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While it is our contention that in this day and age most facilities are engaged in some sort of P2 to reduce chemical use and waste production, as we reported in yesterday’s Advisor, only 16% of all TRI facilities reported their P2 activities for reporting year 2013. The EPA would like to up that percentage and is going to great lengths to hype the advantages to you for such reporting.
You be the judge. Is it worth your time and effort to compile the data and report your P2 activities? Is it helpful to you to see how other facilities are going about reducing emissions and other releases?
Meanwhile, we will offer you some tips should you decide to report your P2 efforts.
First, Consult the Waste Management Hierarchy
The federal Pollution Prevention Act established a waste management hierarchy to help waste generators consider the best options for managing wastes. The preferred option is to prevent pollution at its source, but for waste that is generated, the preferred management methods are recycling, followed by burning for energy recovery, treatment and, as a last resort, disposing of the waste.
- Source Reduction includes activities that eliminate or reduce the generation of chemical waste.
- Recycling includes the recovery of a toxic chemical in waste for reuse.
- Energy Recovery includes the combustion of toxic chemicals in waste to generate heat or electricity.
- Treatment includes the destruction of a toxic chemical in waste.
- Disposal or other releases includes toxic chemical quantities entering the environment.
Join us for the 2015 Toxic Release Inventory Report webinar on May 19 to learn the recent changes required by businesses when filing their TRI. Learn more.
Second, Fill Out the P2 Section on the TRI Report
The P2 section on the TRI report form (Form R, Section 8.11) is optional. However, since the main purpose of the TRI report is to let your community know about your toxic releases and your waste management activities, you might want to consider adding the good news. The bad and the ugly are going to be there—you don’t have a choice on that.
Filling out the P2 section is your opportunity to highlight your P2 activities. According to the EPA, details are important—the details help your community better understand the efforts you are taking to reduce your releases and waste production.
To take the best advantage of the exercise, follow these tips if you choose to fill out Section 8.11:
- Tip 1: Note which chemical(s) you have targeted for P2 activities.
- Tip 2: Describe what type(s) of P2 activities or technologies you adopted and why.
- Tip 3: Note which processes and products were affected. Especially note any safer chemical alternatives you used.
- Tip 4: Talk about the environmental benefits (e.g., realized or expected results) from specific P2 activities.
- Tip 5: Describe other benefits (e.g., cost savings, improved product quality, energy savings you derived from your P2 activities).
- Tip 6: Name outside organization(s) (if any) that provided assistance to you in your P2 efforts.
- Tip 7: Provide updates on P2 activities implemented in prior years.
- Tip 8: Provide links to company webpages where folks can go for more information.
Your 2015 Toxic Release Inventory Report: How to Meet Requirements by the July 1 Compliance Deadline
Determine how recent TRI reporting changes requirements affect your obligations when filing your TRI report. Register now!
We again invite you to be the judge. Is it worth your time and effort to compile the data and report your P2 activities? Is it helpful to you to see how other facilities are going about reducing emissions and other releases?