Pollution Prevention (P2) and TRI
Under the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (PPA), the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program collects information to track industry progress in reducing chemical waste generation and moving towards safer waste management alternatives. Many facilities describe measures they have implemented to prevent pollution from chemicals and reduce the amount of chemicals entering the environment. As a result, TRI serves as a tool for identifying effective environmental practices and highlighting pollution prevention successes.
Access TRI's P2 Data
- Use the TRI P2 Search Tool to get info by industry sector, chemical, geography or parent company, and compare environmental performance.
- Use the TRI Toxics Tracker to explore TRI information and quickly filter by industry sector, type of source reduction activity, and other variables.
Learn About TRI P2 Resources
- Browse P2 analyses and publications for information on P2 opportunities and the benefits of implementing P2 at facilities.
- Browse TRI's collection of P2 resources, including factsheets, videos, tips for reporting P2 activities to TRI, and how-to guidance for conducting analyses with the TRI P2 Search Tool.
In 2024, 1,681 facilities (8% of all facilities that reported to TRI) implemented a combined 3,405 new source reduction activities. Click on the legend or graph to see examples of source reduction activities. Reported codes are included in parentheses.
P2 Examples
The S codes in parentheses following each example represent a type of source reduction activity. Refer to Appendix A of the P2 Reporting Guide for an explanation of the S codes.
Process and Equipment Modifications
- An electroplating facility increased production efficiency and reduced chemical dragout by using longer dwell times in process tanks, and reduced evaporation by improving temperature control. (S21)
- An iron and steel tube manufacturer invested in a new laser cutting machine which reduced the scrap generated. (S23)
Operating Practices and Training
- An ice cream manufacturer implemented a changeover matrix to optimize product sequencing to minimize cleaning and sanitization processes that use nitric acid. (S42)
- A plastics plumbing fixture manufacturer monitors material usage and coaches spray operators weekly on techniques to reduce the materials used in producing their fiberglass reinforced tubs. (S44)
Inventory and Material Management
- A wiring device manufacturer improved inventory labeling so that large metal scraps and remaining materials are reused more efficiently, reducing waste. (S31)
- A printed circuit board manufacturing facility reduced its inventory to ensure that products are used prior to expiration dates. (S35)
Material Substitutions and Modifications
- A semiconductor manufacturer tested and implemented an alternative to a process that required using N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). The facility reported that it had phased out the use of bulk NMP in its process. (S03)
- A resin compounding facility identified a higher purity raw material which has lower concentrations of hexachlorobenzene, a contaminant, than the previous raw material used. (S05)
Product Modifications
- A coating products manufacturing facility reformulated a product to remove lead while still retaining product performance characteristics for the required specifications. (S11)
- An electrical equipment manufacturer removed ribs and other design elements of a product so that it can be manufactured using less material. (S12)