Source Reduction Activities by Chemical in the 2015 TRI National Analysis
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For the chemicals with the highest source reduction reporting rates over the last 5 years, this figure shows the types of activities implemented, and the percent change in the quantity of waste managed.
From 2011 to 2015:
- Chemicals with the highest source reduction reporting rate were: N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dichloromethane, trichloroethylene, di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, and decabromodiphenyl oxide.
- The type of source reduction activity implemented for these chemicals varies depending on their use in industrial operations and the chemical’s characteristics. For example:
- Raw material modification is commonly reported as a source reduction activity to reduce waste of di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer, and decabromodiphenyl oxide (decaBDE), a flame retardant. Many facilities report that they are in the process of replacing both chemicals with environmentally preferable alternatives.
- Cleaning and degreasing, including changing to aqueous cleaners, is implemented for common industrial solvents such as trichloroethylene (TCE), dichloromethane (DCM, also known as methylene chloride), and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP).
- The quantity of waste managed over the last 5 years decreased considerably for DCM, DEHP, and decaBDE. For the other chemicals shown in the figure, waste quantities have increased. While quantities of waste managed overall increased by 15% over this post-recession time period, the increases in quantities of NMP managed exceeded the average increase in quantity of chemical waste managed. Use of NMP expanded in recent years as a substitute for chlorinated solvents such as DCM.
Facilities may also report additional details to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program about their source reduction, recycling, or pollution control activities.
Examples of additional pollution prevention-related information for 2015:
- N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone: A motor vehicle parts manufacturer eliminated use of the chemical as a reducing solvent and when possible started using paints that do not contain N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. [Click to view facility details in the Pollution Prevention (P2) Tool]
- Dichloromethane: A pesticide manufacturer validated their rinse procedures to minimize the number of dichloromethane rinse cycles required. [Click to view facility details in the P2 Tool]
- Trichloroethylene: A fabricated metal manufacturer purchased a vacuum vapor degreasing system after evaluating its solvent usage, and they expect to eliminate use of trichloroethylene completely by the end of 2016. [Click to view facility details in the P2 Tool]
- Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate: A rubber product manufacturer has been replacing di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate with more environmentally friendly alternatives for its rubber formulations. [Click to view facility details in the P2 Tool]
- Decabromodiphenyl oxide: An adhesive manufacturer decreased their decabromodiphenyl oxide waste despite increased production after initiating a product reformulation that replaced the chemical. [Click to view facility details in the P2 Tool]
This page was published in January 2017 and uses the 2015 TRI National Analysis dataset made public in TRI Explorer in October 2016.