EPA Toxics Release Inventory : Waste to Energy & Recycling Prevents 9.5mt of Toxic Chemicals Entering Environment in US
The use of preferred waste management practices such recycling and energy recovery prevented the release into the environment of 84% of the 25 billion pounds (11.3 million metric tonnes) of toxic chemical waste managed at the U.S. industrial facilities according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) report.
However, the agency said that the remaining 16% was released to the air, water or placed in some type of land disposal. Most of these releases were said to be subject to a variety of regulatory requirements designed to limit human and environmental harm.
The EPA explained that TRI data are submitted annually to EPA, states, and tribes by facilities in industry sectors such as manufacturing, metal mining, electric utilities, and commercial hazardous waste.
Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), facilities must report their toxic chemical releases for the prior year to EPA by July 1 of each year. The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 also requires facilities to submit information on pollution prevention and other waste management activities related to TRI chemicals.
The 2014 TRI data show a 6% decrease in total disposal or other releases to the environment from 2013 to 2014. Notably, air releases from industrial facilities decreased by 4% during this period, said to be mainly due to decreases from chemical manufacturing facilities and electric utilities. Releases to the atmosphere have decreased 55% since 2003.
"2016 marks the 30th anniversary of the Toxics Release Inventory, a program that has given people unprecedented access to information about what toxic chemicals are being used and released in their neighbourhoods, and what companies are doing to prevent pollution,” said Ann Dunkin, EPA’s chief information officer. “TRI data continue to be an essential part of informed decision-making by citizens, communities, industries, and local governments.”
The agency added that this year the TRI report is available on its own dedicated website, giving users easier access to key information, including analyses and interactive maps showing data at a state, county, city, and zip code level.
Other new features of this year’s analysis include integrated demographic information, profiles of federal facilities and the automotive manufacturing sector, and a discussion forum where users can share feedback about the report.
More information can be found HERE
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