Taking Stock : Measuring Pollution Prevention in Illinois

Shapiro, Karen; Zinkl, Diana; Dierks, Angela

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/2038 Copy

Description

Title

Taking Stock : Measuring Pollution Prevention in Illinois

Author(s)

• Shapiro, Karen
• Zinkl, Diana
• Dierks, Angela

Contributor(s)

• Illinois Waste Management and Research Center (WMRC)
• Tellus Institute

Issue Date

1997

Keyword(s)

• Source reduction (Waste management) -- Illinois -- Measurement
• Waste minimization -- Illinois -- Measurement
• Pollution -- Illinois -- Measurement
• Printing industry -- Waste management (Source reduction)
• Printing industry -- Waste minimization
• Publishers and publishing -- Waste management (Source reduction)
• Publishers and publishing -- Waste minimization

Abstract

The goals of the Illinois Pollution Prevention Act of 1992 are to reduce disposal and release oftoxic or hazardous materials into the environment and encourage pollution prevention (P2) in Illinois. Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data filed yearly with.the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show that Illinois industries generated less production-related waste in 1993 than in 1991. Was this the result of P2, or was it the result of other factors, such as changes in production level? In order to gauge initial P2 progress in Illinois, Tellus Institute, with funding from the Illinois Waste Management and Research Center (WMRC), examined TRI data for two industries sectors-SIC 27, Printing and Publishing; and SIC 28, Chemicals and Allied Products. Both quantitative measures, such as total waste released, recycled or treated, and qualitative measures, such as number and type of source reduction activities, were used for assessing progress. Quantitative measures were normalized for production level to distinguish between progress due to explicit P2 efforts and progress due to other, unrelated factors such as changes in a company's product mix or output. A variety of production activity indicators were used to normalize TRI data for production: the Production Ratio/Activity Index from the TRI Form R, and employment, value added, value shipped, multifactor productivity index, and sectoral output data from the federal government. Results show some signs of progress in both industries, but as the study relies on only three years of TRI data, it is difficult to assess whether the data are truly reflective of long term trends. As additional years of data become available, the methodology developed in this study will be increasing useful for taking stock of P2 progress in Illinois.

Publisher

Illinois Waste Management and Research Center

Series/Report Name or Number

TR Series (Illinois Waste Management and Research Center) ; 026

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/2038

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