Tracking the Quantity of Hazardous Substances

Facilities do not directly report chemical use on NJ DEP's Release and Pollution Prevention Report (RPPR). This report, however, contains facility level material accounting data, which can be used to calculate Chemical Use by adding three key data elements reported on the RPPR. These data elements are: Non-product Output, (NPO, which is essentially the same as production-related waste), Shipped as (or in) Product, and Consumed. The NJ DEP has calculated Use quantities for each chemical record submitted by covered facilities.

Traditionally, environmental regulatory programs, including New Jersey DEP, have primarily focused on reducing pollution by controlling components of NPO, such as On-Site Releases or Wastes Managed On -Site. More recently other approaches, such as pollution prevention, have contributed to reducing pollution. New Jersey has done a remarkably good job in reducing NPO. A 1996 report by Mike Aucott, NJ DEP concluded that New Jersey likely realized a 50 percent reduction in NPO from 1987 to 1994. The report, "Industrial Pollution Prevention in New Jersey: A Trends Analysis of Materials Accounting Data From 1994 to 2001" shows an overall NPO reduction of 26 percent, and a 33 percent reduction when adjusted for production from 1994 through 2001. Many of the recent NPO reductions can be attributed to facilities improving efficiency and implementing pollution prevention measures.