Toxics Release Inventory

Production-Related Waste Managed by Industry-2015 TRI chart

Toxics Release Inventory

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) is a publicly accessible database in the United States that contains information on the disposal and other releases of over 650 toxic chemicals from thousands of U.S. facilities. The TRI was established under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986 and is managed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

History

The TRI was created in response to the Bhopal disaster in 1984, where a gas leak at a pesticide plant in India resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries. This incident highlighted the need for greater transparency and public access to information about chemical hazards. The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act was enacted to help communities plan for chemical emergencies and to provide the public with information about potential chemical hazards in their areas.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the TRI is to inform the public and government officials about the presence and release of toxic chemicals in their communities. This information can be used to:

• Support environmental and public health research.
• Assist in the development of regulations and policies.
• Encourage facilities to reduce their releases of toxic chemicals through pollution prevention measures.

Reporting Requirements

Facilities that meet certain criteria are required to report their releases of toxic chemicals to the TRI. These criteria include:

• The facility must be in a specific industry sector, such as manufacturing, mining, or electric utilities.
• The facility must have 10 or more full-time employees.
• The facility must manufacture, process, or otherwise use a TRI-listed chemical above certain threshold quantities.

Facilities must submit their TRI reports annually to the EPA, which then makes the data available to the public through the TRI website and other means.

Data and Access

The TRI database includes information on:

• The quantities of toxic chemicals released to the air, water, and land.
• The quantities of toxic chemicals managed through recycling, energy recovery, and treatment.
• The quantities of toxic chemicals transferred off-site for disposal or other management.

The TRI data can be accessed through the EPA's TRI website, which provides tools for searching, analyzing, and visualizing the data. The data is also used by researchers, policymakers, and community groups to assess environmental and public health risks and to track progress in reducing toxic chemical releases.

Impact

Since its inception, the TRI has had a significant impact on reducing the release of toxic chemicals in the United States. Many facilities have implemented pollution prevention measures and improved their environmental performance as a result of the public scrutiny and regulatory pressure associated with the TRI. The TRI has also increased public awareness of chemical hazards and has empowered communities to take action to protect their health and environment.

See Also

• Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
• United States Environmental Protection Agency
• Pollution prevention
• Bhopal disaster