aid Pharmacy: 1329 Lee Blvd.
  • Vancouver:
    • Kaiser Permanente Orchards Pharmacy: 7101 NE 137th Ave.
    • Kaiser Permanente Salmon Creek Pharmacy: 14406 NE 20th Ave.
    • Kaiser Permanente Cascade Park Pharmacy: 12607 SE Mill Plain Blvd.
    • Rite Aid Pharmacy: 2800 NE 162nd Ave.
    • Hi-School Pharmacy: 3200 NE 52nd St.
    • QFC Pharmacy: 3505 SE 192nd Ave.
    • Rite Aid Pharmacy: 13511 SE 3rd Way
    • Walgreens Pharmacy: 2100 NE 139th St.
    • Walgreens Pharmacy: 1905 SE 164th Ave.
    • Apothecary at Salmon Creek: 2121 NE 139th St. Ste 310
    • Sea Mar Community Health Center: 19005 SE 34th St.
  • Portland (*this list is not comprehensive; check the resources above for a location near you)
    • Apothecary at Good Samaritan: 1040 NW 22nd Ave.
    • CVS Pharmacy: 939 SW Morrison St.
    • Walgreens Pharmacy: 940 SE Cesar E Chavez Blvd.
    • Credena Health Pharmacy: 5050 NE Hoyt St. Ste. 142
    • Emanuel Hospital and Health Center Pharmacy: 2801 N Gantenbein Ave.

 


No Tires Medicamentos

Consejos para Deshacerse de Medicamentos, Mantener Limpio el Columbia

Un creciente grupo de ciencia ha mostrado que los productos farmacéuticos están llegando al Río Columbia. ¿Cómo? Los productos farmacéuticos entran al Columbia a través de la secreción humana, cuando la gente descarga drogas por el inodoro, y de las operaciones de ganadería. 

Desafortunadamente muchos productos farmacéuticos pasan a través de las plantas de tratamiento de aguas residuales y terminan en el Columbia.

¡No tires tus medicamentos por el inodoro! Encuentra una ubicación de devolución de medicamentos en tu comunidad. ¿Vives en el estado de Washington? Los residentes pueden solicitar un sobre gratuito y prepagado.  Coloca el medicamento sin utilizar en el sobre y manda el paquete por correo cómo si fuera un paquete regular.

Estado de Washington 
  • Haz click aquí para encontrar un buzón en tu comunidad.
Oregon
  • Haz click aquí para encontrar un buzón en tu comunidad.
Hoja de Referencia 

Revisa la lista a continuación para encontrar una selección de ubicaciones de buzones en tu comunidad. Recomendamos corroborar si estas ubicaciones aún aceptan productos farmacéuticos sin utilizar antes de acudir a las mismas.

  • Astoria: 
    • Astoria Police Department: 555 30th St.
    • Columbia Memorial Hospital: 2111 Exchange St.
  • St. Helens:
    • St.Helens Police Department: 150 S.13th St.
  • Longview:
    • Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office: 312 SW 1st Ave. Ste. 233
    • Rite Aid Pharmacy: 364 Triangle Shopping Center
  • Kelso:
    • Kelso Police Dept.: 201 S Pacific Ave.
    • Rite Aid Pharmacy: 230 Kelso Dr.
  • The Dalles:
    • The Dalles Police Department: 401 Court St.
    • Mid-Columbia Medical Center: 1800 E 9th St.
  • Hood River:
    • Hood River Sheriff’s Department: 309 State St.
    • Providence Health and Services: 810 12th St.
  • White Salmon:
    • Hi-School Pharmacy: 291 E Jewett Blvd.
    • Skyline Hospital Pharmacy: 211 Skyline Dr.
  • Stevenson: 
    • Skamania County Sheriff’s Office: 200 Vancouver Ave.
    • Wind River Pharmacy: 280 SW 2nd St.
  • Kennewick:
    • Rite Aid Pharmacy: 1901 N Steptoe St.
    • Rite Aid Pharmacy: 101 N Ely St.
    • Tri-Cities Community Health: 721 S Auburn St.
  • Pasco:
    • Tri-Cities Community Health: 515 W Court St.
    • Rite Aid Pharmacy: 1308 N 20th Ave.
  • Richland:
    • West Richland Police Department: 3805 Van Giesen St.
    • Rite Aid Pharmacy: 1549 George Washington Way
    • Tri-Cities Community Health Pharmacy: 915 Goethals Dr.
    • Rite Aid Pharmacy: 1329 Lee Blvd.
  • Vancouver:
    • Kaiser Permanente Orchards Pharmacy: 7101 NE 137th Ave.
    • Kaiser Permanente Salmon Creek Pharmacy: 14406 NE 20th Ave.
    • Kaiser Permanente Cascade Park Pharmacy: 12607 SE Mill Plain Blvd.
    • Rite Aid Pharmacy: 2800 NE 162nd Ave.
    • Hi-School Pharmacy: 3200 NE 52nd St.
    • QFC Pharmacy: 3505 SE 192nd Ave.
    • Rite Aid Pharmacy: 13511 SE 3rd Way
    • Walgreens Pharmacy: 2100 NE 139th St.
    • Walgreens Pharmacy: 1905 SE 164th Ave.
    • Apothecary at Salmon Creek: 2121 NE 139th St. Ste 310
    • Sea Mar Community Health Center: 19005 SE 34th St.
  • Portland (*this list is not comprehensive; check the resources above for a location near you)
    • Apothecary at Good Samaritan: 1040 NW 22nd Ave.
    • CVS Pharmacy: 939 SW Morrison St.
    • Walgreens Pharmacy: 940 SE Cesar E Chavez Blvd.
    • Credena Health Pharmacy: 5050 NE Hoyt St. Ste. 142
    • Emanuel Hospital and Health Center Pharmacy: 2801 N Gantenbein Ave.

We take polluters to court when the government turns its back on illegal pollution.