Electric Utilities Waste Management Trend

The following graph shows the 10-year trend in quantities of TRI chemical waste that electric utility facilities managed, primarily through treatment or release. For more details on quantities released, toggle to the “Releases only” graph.

Note: For comparability, trend graphs include only those chemicals that were reportable to TRI for all years presented.

From 2011 to 2020:

• Quantities of waste managed decreased by 888 million pounds (-50%) since 2011, driven by reduced releases.
• Net electricity generation by electric utilities from coal and oil fuels decreased by 55% (as reported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration). Note that only facilities that combust coal or oil to generate electricity are covered under TRI reporting requirements.
  • Data from the Energy Information Administration indicate that the mix of energy sources for U.S. electricity generation has changed over time. Natural gas and renewable energy sources account for an increasing share of U.S. electricity generation, while coal-fired electricity generation has declined. Use of oil for electric power generation continues to contribute a small percentage of total U.S. electricity generation.

In 2020:

• Nearly three-quarters of the sector’s production-related waste generated was treated, while approximately one-quarter was released to the environment.
  • This contrasts with 2011, when over one-third of the waste from this sector was released into the environment. This trend is due in part to increased installation of air pollution control devices that destroy TRI-reportable chemicals.

Source Reduction in the Electric Utilities Sector:

In the electric utilities sector, 7 facilities (2% of the electric utility facilities reporting to TRI) initiated source reduction activities in 2020 to reduce their use of TRI chemicals and creation of wastes containing TRI chemicals. Some facilities reported process improvements to increase their efficiency, which may lead to reduced greenhouse gas emissions as well as reduced TRI chemical wastes.

To find more examples of electric utilities’ source reduction activities and the source reduction barriers they face, visit TRI’s P2 Search Tool.

EPA's Smart Sectors Program is partnering with this sector to develop sensible approaches to industrial operations that better protect the environment and public health.

The following graph shows the annual quantities of TRI chemicals released by electric utilities.

Note: For comparability, trend graphs include only those chemicals that were reportable to TRI for all years presented.

From 2011 to 2020:

• Releases from the electric utilities sector decreased by 392 million pounds (-63%). This decrease was driven by a 199-million pound (-77%) decrease in air releases and a 166-million pound (-58%) decrease in on-site land disposal. Surface water discharges and off-site disposal also decreased, but to a lesser extent.

From 2019 to 2020:

• Releases by electric utilities decreased by 62 million pounds (-22%), driven by reductions in on-site land disposal of barium compounds and reduced air releases of sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid.