Toxics Use Reduction

Finding Safer Chemicals

Toxics Use Reduction is a systematic process that helps companies reduce toxic chemical use at the source rather than managing or treating the waste.

Planning

Avoid Regrettable Substitutions, Evaluate Safer Alternatives

Companies around the world use chemicals in a myriad of ways. TURI staff is committed to helping companies and communities identify safer, effective and affordable options to the current use of toxic chemicals.

Planning Process

Training

TURI provides training for toxics use reduction, resource conservation, and environmental management systems. Take advantage of the many training sessions that will help your company reduce toxics and conserve resources. Although many of these trainings were developed for Toxics Use Reduction (TUR) Planners, anyone interested in these topics is welcome to participate.

Courses, Webinars and Conferences

Videos: Companies Reduce Toxics

Hear Directly from Companies

Certified Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction (TUR) Planners

River Street Metal Finishing Reduces Use of Sulfuric Acid

Track Record of Success

Companies Reduce Toxics Use by 234 Million Pounds

In the US large quantity users of listed toxic chemicals must report on associated releases annually through the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). More than 400 Massachusetts manufacturers additionally report on how those toxic chemicals are used. The TURA Data online tool pulls data reported to MassDEP by these companies. This important right-to-know information includes company use, byproduct and release trends by facility, community, and industry sector, and provides valuable insights that can be extrapolated beyond Massachusetts borders. The reductions shown in the graphic are for facilities in the 2007 Core Group, which includes all categories and chemicals that were subject to TURA reporting from 2007 to 2019, at the same reporting threshold.

Massachusetts TURA Data

Innovative Policies Encourage the Use of Safer Chemicals

Toxics Use Reduction Act of 1989

By reducing use of toxics at the source we avoid potential human and environmental exposures to the associated hazards, thereby preventing the risk of harm and the potential liabilities associated with that harm. The planning requirement was one of the novel innovations in source reduction pioneered by the landmark Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) when it became law in 1990. Traditional environmental regulations focus only on controlling emissions and releases of pollutants to the environment, TURA promoted preventive strategies - reducing the use of toxic chemicals and the generation of toxic waste before recycling, treatment, or disposal.

Chemicals and Policy