Overview
Toxics use reduction is based on the concept of reducing or removing toxic chemicals at the source rather than managing or treating the waste.
By reducing or removing toxic chemicals from the process, businesses can reduce:
- production of toxic wastes,
- releases to the environment,
- worker, consumer, and community exposure, and
- risk of industrial accidents.
Businesses that learn to use toxics use reduction to their advantage can save money by improving efficiency.
The Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA)
The Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) definition of toxics use reduction:
“In-plant changes in production processes or raw materials that reduce, avoid, or eliminate the use of toxic or hazardous substances or generation of hazardous byproducts per unit of product, so as to reduce risks to the health of workers, consumers, or the environment, without shifting risks between workers, consumers, or the environment. TUR shall be achieved through any of the six defined techniques.”
In Massachusetts, the TURA program covers facilities in certain sectors that have 10 or more employees.
Covered facilities must report their use of certain listed toxic chemicals to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).These facilities must also submit Toxics Use Reduction Plans to MassDEP.
The following TUR techniques can be included in these Toxics Use Reduction Plans:
- Input substitution
- Production process modification
- Production process modernization
- Product reformulation
- Improvements in operations and maintenance
- Integral recycling of production material.