EPA: Southland Recyclers Helped Improved Region's Air Quality

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday released a statewide report showing the majority of toxic chemicals managed at companies including the Chevron oil refinery in El Segundo increased as a result of production, while releases into the environment decreased.

The trend showing a decrease in releases to the environment is attributed to an increase in recycling rates, the EPA said in the 2014 report, which contains the latest information available.

A total of 1,277 facilities statewide reported about 568.5 million pounds of production-related toxic chemicals, 363.8 million pounds recycled and 23.3 million pounds released on-site.

“People have a right to know what chemicals are being produced in their communities, and how to find out by accessing the EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory on the web,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s regional administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “The latest data shows that industry is recycling more and more each year, which is good for the economy and for the environment.”

According to the EPA, the state’s top producers of toxins include the Chevron refinery and Quemetco, a Los Angeles battery recycler.

California’s top recyclers were Alcoa Global Fasteners, a metal fabricator in Fullerton; Exide Technologies, the now-defunct Los Angeles battery recycler; Kinsbursky Brothers, a battery recycler in Anaheim; and Demenno/Kerdoon, a Compton vehicle fluids recycling facility.

--City News Service, photo via Pixabay