The waste management hierarchy emphasizes the preferred waste management techniques that facilities can utilize to reduce the quantities of toxic chemicals they release or otherwise manage as waste. For example, some facilities may be able to completely eliminate all releases of Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reportable chemicals while still managing other production-related waste. These “zero releasers” are able to do so by implementing a variety of alternative waste management techniques. An example of a facility that followed the waste management hierarchy and no longer releases certain chemicals is shown below. This example illustrates one of the many ways that facilities can improve current pollution prevention and waste management practices. Find additional examples for chemicals or sectors by using the TRI Pollution Prevention (P2) Search Tool.

Schick Manufacturing Inc. (owned by Edgewell Personal Care Co.) manufactures razor blades. In 2012, the facility implemented a new process change that would eliminate the generation of chromium releases by allowing more material to be recycled, while also reducing use of energy, water, and other chemicals. By 2013, releases of chromium had been reduced to zero and all chromium waste results from recycling stainless steel scrap off-site.

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This page was published in January 2017 and uses the 2015 TRI National Analysis dataset made public in TRI Explorer in October 2016.

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