Source Reduction Activities by Chemical and Industry

Source Reduction Activities by Chemical

This figure shows the number of source reduction activities for the chemicals with the highest source reduction reporting rates over the last five years by the type of activity.

Note: 1) Limited to chemicals with at least 100 reports of source reduction activities from 2018 to 2022. 2) In this figure, antimony is combined with antimony compounds, although metals and compounds of the same metal are listed separately on the TRI list. 3) Facilities report their source reduction activities by selecting from a list of 24 codes that describe their activities. These codes fall into one of five categories listed in the graph legend and are defined in the TRI Reporting Forms and Instructions.

From 2018 to 2022:

• Facilities reported 16,462 source reduction activities for more than 240 chemicals and chemical categories.
• Chemicals with the highest source reduction reporting rates included styrene, n-butyl alcohol, antimony, methyl isobutyl ketone, and dichloromethane.
• The types of source reduction activities implemented for these chemicals vary depending on the chemicals’ characteristics and how they are used. For example:
  • Process and Equipment Modifications, including optimizing reaction conditions and modifying equipment, layout, or piping, can help reduce the amount of solvents such as n-butyl alcohol, needed for a process.
  • Material Substitutions and Modifications include the use of alternative materials in the manufacturing process, such as replacing styrene, a chemical used to make plastics, and replacing antimony compounds, which are used as a component of flame retardants, batteries, and electronics.

Facilities may also report additional details about their source reduction activities in an optional text field of the TRI reporting form.

Examples of optional source reduction information for 2022:

• Styrene: A plastics plumbing fixture manufacturer improved operating temperatures by shifting employees’ casting schedules, which reduced the amount of styrene managed as waste. [Click to view facility details in the TRI P2 Search Tool]
• Antimony: An electronic connector manufacturing facility reduced the amount of antimony compounds managed as waste by replacing old equipment with newer and more efficient equipment. [Click to view facility details in the TRI P2 Search Tool]
• Methyl isobutyl ketone: An automobile manufacturer changed to a purge solvent with lower volatile organic compound (VOC) content, reducing the amount of methyl isobutyl ketone managed as waste. [Click to view facility details in the TRI P2 Search Tool]

You can compare facilities’ waste management methods and trends for any TRI chemical by using the TRI P2 Search Tool.

Source Reduction Activities by Industry

This figure shows the number of source reduction activities reported by the industries with the highest source reduction reporting rates over the last five years.

Note: 1) Limited to industries with at least 100 source reduction activities reported from 2018 to 2022. 2) Facilities report their source reduction activities by selecting from a list of 24 codes that describe their activities. These codes fall into one of five categories listed in the graph legend and are defined in the TRI Reporting Forms and Instructions.

From 2018 to 2022:

• The five industry sectors with the highest source reduction reporting rates were plastics and rubber products manufacturing, computers and electronic products manufacturing, furniture manufacturing, miscellaneous manufacturing, and printing.
• For most sectors, Process and Equipment Modifications were the most frequently reported types of source reduction activity. Other commonly reported source reduction activities varied by sector. For example, computers and electronic products manufacturers frequently reported Material Substitutions and Modifications, often associated with the elimination of lead-based solder.

Facilities may also report additional details on source reduction activities to TRI, as shown in the following examples.

Examples of optional source reduction information for 2022:

• Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing: In 2020, a rubber product manufacturer began testing alternative manufacturing aids to reduce the usage of TRI-reportable chemicals. The facility has since eliminated the use of ammonia as a manufacturing aid in a dipping process. [Click to view facility details in the TRI P2 Search Tool]
• Computers and Electronic Products Manufacturing: An optical communication device manufacturing facility increased bath life which reduced chemical drains containing N-methyl-2-pyrrolidine waste. [Click to view facility details in the TRI P2 Search Tool]
• Furniture Manufacturing: A wood cabinet manufacturer reduced its use of n-butyl alcohol by installing a new flat line finishing system that is recognized in the industry as state of the art technology. [Click to view facility details in the TRI P2 Search Tool]

You can view all reported pollution prevention activities and compare facilities’ waste management methods and trends for any TRI chemical by using the TRI P2 Search Tool.

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This page was published in March 2024 and uses the 2022 TRI National Analysis dataset made public in TRI Explorer in October 2023.