Release of Toxic Chemicals By Industry Rises 2.2%. The Wall
Street Journal, May 14, 1999, pA4.
According to data recently issued by the Environmental
Protection Agency, industry released 2.2% more toxic chemicals
into the environment in 1997 than in the previous year. This is
the first time that the amount of releases has increased for
years.
EPA officials blame the increase on the price of metal
recycling, which also increased in 1997. This resulted in more
metallic wastes being sent to landfills rather than being
recycled.
21,490 facilities are required to report their releases of
644 chemicals every year. In 1997 a total of 2.58 billion pounds
of toxic chemicals were released into the nation's air, water and
land.
Prior to the 1997 data, the amount of releases had been
steadily decreasing since 1988, the first year that reporting was
required. Releases of toxic chemicals have been cut by about 43%
since that time.
____________________________________
Peter Anderson
RecycleWorlds Consulting
4513 Vernon Blvd. Ste. 15
Madison, WI 53705-4964
Phone:(608) 231-1100/Fax: (608) 233-0011
E-mail:recycle@msn.fullfeed.com