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  2. Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program

Look Inside a TRI Facility

This webpage shows a fictional facility that manufactures rubber products. Click on the numbers in the graphic for examples of how three TRI-covered chemicals are used, managed, and released into the environment at this facility.

See a text version of the interactive content on this page:  Text Description of TRI Facility Diagram (pdf) (49.6 KB)

Raw Material Storage

Illustration of raw materials storage at the fictional facility.

This facility keeps the raw materials used to make rubber products in a storage room. These raw materials include zinc compounds, lead compounds and oils containing Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds (PACs), which are used to improve the chemical characteristics of the rubber products. Chemicals are sometimes spilled when materials are transferred from the storage room for use in a process at the facility. For example, opening a bag that stores zinc compounds can cause dust containing the zinc compounds to enter the air and then settle onto the floor. To clean spills, the floors are mopped and wastewater containing the zinc compound dust is washed down a drain that feeds into a pipe leading to a POTW (a waste water treatment facility). TRI facilities report this as a transfer to a POTW.

Note that water discharges from this facility are routed to two different locations: wastewater collected in indoor drains flows to a POTW where it’s treated prior to release into the environment, while stormwater collected in drains in the parking lot flows directly to surface waters (see #6).

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Mixing

Illustration of mixing processes at the fictional facility.

This facility combines raw materials (rubber, oils, and chemical additives) in large mixers under high heat and pressure (2a). Zinc compounds, lead, and oils containing PACs are added to change the chemical characteristics of the rubber. Gases containing these chemicals are produced during mixing. These gases are collected in a fume hood above the mixer, then routed through a pollution control device designed to capture the chemicals and prevent their release to the environment. Gases that are not successfully captured by the device are released to the air outside the facility through a smokestack (2b). TRI facilities report this as a stack air release.

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Cutting

Illustration of cutting processes at the fictional facility.

This facility cuts large sheets of rubber into smaller pieces that can be molded into rubber products. As the rubber is cut, tiny particles containing PACs enter the air inside the facility. Air carrying these particles then flows outside of the facility through doors and windows, and the PACs are released into the environment. TRI facilities report this as a fugitive air release.

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Curing

Illustration of curing processes at a fictional facility.

This facility cures rubber under heat and pressure in molds. Curing gives rubber products their final shape and changes the chemical composition of the rubber to make it elastic. After curing, any off-spec rubber products, including those containing lead compounds, zinc compounds and PACs, are transferred off-site to a waste management company for recycling. TRI facilities report this as an off-site transfer.

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Product Storage

Illustration of product storage at the fictional facility.

This facility packages and ships finished rubber products for sale to consumers. The rubber in these products still contains lead compounds, zinc compounds and PACs, but the quantities of chemicals contained in these products are not reported to TRI. TRI does not contain information on the quantities of chemicals contained in products that are sold to consumers.

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Storm Drain

Illustration of surface water discharges occurring at a storm drain at the fictional facility.

At this facility, lead compounds, zinc compounds, and PACs sometimes spill onto the ground as raw materials are unloaded from delivery trucks and as wastes are loaded onto trucks. Rain washing over these spills carries the chemicals into storm drains and through pipes that discharge them into a local waterbody (e.g., a river). TRI facilities report this as a surface water discharge.

Note that water discharges from this facility are routed to two different locations: wastewater collected in indoor drains flows to a POTW where it is treated prior to being released into the environment (see #1), while stormwater collected in drains in the parking lot flows directly into surface waters.

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Illustration of a manufacturing facility with different areas/processes indicated by numbers.

Illustration of raw materials storage at the fictional facility.Illustration of mixing processes at the fictional facility.Illustration of mixing processes at the fictional facility.Illustration of cutting processes at the fictional facility.Illustration of curing processes at a fictional facility.Illustration of product storage at the fictional facility.Illustration of surface water discharges occurring at a storm drain at the fictional facility.

About this Webpage

The diagram shown above illustrates an example of a facility that meets TRI reporting requirements, including how and where TRI chemicals are used at the facility. The diagram is not intended to represent exactly what happens at every TRI facility, as chemicals and processes vary across facilities and industry sectors.

Please note that definitions of TRI terms on this webpage have been simplified for educational purposes and should not be relied upon to determine a facility’s TRI reporting obligations. See the TRI Reporting Forms and Instructions for extensive reporting guidance.

Finally, please also note that this diagram only encompasses information that relates to TRI reporting and doesn’t reflect if or how this facility is regulated by other EPA programs.

Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program

  • What is TRI?
    • Covered Chemicals
    • Covered Industry Sectors
    • Data Quality
  • Reporting for Facilities
    • Guidance (GuideME)
    • Reporting Software (TRI-MEweb)
    • Laws & Regulatory Activities
    • Enforcement
  • TRI Data & Tools
  • Pollution Prevention
    • Guide to Using TRI Data to Reduce Pollution in Your Community
    • P2 Analyses
    • P2 Resources
  • TRI Data in Action
    • Data Uses Catalog
    • TRI for Communities
    • TRI for Advocacy Organizations
    • TRI for Researchers
    • TRI for the Press
    • TRI for Industry
    • TRI for Government
    • TRI for Tribes
    • What You Can Do
  • TRI Site Map
TRI Program Contacts
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on September 13, 2024
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