| This research examines the toxics-use reductions (TUR) and techniques of 60 Massachusetts manufacturers from 1991 through 1998. Studied were 2,621 cases of toxics use by 17 printed wiring board (SIC 3672) and 43 metals plating/polishing (SIC 3471) manufacturers, sampled from over 1000 facilities having conducted annual TUR (i.e., pollution prevention) planning and reporting under the 1990 Massachusetts TUR Act.; Facility-specific, socio-economic, and TUR panel data were compiled and statistically analyzed for the primary purposes of discerning: (i) whether there are differences in the relative effectiveness of alternative TUR techniques; and (ii) what factors are significantly correlated with more TUR achievement by facilities. Additionally, sector-specific models are developed which estimate TUR implementation and byproduct reduction.; The research shows toxic reductions are highly correlated with the types and quantities of processes, chemicals, and TUR techniques used, yet also depend on the sector involved. Furthermore, process-oriented techniques are found significantly more effective than shorter-term and less-costly operation and maintenance options. Classic “small business” disadvantages were also observed, with “smaller” and “older” facilities proving far less likely to implement TUR techniques. The research additionally finds evidence of “environmental inequities”, where manufacturers in low-income/high-minority communities tend to adopt fewer TUR techniques.; Overall the Massachusetts TUR Program appears to have fostered only moderate changes in toxics-use behavior among the sectors studied. Still, there are few effective policy alternatives to TUR planning and material accounting for scrutinizing manufacturers' toxics-use and encouraging voluntary reductions. Consequently, the answer when using such policies is to take full advantage of the TUR data they generate, in order to best target TUR resources and capitalize on their ability to foster more technological innovations and reductions. |
