As time passed, they realized that they had to get at the source of these toxic problems if they were ever going to make any permanent progress. So they started thinking about how to prevent pollution. Now they have become experts in the subject, showing others how to get off the toxic treadmill. As this new report shows, local government agencies use toxics just the way private firms do. But it doesn't have to be this way.
Local governments can become leaders in reducing the use of toxic materials.
This is important, because a government that is addicted to toxics isn't in a very strong moral position to urge a private firm to clean up its act. We need farther-reaching solutions that reduce society's dependence on toxic chemicals. So EHC has developed a list of its own, based on toxicity to humans and damage to the environment. Reducing the use of toxic materials can pay off in many ways. Where they will do the job, soap and water are cheaper than toxic cleaning solutions.