Do waste management firms in Oregon disproportionately affect low-income minorities?

Session: (In-Person) Oral Panel—Diversity and Analysis, Poster Presentation

History has shown us that low-income minorities often bear the brunt end of the stick for health, income-mobility, and education. Though in recent times these disparities are narrowing, there is still much to be done. Past research in other states has demonstrated that low-income minorities are disproportionately affected by environmental racism through pollution cause by firms. These quiet literal dirty economies have directly resulted in lower-quality healthcare, lower education rates, and lack of socio-economic mobility for minorities. With the ongoing exacerbating effects of the pandemic, it is crucial to analyze how these marginalized people are being effected to implement protective policy. Currently, there exists no data examining if there is a relationship between Oregon waste management firms and the communities they’re surrounded by. We will be utilizing economic regression models to examine past data regarding income, health, and education rates around the communities waste management firms in Oregon reside. This will assist us in determining the potential adverse effects they face as a result—higher health defects, lower income and graduation rates. If previous investigations are any indicator, we should expect to find there is a negative relationship for communities geographically close to these firms. These findings will add to the national conversation surrounding environmental racism and reaffirm past exploration.