Toxics Use Reduction Basics and Designing Successful Community Projects

1

• Toxics Use Reduction Basics and Designing
  Successful Community Projects
• The Toxics Use Reduction Networking (TURN) Grant
  Program
• Pre-Grant Information Session
• July, 2005

Eileen Gunn, Community Program Manager 978-934-434
3 Eileen_Gunn_at_uml.edu
2
Training Overview

• The State Toxics Use Reduction Program
• The Toxics Use Reduction Networking Grant Program
• What is TUR and how is it applied at the
  community level?
• Designing Successful Projects and Partnerships

3
I. Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Program
4
II. The Institutes Community Education Program

• Toxics Use Reduction Networking (TURN) Grant
  Program
• Community Website
• General Education and Outreach
• Information Clearinghouse
• Facilitation of Networks

5
TURN Grant Program

• Initiated in 1996
• 70 Projects Funded
• Over 200 partners
• Model Projects and Materials
• Increasing awareness and innovative approaches to
  reducing toxics
• Networking
• Website

6
III. What is TUR and how is it applied at the
community level?

• TUR Techniques in the Community
• Community TUR Planning
• Potential Barriers
• Keys to Successful Projects

7
What is TUR?
Planning Process
Concept
Waste Management Tool
Techniques
State Pollution Prevention Program
8
What is TUR?

• Toxics Use Reduction Concept
• Minimization of pollution and hazards from
  chemical contamination through reduction,
  elimination, or substitution of the toxics
  substances at the point where they are produced
  or used.

9
TUR a Pollution Prevention (P2) Tool

• P2 Hierarchy in Waste Management
• Toxics Use Reduction
• Recycle
• Treatment
• Disposal

10
TUR in Practice

• TUR involves systems analysis and a planning
  process
• Why is this chemical being used?
• Is there another method that will negate the
  need for the chemical?
• If the activity truly requires chemical use, is
  there a safer alternative?
• If no alternatives exist, is the chemical being
  used efficiently?

11
Toxics Use Reduction

• TUR is NOT
• treatment of toxic waste
• dilution of toxics
• transfer of toxics from one medium to another
  (soil to water)

12
TUR Techniques

• Chemical Substitution
• Product Reformulation
• Process (Redesign) Change
• Equipment Modernization
• Improved Operations Maintenance
• Reusing (recycling) substances

13
COMMUNITY TUR

• While TUR was developed for a manufacturing-facil
  ity focus, the TUR approach can be applied to
  other areas
• Household chemical use.
• Municipal Operations DPW garages/facilities,
  local water treatment plants, state or local
  building grounds-maintenance, etc.
• Small businesses auto body, dry cleaning, food
  service.

14
Why would communities want TUR?
Emerging Knowledge in Toxics and Environmental
Health

• Chemical Emergence and Lack of Toxicity Testing
• Occurrence is Ubiquitous
• Increase in environmentally-related diseases
• Impacts at Lower Exposure Levels and Timing of
  Exposure
• Disruption of Hormone Systems
• Unique vulnerability of Children

15
Why would communities want TUR?

• Chemical use and the associated waste often
  effects the environment and public health on a
  local level
• Environmental and public health liabilities
  associated with the storage, use, and disposal of
  toxic chemicals
• There are known health risks associated with
  exposure to many chemicals
• Chemicals are costly

16
Why would communities want TUR?

• TUR provides an economic incentive for
  businesses, thereby improving local economies
• Reduce chemical exposure for the public and for
  workers
• Improve quality of life (environment and public
  health)
• Reduce liability (spills, contamination, exposure)

17
TUR Techniques in the Community

• Chemical (Product) Substitution
• Using green cleaning products in households,
  schools, municipal buildings
• Using aqueous degreasers for automotive parts
  cleaning at DPWs and Auto Shops
• Using alcohol based hairsprays instead of
  methylene chloride
• Using organic lawn products (compost instead of
  chemical fertilizer)
• Low or no-formaldehyde pressed wood products

18
TUR Techniques in the Community

• Process Changes (to use less or no toxic
  chemicals)
• Installing High Pressure, Low Volume paint guns
  at local auto body shops
• Microscale Chemistry
• Video Dissection
• Installing an alternative parts washing systems
  at DPWs
• Dehumidifying to prevent mold/mildew and
  associated cleaners and pesticides

19
TUR Techniques in the Community

• Process Changes (to use less or no toxic
  chemicals)
• Implementing cultural controls in lawn care to
  prevent weeds and pests ie. Mowing high,
  sharpening blades, overseeding, seed choice.
• ?

20
TUR Techniques in the Community

• Improved Management or Housekeeping (to prevent
  the need for toxic chemicals)
• Adopting an Integrated Pest Management Program
• Centralizing chemical purchasing for schools
• Regular cleaning to avoid need for industrial
  strength cleaners (dirt collection mats)
• Low finish flooring to prevent need for floor
  strippers

21
TUR Techniques in the Community

• Reuse of Substances (Closed-loop recycling)
• Reusing paint thinner

22

• Thank you!

Eileen Gunn, Community Program Manager 978-934-434
3 Eileen_Gunn_at_uml.edu