Section 5: Releases by Industry

Economic Trend and Releases for the Manufacturing Sector

It is also important to consider the influence that production and the economy have on the disposal or other releases of chemicals into the environment. This figure presents the trend in total disposal or other releases by the manufacturing sector and the trend in the manufacturing sector’s value added (as shown by the solid line). This figure illustrates how changes in production levels at TRI facilities may influence releases. “Value added” from the Bureau of Economic Analysis is used as a proxy for production levels for the manufacturing sector. Value added measures the contribution of manufacturing to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which represents the total value of goods and services produced annually in the United States. The manufacturing sector includes most TRI facilities (89% in 2013), including chemical manufacturers, metals processing, and pulp and paper manufacturing. Excluded facilities include mines, electric utilities, and waste management facilities.

From 2003 to 2013, total disposal or other releases by the manufacturing sector decreased by 25%, while value added by the manufacturing sector (adjusted for inflation) decreased by only 4%. This suggests that other factors besides production may be contributing to declining releases. Possible other factors include installation of new pollution control measures and the implementation of source reduction activities.

More information on production trends for individual sectors, including additional non-manufacturing sectors, can be found in the industry sector profiles.

This page was published in January 2015 and uses the 2013 TRI National Analysis dataset made public in TRI Explorer in October 2014.