Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) 2016 National Analysis
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
THIS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY presents an overview of the most recent Toxics Release
Inventory (TRI) data, and summarizes the detailed information found at EPA's TRI National
Analysis website.
TRI provides data on chemical releases
Congress established the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) to ensure that every community is
empowered with access to information on what chemicals are being handled and released
at nearby facilities. TRI is a publicly available database with web-based tools that allow any-
one to retrieve the data and conduct their own analyses. Information on chemical wastes
managed, environmental releases of chemicals, and activities that reduce waste generation
is submitted to EPA annually by U.S. facilities in industry sectors such as mining, manufactur-
ing, electric power generation, and commercial hazardous waste management.
The TRI National Analysis is EPA's presentation of the most recent
data
The National Analysis is part of EPA's commitment to transparency and enhances public
understanding of the environmental challenges here in the U.S. by:
Summarizing reported data on chemical releases and trends
Providing interactive tools that support access to and exploration of TRI data
21,600 facilities located in every state reported to TRI for 2016
Facilities have until July 1 of each year to submit data from the previous year. These data
then undergo quality reviews by EPA and the reporting facilities. The 2016 data are now
ready to explore.
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Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) 2016 National Analysis
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Since 2006, releases to the environment have decreased by 21%
For 2016, TRI facilities reported 3.4 billion pounds of releases to air, water, and land
Releases were similar to quantities reported last year, but 21% less than releases report-
ed for 2006.
Land disposal, largely from metal mining, accounted for 66% of releases.
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Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) 2016 National Analysis
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On-site Air Releases
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2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
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¦ Fugitive Air Emissions ¦ Stack Air Emissions
TRI facilities implemented nearly 5,900 new source reduction activities
in 2016 that eliminated or reduced the generation of chemical waste
Source reduction success stories presented in the National Analysis highlight effective
practices that other facilities can replicate. EPA's TRI Pollution Prevention Search Tool
promotes these opportunities for knowledge transfer by allowing users to search for
source reduction activities that might be relevant to their operations.
The figures summarize the most frequently reported source reduction activities for the
chemicals and industry sectors with the highest source reduction reporting rates over
the last 5 years. For these chemicals and industries, good operating practices and pro-
cess modifications account for almost one-half of reported source reduction activities.
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Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) 2016 National Analysis
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Newly Implemented Source Reduction Activities by Chemical, 2012-2016
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Newly Implemented Source Reduction Activities by Industry, 2012-2016
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Good Operating Practices
Raw Material Modifications
Cleaning and Degreasing
Process Modifications Spill and Leak Prevention
1 Inventory Control HI Product Modifications
Surface Preparation and Finishing
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Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) 2016 National Analysis
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
87% of the TRI chemical waste that facilities managed was not released
into the environment
In addition to quantities released, facilities report the quantities of TRI-Iisted chemicals
that they manage through recycling, energy recovery, or treatment.
EPA encourages facilities to first eliminate the creation of chemical waste through source
reduction activities. For wastes that are generated, the most preferred management
method is recycling, followed by burning for energy recovery, treatment, and, as a last
resort, disposing of or otherwise releasing the chemical waste into the environment.
This hierarchy is discussed in the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) of 1990. One goal of the
PPA is that over time facilities will shift toward the more preferred techniques.
Facilities continue to use these preferred practices
to manage most (87%) of TRI-reported waste, with
only 13% disposed or of otherwise released to the
environment in 2016.
Production-Related Waste Managed, 2016
27.80 billion pounds
Energy Recovery: 11 %
Treated: 32%
Disposed of or
Otherwise Released:
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Recycled: 44 %
Each year, the TRI National Analysis examines key industry sectors
Since 2006, releases by manufacturing facilities decreased by 27%. This is primarily due
to a reduction in air emissions and off-site disposal.
Since 2010, released have remained steady even as production has increased following
the economic recession.
Manufacturing facilities reported initiating more than 5,000 source reduction activities
to reduce TRI chemical use and waste generation in 2016.
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Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) 2016 National Analysis
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Total Disposal or Other Releases: Manufacturing Sectors
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On-site Air Releases
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On-site Surface Water Discharges
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2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Year
TRI data is used for analyses by communities, researchers, and
government
TRI data are analyzed on their own, or used in conjunction with other data to provide a
more complete picture of a chemical's lifecycle.
For example, the TRI National Analysis shows how TRI waste generation data can be
combined with chemical manufacturing data from another EPA reporting program -
Chemical Data Reporting (CDR).
This example shows TRI and CDR data for one chemical: 1-bromopropane.
CDR and TRI Information for 1-Bromopropane
MANUFACTURE AND IMPORT
Production: 25.9 Million Pounds4
10 CDR sites
INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING AND USE
Volume Used: 25.9 Million Pounds*
138-393 CDR sites
CDR Industrial Processing and Use Scenarios:
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Use as an Intermediate
Processing into formulations
Processing into articles
Non-incorporative industrial Uses
Repackaging
COMMERCIALAND CONSUMER USES
On-site Off-site
Cleaning and furnishing care products
¦ Adhesives and sealants
¦ Electrical and electronic products
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Recycled
Used for Energy Recovery
91%
On-site
Off-site
68%
Air
Land Off-site
78%
7% 14%
322,000 Pounds
326,000 Pounds
^ 800,000 Pounds
Water
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