EPA Shares Annual Toxics Release Inventory Report & Analysis

March 2, 2018

The 2016 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis is now live. Conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this annual report is available to the public, allowing you to see firsthand that industrial facilities are working to lower their output of TRI chemicals by engaging in pollution reduction activities.

Established by Congress, the TRI was created to make sure every community in the U.S. has access to data on the chemicals being handled and released at local facilities. On an annual basis, facilities in a variety of sectors — i.e., mining, manufacturing, electric power generation, and commercial hazardous waste management — provide information detailing how chemical waste is managed, released, and reduced.

Take a look at some of the key findings for 2016.

10 Highlights From the 2016 TRI National Analysis

Here’s a few interesting facts from the report:

  • A total of 21,600 facilities in all 50 states reported data.
  • Releases to the environment have decreased by 21% since 2006.
  • Still, TRI facilities reported 3.4 billion pounds of releases into the air, water, and, land.
  • The volume of releases was similar to 2015.
  • Land disposal, mostly from metal mining, totaled 66% of releases.
  • From 2006 to 2016, air releases declined by 58%.
  • Virtually every sector has lowered its air releases since 2006, but the electric utilities sector has realized the largest decline, which is largely credited to the switch from coal to alternative fuel sources.
  • Nearly 5,900 new source reduction activities were instituted at TRI facilities in 2016, which eliminated or reduced the production of chemical waste.
  • Impressively, 87% of the TRI chemical waste managed by these facilities was not discharged into the environment.
  • Releases by manufacturing facilities have decreased by 27% since 2006, largely due to a reduction in air emissions and off-site disposal.

These facts are from a national level, but it’s also wise to know what’s going on in your local area. Take a look at the report for yourself to find out what facilities in your community are releasing into the environment.

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