General Information
(Creation Year & Reason)

Program launched 1991. Annual collection of Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data began in 1987 with a reporting baseline of 1988.
Reason: To achieve a 50% reduction in high-priority toxic wastes, with an interim goal of 33%
(17 chemicals identified).

Initiator(s)

United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Objectives(s)

To demonstrate whether voluntary partnerships could augment the Agency's traditional command-and-control approach by bringing about targeted reductions more quickly than would regulation alone.

Timeframes and Milestones

1986 - Enactment of Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA Title III).
1988 -First reporting year required by section 313 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI).
1990 - EPA Administrator announces 33% and 50% national goals for high-priority toxic chemicals. Special Projects Office is created to administer the program. First TRI Public Data Release of 1988 industry reports; New York Times full page story on top 10 polluters of air, land, water
10/90-3/91 - High-level meetings held between EPA Administrator and CEOs of major corporations to brief industry on national goals and solicit suggestions for how this voluntary program could best take shape. Similar meetings held with environmental organizations; details of program are finalized: target reductions and dates, list of 17 chemicals, baseline year selected, protocol for participation
2/91 - Program formally launched
1991 - EPA develops formal Pollution Prevention Strategy; First 2 voluntary environmental partnerships established - Greenlights and 33/50
1992 - More than 700 companies send letters of commitment to US-EPA's 33/50 Program
1993 - 33/50 goes public with 1991 TRI reports - hits 33% milestone early; US Vice President launches National Performance Review (NPR); 33/50 Releases Company Profiles and State Directory
1994 - 33/50 goes public with 1992 TRI reports - over 1,000 companies reduce emissions; NPR features 33/50 in Reinventing Government (REGO) Progress Report
1995 - 33/50 goes public with 1993 TRI reports - pollution reduction just 4% shy of goal
1996 - 33/50 goes public with 1994 TRI Reports - hits 50% final goal a year early; 33/50 issues participating company profiles

Implementation Process

The program created clear and straightforward national goals, established a baseline year for measurements, identified priority chemicals, and provided companies total flexibility in setting their own goals and targets for reducing releases and transfers of 33/50 chemicals. The only 33/50 requirement was to send US-EPA a letter stating the company's reduction goals.

The implementation process has evolved to:

1. increase flexibility allowing individual participants to custom-tailor reduction commitments for specific facilities, chemicals, goals, etc.

2. expand program from original 600 companies to all companies handling priority chemical, with an appropriate expansion of outreach activities

3. moving away from original concept of awards programs in order to provide recognition to all 1,300 participating companies

4. actively creating site-specific case studies to detail how companies were achieving their results.

Monitoring Process & Parties

• EPA was cognizant that additional reporting requirements would possibly lose the willingness of many companies to participate, so the 33/50 program relied on an existing tool - the national Toxics Release Inventory - as a reliable yardstick that annually provided a profile of changes in the releases and transfers of the high priority chemicals

• Many organizations evaluated 33/50: some include Resources for the Future, Citizens Action, Vanderbilt University, INFORM, Government Accounting Office

Success in Achieving Stated Objectives

Original target to achieve a 50% reduction of 1.5 billion pounds of pollution (17 high priority chemicals) by 1995.
Target was reached one year early

Public Education & Information Components

There are several mechanisms, but the 3 main tools are:

1. Publication of more than 100 company success stories

2. Frequent appearances at conferences and workshops

3. Active outreach and interaction with the press

Replication Potential

High. Has already served as model for many spin-off programs. Several states and counties have created a 33/50 model of their own. Indiana has also launched a series of hands-on pilot projects with companies to demonstrate the viability of pollution prevention techniques. The Departments of Energy and Defense have adopted internal 33/50 type programs to help promote pollution prevention at their own facilities and those of contractors working for them.

In Canada, the national Accelerated Reduction/ Elimination of Toxics (ARET) Program also expands on the 33/50 model. Also, since 33/50, dozens of other partnership programs have come into being, aimed at reducing energy use, conserving water, safer pesticide use, reducing solid wastes, etc.

Mechanisms for Improvement

Obstacles were identified and following steps were taken:

• More intensive outreach to small and medium sized business, including Q&A materials translated into Spanish

• Follow-up telephone calls to virtually all 5,400 companies

• Attendance at trade association meetings, exhibitions, etc.

• Closer cooperation with Regional staff

• Working with individual states to create "spin-off" programs

• Creation and dissemination of detailed 'case studies' focusing on practices in small as well as large companies

Contacts for Further Information