As Oregon deals with the wildfire smoke that has become so familiar over the last decade, we should reflect on the quality of our air. Earlier in 2026, the Eugene-Springfield area was ranked 2nd for the worst short term particle pollution in the U.S. by the American Lung Association. In early August, Portland was temporarily ranked worst air quality of any city on the globe due to wildfire smoke. As our state continues to experience worsening air quality and wildfire seasons, the last thing we should do is continue adding harmful emissions to our air.

News Source : https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2026/08/readers-respond-food-waste-contributes-to-climate-disaster.html