DuPont continues to reduce its environmental footprint

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). The decrease was due primarily to reducing air emissions at the source reducing liquid wastes.

"We are pleased that we are making progress as we remain focused on our goal of zero waste and emissions," said Paul Tebo, vice president, DuPont Safety, Health and the Environment.

Since 1987, DuPont has reduced its releases by 76 percent, even though production increased by more than 35 percent. Some 286 new compounds were added to the EPA's TRI reporting list in 1995.

DuPont reported releases and transfers of persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) compounds for the first time in 2000 under a new EPA requirement to report these compounds of concern at much lower threshold values. These include 64 kilograms of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds (D&DLC); 7000 pounds of hexachlorobenzene, and; 510 pounds of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's). Some 99.9 percent of D&DLC, more than 98 percent of hexachlorobenzene and more than 99 percent of PCB's were placed securely in landfills. The balance of these compounds was released to air, water or underground injection wells.

The company is committed to reducing PBT's in its operations and waste, and has targeted a 90 percent reduction of D&DLC by the end of 2007.