2nd Edition 

Profile of The 

Rubber And Plastics Industry, 

EPA Office of Compliance Sector Notebook Project 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Sector Notebook Project 

EPA/310-R-05-003 

EPA Office of Compliance Sector Notebook Project 

2

Profile of the Rubber and Plastics Industry

nd Edition 

February 2005 

Office of Compliance 

Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

401 M St., SW (MC 2221-A) 

Washington, D.C. 20460 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Sector Notebook Project 

This report is one in a series of volumes published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA) to provide information of general interest regarding environmental issues associated with 

specific industrial sectors. The documents were developed under contract by Eastern Research 

Group, Inc. (ERG) (Lexington, MA), Abt Associates (Cambridge, MA), GeoLogics Corporation 

(Alexandria, VA), Science Applications International Corporation (McLean, VA), and BoozAllen & Hamilton, Inc. (McLean, VA). A list of available Sector Notebooks is included on the 

following page. 

Obtaining copies: 

Electronic versions of all Sector Notebooks are available on the EPA’s web site at 

http://www.epa.gov/compliance/sectornotebooks.html. 

A limited number of complimentary volumes are available to certain groups or subscribers, 

including public and academic libraries; federal, state, tribal, and local governments; and the 

media. You can order from EPA’s National Service Center for Environmental Publications at 

(800) 490-9198 or www.epa.gov/ncepihom. When ordering, use the applicable EPA publication 

number from those listed on the following page. 

The Sector Notebooks were developed by the EPA’s Office of Compliance. Direct general 

questions about the Sector Notebook Project to: 

Coordinator, Sector Notebook Project 

U.S. EPA Office of Compliance

1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (2224-A)

Washington, D.C. 20460

(202) 564-2310

Sector Notebook Project i February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Sector Notebook Project 

AVAILABLE SECTOR NOTEBOOKS

Direct questions and comments regarding the individual documents to the Compliance Assistance and 

Sector Programs Division at (202) 564-2310 unless otherwise noted below. See the Notebook web page 

at: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/sectornotebooks.html for the most recent titles and links to 

refreshed data. 

EPA Publication 

Number Industry 

EPA/310-R-95-001. Profile of the Dry Cleaning Industry 

EPA/310-R-95-002. Profile of the Electronics and Computer Industry* 

EPA/310-R-95-003. Profile of the Wood Furniture and Fixtures Industry 

EPA/310-R-95-004. Profile of the Inorganic Chemical Industry* 

EPA/310-R-95-005. Profile of the Iron and Steel Industry 

EPA/310-R-95-006. Profile of the Lumber and Wood Products Industry 

EPA/310-R-95-007. Profile of the Metal Fabrication Industry* 

EPA/310-R-95-008. Profile of the Metal Mining Industry 

EPA/310-R-95-009. Profile of the Motor Vehicle Assembly Industry 

EPA/310-R-95-010. Profile of the Nonferrous Metals Industry 

EPA/310-R-95-011. Profile of the Non-Fuel, Non-Metal Mining Industry 

EPA/310-R-95-013. Profile of the Petroleum Refining Industry 

EPA/310-R-95-014. Profile of the Printing Industry 

EPA/310-R-95-017. Profile of the Stone, Clay, Glass, and Concrete Industry 

EPA/310-R-95-018. Profile of the Transportation Equipment Cleaning Industry 

EPA/310-R-97-001. Profile of the Air Transportation Industry 

EPA/310-R-97-002. Profile of the Ground Transportation Industry 

EPA/310-R-97-003. Profile of the Water Transportation Industry 

EPA/310-R-97-004. Profile of the Metal Casting Industry 

EPA/310-R-97-005. Profile of the Pharmaceuticals Industry 

EPA/310-R-97-006. Profile of the Plastic Resins and Man-made Fibers Industry 

EPA/310-R-97-007. Profile of the Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation Industry 

EPA/310-R-97-008. Profile of the Shipbuilding and Repair Industry 

EPA/310-R-97-009. Profile of the Textiles Industry 

EPA/310-R-98-001. Profile of the Aerospace Industry 

EPA/310-R-99-006. Profile of the Oil and Gas Extraction Industry 

EPA/310-R-00-001. Profile of the Agricultural Crop Production Industry 

Contact: Ag Center, (888) 663-2155 

EPA/310-R-00-002. Profile of the Agricultural Livestock Production Industry 

Contact: Ag Center, (888) 663-2155 

EPA/310-R-00-003. Profile of the Agricultural Chemical, Pesticide and Fertilizer 

Industry Contact: Agriculture Division, (202) 564-2320 

EPA/310-R-02-001. Profile of the Organic Chemical Industry, 2nd Edition* 

EPA/310-R-02-002. Profile of the Pulp and Paper Industry, 2nd Edition 

EPA/310-R-05-002. Profile of the Healthcare Industry 

EPA/310-R-05-003. Profile of the Rubber and Plastics Industry, 2nd Edition 

Government Series 

EPA/310-R-99-001. Profile of Local Government Operations 

EPA/300-B-96-003. Profile of Federal Facilities 

EPA/310-R-05-001. Profile of Tribal Government Operations 

*Spanish translations of 1st Editions available in electronic format only. 

Sector Notebook Project ii February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Sector Notebook Project 

DISCLAIMER

This Sector Notebook was created for employees of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA) and the general public for informational purposes only. This document has been 

extensively reviewed by experts from both inside and outside EPA, but its contents do not 

necessarily reflect the views or policies of EPA or any other organization mentioned within. 

Mention of trade names or commercial products or events does not constitute endorsement or 

recommendation for use. In addition, these documents are not intended and cannot be relied 

upon to create any rights, substantive or procedural, enforceable by any party in litigation with 

the United States. 

Sector Notebook Project iii February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Sector Notebook Project 

Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products 

(SIC Code 30) 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Page 

LIST OF ACRONYMS ...................................................... viii

I. INTRODUCTION TO THE SECTOR NOTEBOOK PROJECT ............. 1

I.A. Summary of the Sector Notebook Project ........................ 1

I.B. Additional Information ....................................... 2

II. INTRODUCTION TO THE RUBBER AND MISCELLANEOUS PLASTICS

PRODUCTS INDUSTRY ........................................... 3

II.A. Introduction, Background, and Scope of the Notebook ............... 3

II.B. Characterization of the RMPP Industry ........................... 4

II.B.1. Product Characterization ................................ 4

II.B.2 Industry Size and Geographic Distribution .................. 7

II.B.3. Economic Trends ..................................... 12

III. INDUSTRIAL PROCESS DESCRIPTION ............................ 15

III.A. Industrial Processes in the RMPP Industry ....................... 15

III.A.1.Plastic .............................................. 15

III.A.2.Rubber ............................................. 23

III.A.3.Tires .............................................. 28

III.B. Raw Material Inputs and Pollution Outputs in the Production Line .... 31

III.B.1.Plastic .............................................. 31

III.B.2.Rubber ............................................. 35

III.C. Management of Chemicals in Waste Stream ...................... 41

IV. CHEMICAL RELEASE AND OTHER WASTE MANAGEMENT

PROFILE ....................................................... 43

IV.A. EPA TRI for the RMPP Industry ............................... 46

IV.B. Summary of the Selected Chemicals Released .................... 68

IV.C. Other Data Sources ......................................... 72

IV.D. Comparison of TRI Between Selected Industries .................. 73

V. POLLUTION PREVENTION OPPORTUNITIES ....................... 76

V.A. Identification of Pollution Prevention Activities in Use ............. 76

V.A.1. Plastic .............................................. 76

V.A.2. Rubber ............................................. 78

V.A.3. Tires ............................................... 80

Sector Notebook Project iv February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Sector Notebook Project 

TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 

Page 

VI. SUMMARY OF FEDERAL STATUTES AND REGULATIONS .......... 83

VI.A. General Description of Major Statutes .......................... 83

VI.B. Industry-Specific Requirements .............................. 104

VI.C. Pending and Proposed Regulatory Requirements ................. 109

VII. COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT PROFILE .................... 111

VII.A. The RMPP Industry Compliance History (1999 to 2004) ........... 114

VII.B. Comparison of Enforcement Activity Between Selected Industries

(1999 to 2004) ............................................ 115

VII.C. Review of Major Legal Actions ............................... 125

VII.C.1. Review of Major Cases ......................... 125

VII.C.2. Supplementary Environmental Projects ............. 125

VIII. COMPLIANCE ACTIVITIES AND INITIATIVES .................... 127

VIII.A.Sector-Related Environmental Programs and Activities ............ 127

VIII.B. EPA Voluntary Programs ................................... 127

VIII.C. Trade Association-/Industry-Sponsored Activities ................ 134

VIII.C.1. Environmental Programs ........................ 134

VIII.C.2. Summary of Trade Associations .................. 136

IX. CONTACTS/ACKNOWLEDGMENTS/RESOURCE MATERIALS/

BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................... 140

Sector Notebook Project v February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Sector Notebook Project 

LIST OF FIGURES 

Page 

1 Diversity of the Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industry (SIC Code 308) ..... 6

2 Diversity of the Rubber Products Industry .............................. 7

3 Geographic Distribution of the Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industry

(Number of Facilities) .............................................. 8

4 Geographic Distribution of the Rubber Products Industry (Number

of Facilities) ..................................................... 10

5 Geographic Distribution of the Tire Industry ........................... 11

6 North American Tire Sales ......................................... 12

7 Plastics Products Manufacturing Process .............................. 16

8 Injection Molding ................................................ 18

9 Extrusion ....................................................... 19

10 Thermoforming .................................................. 20

11 Transfer Molding ................................................. 21

12 Encapsulation .................................................... 22

13 Rubber Manufacturing Process ...................................... 24

14 Processes Used to Manufacture Various Rubber Products ................. 27

15 Tire Manufacturing Process ......................................... 29

16 Tire Formation ................................................... 31

17 Plastics Products Manufacturing Process Pollution Outputs ................ 33

18 Rubber Products Manufacturing Process Pollution Outputs ................ 36

19 Tire Manufacturing Process Pollution Outputs .......................... 40

20 Summary of 2002 TRI Data: Releases and Transfers by Industry

(SIC Code) ...................................................... 74

Sector Notebook Project vi February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Sector Notebook Project 

LIST OF TABLES 

Page 

1 SIC and NAICS Codes .............................................. 4

2 Facility Size Distribution of the Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industry ..... 8

3 Facility Size Distribution of the Rubber Products Industry .................. 9

4 Facility Size Distribution of the Tire Industry ........................... 11

5 Quantity of Production-Related Waste Managed by the RMPP Industry ...... 42

6 Top 10 TRI Releasing RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30 Only Facilities) ....... 47

7 Top 10 TRI Releasing RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30 and Other

SIC Code Facilities) ............................................... 47

8 TRI Reporting RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) by State .................. 48

9 Releases for RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) in TRI, by Number of

Facilities (releases reported in pounds/year) ............................ 49

10 Transfers for RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) in TRI, by Number of

Facilities (transfers reported in pounds/year) ........................... 55

11 Releases by Subsector for RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) in TRI ........... 62

12 Pollutant Releases (Short Tons/Years) ................................ 72

13 Toxic Release Inventory Data for Selected Industries ..................... 75

14 Scrap Tire Usage ................................................. 81

15 Summary of Potentially Applicable EPA Regulations .................... 84

16 Five-Year Enforcement and Compliance Summary for the Rubber and

Plastics Industry (1999 - 2004) ..................................... 116

17 Five-Year Enforcement and Compliance Summary for Selected

Industries (1999 - 2004) ........................................... 117

18 Two-Year Enforcement and Compliance Summary for Selected

Industries (2002 - 2004) ........................................... 119

19 Five-Year Inspection and Enforcement Summary by Statute for Selected

Industries (1999 - 2004) ........................................... 121

20 Two-Year Inspection and Enforcement Summary by Statute for Selected

Industries (2002 - 2004) ........................................... 123

21 Supplemental Environmental Projects in RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) .... 126

Sector Notebook Project vii February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Sector Notebook Project 

LIST OF ACRONYMS 

AFS AIRS Facility Subsystem (CAA database) 

AHERA Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act 

AIRS Aerometric Information Retrieval System (CAA database) 

BACT Best Available Control Technology 

BEHP Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 

BIF Boilers and Industrial Furnaces (RCRA) 

BOD Biochemical Oxygen Demand 

CAA Clean Air Act 

CAAA Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 

CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act 

CESQG Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator 

CERCLIS CERCLA Information System 

CFC Chlorofluorocarbons 

CO Carbon Monoxide 

COD Chemical Oxygen Demand 

CTG Control Techniques Guidelines 

CWA Clean Water Act 

CZARA Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments 

CZMA Coastal Zone Management Act 

DfE Design for the Environment Program 

ELP Environmental Leadership Program 

EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency 

EPCRA Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act 

FFDCA Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act 

FIFRA Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act 

FQPA Food Quality Protection Act 

FRP Facility Response Plans 

FRS Facility Registry Systems 

GSN Green Suppliers Network 

HAP Hazardous Air Pollutants (CAA) 

HSDB Hazardous Substances Data Bank 

HSWA Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments 

IDEA Integrated Data for Enforcement Analysis 

IRIS Integrated Risk Information System 

LDR Land Disposal Restrictions (RCRA) 

LEPC Local Emergency Planning Committees 

LQG Large Quantity Generator 

MACT Maximum Achievable Control Technology (CAA) 

MCLG Maximum Contaminant Level Goals 

MCL Maximum Contaminant Levels 

MEK Methyl Ethyl Ketone 

MS4 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems 

MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets 

NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAA) 

NAICS North American Industrial Classification 

Sector Notebook Project viii February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Sector Notebook Project 

NCDB National Compliance Database (for TSCA, FIFRA, EPCRA) 

NCP National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan 

NEIC National Enforcement Investigations Center 

NESHAP National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants 

NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology 

NOA Notice of Arrival 

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency 

NO2 Nitrogen Dioxide 

NOV Notice of Violation 

NOX Nitrogen Oxide 

OCS Operation Clean Sweep 

NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (CWA) 

NPL National Priorities List 

NRC National Response Center 

NSPS New Source Performance Standards (CAA) 

NSR New Source Review 

OAR Office of Air and Radiation 

OECA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance 

OMB Office of Management and Budget 

OPA Oil Pollution Act 

OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration 

OSWER Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response 

PCB Polychlorinated Biphenyl 

PCS Permit Compliance System (CWA Database) 

POTW Publicly Owned Treatments Works 

PSD Prevention of Significant Deterioration 

RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 

RMA Rubber Manufacturers Association 

RMP Risk Management Plan 

RMPP Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products 

SARA Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act 

SDWA Safe Drinking Water Act 

SEP Supplemental Environmental Projects 

SERC State Emergency Response Commissions 

SIC Standard Industrial Classification 

SIDS Screening Information Data Set 

SIP State Implementation Plan 

SPI The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. 

SO2 Sulfur Dioxide 

SPCC Spill, Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure 

SQG Small Quantity Generator 

SWAP Source Water Assessment Programs 

SWPPP Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan 

TCLP Toxicity Characterization Leaching Procedure 

TOC Total Organic Carbon 

TRI Toxic Release Inventory 

TRIS Toxic Release Inventory System 

TSCA Toxic Substances Control Act 

Sector Notebook Project ix February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Sector Notebook Project 

TSS Total Suspended Solids 

UIC Underground Injection Control (SDWA)

UST Underground Storage Tanks (RCRA)

VCCEP Voluntary Children’s Chemical Evaluation Program

VOC Volatile Organic Compounds

Sector Notebook Project x February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Introduction to the Sector Notebook Project 

I. INTRODUCTION TO THE SECTOR NOTEBOOK PROJECT 

I.A. Summary of the Sector Notebook Project 

Environmental policies based upon comprehensive analysis of air, water, and land 

pollution (such as economic sector and community-based approaches) are becoming an 

important supplement to traditional single-media approaches to environmental protection. 

Environmental regulatory agencies are beginning to embrace comprehensive, multistatute 

solutions to facility permitting, compliance assurance, education/outreach, research, and 

regulatory development issues. The central concepts driving the new policy direction are that 

pollutant releases to each environmental medium (air, water and land) affect each other, and that 

environmental strategies must actively identify and address these interrelationships by designing 

policies for the "whole" facility. One way to achieve a whole facility focus is to design 

environmental policies for similar industrial facilities. By doing so, environmental concerns that 

are common to the manufacturing of similar products can be addressed in a comprehensive 

manner. Recognition of the need to develop the industrial “sector-based” approach within 

EPA’s Office of Compliance led to the creation of this document. 

The Office of Compliance within the Office of Enforcement and Compliance 

Assurance (OECA) initiated the Sector Notebook Project to provide its staff and managers with 

summary information for 18 specific industrial sectors. As other EPA offices, states, the 

regulated community, environmental groups, and the public became interested in this project, the 

scope of the original project was expanded. The ability to design comprehensive, common-sense 

environmental protection measures for specific industries is dependent on knowledge of several 

interrelated topics. The key elements chosen for inclusion in this project are: general industry 

information (economic and geographic); a description of industrial processes; pollution outputs; 

pollution prevention opportunities; federal statutory and regulatory framework; compliance 

history; and a description of partnerships that have been formed between regulatory agencies, the 

regulated community, and the public. 

For any given industry, each topic listed above could alone be the subject of a 

lengthy volume. However, to produce a manageable document, this project focuses on providing 

summary information for each topic. This format provides the reader with a synopsis of each 

issue, and references where more in-depth information is available. EPA used a variety of 

sources to compile each profile and usually condensed the information from more detailed 

sources pertaining to specific topics. This approach allows for a wide coverage of activities that 

can be further explored using the references listed at the end of this profile. As a check on the 

information included, each Notebook went through an external document review process. The 

Office of Compliance appreciates the efforts of all those that participated in this process and 

enabled us to develop more complete, accurate and up-to-date summaries. Many of those who 

reviewed this Notebook are listed as contacts in Section IX and may be sources of additional 

information. The individuals and groups on this list do not necessarily concur with all 

statements within this notebook. 

Sector Notebook Project 1 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Introduction to the Sector Notebook Project 

I.B. Additional Information 

Providing Comments 

OECA’s Office of Compliance plans to periodically review and update the 

notebooks and will make these updates available both in hard copy and electronically. If you 

have any comments on any of the existing notebooks, or if you would like to provide additional 

information, please send a hard copy and computer disk to: EPA Office of Compliance, Sector 

Notebook Project (2224-A), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Comments 

can also be sent via the Sector Notebooks web page at: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/ 

sectornotebooks.html. If you are interested in assisting in the development of new Notebooks, or 

if you have recommendations on which sectors should have a Notebook, please contact the 

Office of Compliance at (202) 564-2310. 

Adapting Notebooks to Particular Needs 

The scope of the industry sector described in this Notebook approximates the 

national occurrence of facility types within the sector. In many instances, industries within 

specific geographic regions or states may have unique characteristics that are not fully captured 

in these profiles. The Office of Compliance encourages state and local environmental agencies 

and other groups to supplement or repackage the information included in this Notebook to 

include more specific industrial and regulatory information that may be available. Additionally, 

interested states may want to supplement the "Summary of Applicable Federal Statutes and 

Regulations" section with state and local requirements. Compliance or technical assistance 

providers may also want to develop the "Pollution Prevention" section in more detail. 

Sector Notebook Project 2 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Introduction to the Products Industry 

II. INTRODUCTION TO THE RUBBER AND MISCELLANEOUS 

PLASTICS PRODUCTS INDUSTRY 

This section provides background information on the size, geographic 

distribution, employment, production, sales, and economic condition of the Rubber and 

Miscellaneous Plastics Products industry. The type of facilities described within the document 

are also described in terms of their Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes. Additionally, 

this section contains a list of the largest companies in terms of sales. 

II.A. Introduction, Background, and Scope of the Notebook 

The Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products (RMPP) industry, as defined by 

the SIC code 30, includes establishments that manufacture products from plastic resins, natural 

and synthetic rubber, reclaimed rubber, gutta percha, balata, and gutta siak. The production of 

the rubber mixture is commonly performed in facilities manufacturing rubber products and is 

covered under SIC code 30; however, the production of plastic resins is at plastic resin (polymer 

and resin) manufacturing facilities (SIC code 28). The majority of plastics products facilities 

purchase plastic resins to manufacture products. 

Although this SIC code covers most rubber and plastics products, some important 

rubber and plastics products are classified elsewhere. These products include boats, which are 

classified under SIC code 37 (Transportation Equipment), and buttons, toys, and buckles, which 

are classified under SIC code 39 (Miscellaneous Manufacturing Industries). Buttons, toys, and 

buckles are grouped according to the final product rather than by process because not all of these 

products are made out of rubber or plastic. The RMPP industry does include tire manufacture; 

however, tread manufacturing and associated recapping and retreading are classified under SIC 

code 7534. EPA recognizes the recapping and retreading process for passenger and truck tires as 

similar to original equipment tire operation, specifically, tire production. An in-depth discussion 

of the recapping and retreading industry is not included here. The operations and materials used 

in retreading tires are similar to the original equipment tire rubber compounding for treads, tire 

building, grinding for carcass preparation, vulcanizing, and finishing as described in the new tire 

manufacturing process herein. 

Although SIC code 30 groups rubber and plastics products together under some of 

the three-digit industry codes (e.g., rubber and plastic footwear under SIC code 302), the 

majority of economic and process information separates plastic from rubber products. In 

addition, because tire manufacturing accounts for such a large portion (almost 50 percent) of all 

rubber product manufacturing, tire process and economic information is often discussed 

separately from that of other rubber products. Therefore, this industry profile often discusses 

plastics products, rubber products, and rubber tires separately. 

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) established SIC codes to track the 

flow of goods and services within the economy. OMB has changed the SIC code system to a 

system based on similar production processes called the North American Industrial 

Classification System (NAICS). Because most of the EPA data systems still compile data based 

on SIC codes, this Notebook continues to use the SIC system to define this sector. Table 1 

presents the SIC codes for the RMPP industry and the corresponding NAICS codes. 

Sector Notebook Project 3 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Introduction to the Products Industry 

Table 1: SIC and NAICS Codes 

1987 1997 

SIC SIC Description NAICS NAICS Description 

3011 Tires & inner tubes 326211 Tire mfg (except retreading) 

3021 Rubber & plastics footwear 316211 Rubber & plastics footwear mfg 

3052 Rubber & plastics hose & belting 326220 Rubber & plastics hose & belting mfg 

3053 Gaskets, packing, & sealing devices 339991 Gaskets, packing & sealing devices mfg 

3061 Mechanical rubber goods 326291 Rubber product mfg for mechanical use 

3069 Fabricated rubber products, n.e.c. 313320 Fabric coating mills (pt) 

326192 Resilient floor covering mfg (pt) 

326299 All other rubber product mfg 

3081 Unsupported plastics film & sheet 326113 Unsupported plastics film & sheet (except 

packaging) mfg 

3082 Unsupported plastics profile shapes 326121 Unsupported plastics profile shape mfg 

3083 Laminated plastics plate & sheet 326130 Laminated plastics plate, sheet, & shape mfg 

3084 Plastics pipe 326122 Plastics pipe & pipe fitting mfg 

3085 Plastics bottles 326160 Plastics bottle mfg 

3086 Plastics foam products 326140 Polystyrene foam product mfg 

326150 Urethane & other foam product (except 

polystyrene) mfg 

3087 Custom compound purchased resins 325991 Custom compounding of purchased resin 

3088 Plastics plumbing fixtures 326191 Plastics plumbing fixture mfg 

3089 Plastics products, n.e.c. 326122 Plastics pipe & pipe fitting mfg 

326199 All other plastics product mfg 

335121 Residential electric lighting fixture mfg 

II.B. Characterization of the RMPP Industry 

The following subsections describes the types of products produced by rubber and 

miscellaneous plastics products facilities, the size and distribution of these types of facilities, and 

the current and projected economic trends for the RMPP industry. 

II.B.1. Product Characterization 

The Bureau of the Census divides SIC code 30 into industry groups according to 

the type of product manufactured. The following is a list of all the three-digit industry groups 

under SIC code 30: 

C SIC Code 301 ­ Tires and Inner Tubes; 

C SIC Code 302 ­ Rubber and Plastics Footwear; 

C SIC Code 305 ­ Hose and Belting and Gaskets and Packing; 

Sector Notebook Project 4 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Introduction to the Products Industry 

C SIC Code 306 ­ Fabricated Rubber Products, Not Elsewhere 

Classified; and 

C SIC Code 308 ­ Miscellaneous Plastics Products, Not Elsewhere 

Classified. 

Several of these three-digit classifications group rubber and plastics products 

together. However, the four-digit classifications clearly segregate the two industries. The 

following are four-digit SIC code breakdowns of the rubber and plastics products industries as 

shown in Figure 1 for SIC code 308: 

C Plastics Products, Not Elsewhere Classified (N.E.C.) (SIC code 3089) 

account for approximately 55 percent of all plastic product production in 

the United States; 

C Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet (SIC code 3081) account for 

approximately 12 percent; 

C Plastics Foam Products (SIC code 3086) account for approximately 10 

percent; 

C Custom Compound Purchased Resins (SIC code 3087) account for 

approximately 6 percent; 

C Plastics Bottles (SIC code 3085) account for approximately 5 percent; 

C Unsupported Plastics Profile Shapes (SIC code 3082) account for 

approximately 4 percent; 

C Plastics Pipe (SIC code 3084) and Laminated Plastics Plate & Sheet (SIC 

code 3083) account for approximately 3 percent each; and 

C Plastics Plumbing Fixtures (SIC code 3088) for approximately 2 percent. 

Sector Notebook Project 5 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Introduction to the Products Industry 

Figure 1: Diversity of the Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industry (SIC Code 308) 

Laminated plas plate & 

Unsuppo rted plastics sheet Plastics plumbing fixtures 3% 

Plastics bo ttl

5% 

Custo m co mpo und 

purchased resins 

6% 

Plastics fo am pro ducts 

10% 

2% 

P l i

i

4% P l i

3% 

ast cs pro ducts, n.e.c. Unsuppo rted plast cs film 

& sheet 

es 

pro file shapes 

ast cs pipe 

12% 55% 

Source: 1997 Bureau of the Census Data. 

As shown in Figure 2, in the rubber industry: 

C Tire & Inner Tubes (SIC code 3011) manufacturing accounts for 

approximately 36 percent of all rubber product production in the United 

States; 

C Fabricated Rubber Products, Not Elsewhere Classified (SIC code 3069) 

account for approximately 22 percent; 

C Mechanical Rubber Goods (SIC code 3061) account for approximately 16 

percent; 

C Gaskets, Packing, & Sealing Devices (SIC code 3053) account for 

approximately 13 percent; 

C Rubber & Plastics Hose & Belting (SIC code 3052) account for 

approximately 10 percent; and 

C Rubber & Plastics Footwear (SIC code 3021) account for 3 percent. 

Sector Notebook Project 6 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Introduction to the Products Industry 

Figure 2: Diversity of the Rubber Products Industry 

Rubber & plastics 

f ootw ear 

3% 

Rubber & plastics

hose & belting

10%

Tires & inner tubes 

Gaskets, packing & 36% 

sealing devices

13%

Mechanical rubber

goods

16% Fabricated rubber

products, n.e.c.

22%

Source: 1997 Bureau of the Census data. 

II.B.2 Industry Size and Geographic Distribution 

Variation in facility counts occur across data sources due to many factors, 

including reporting and definitional differences. This document does not attempt to reconcile 

these differences, but rather reports the data as they are maintained by each source. 

The Bureau of the Census estimates that in 1997, 789,200 people were employed 

by the miscellaneous plastics products industry and 247,800 were employed by the rubber 

products industry, of which the tire industry employed 64,400. The value of shipments (revenue 

associated with product sales) totaled $120.3 billion in 1997 for the miscellaneous plastics 

products industry and $40.4 billion for the rubber products industry, of which the tire industry 

contributed $14.7 billion. 

Plastic 

Because of the wide range of products produced, plastics products are 

manufactured in all parts of the country. As shown in Table 2, approximately 47 percent of 

miscellaneous plastics products establishments have fewer than 20 employees. This indicates 

that there are a large number of small businesses in this industry. Approximately 37 percent of 

the industry have between 20 and 100 employees, and only 1 percent have more than 500 

employees. 

Although miscellaneous plastics products facilities are not concentrated in any 

particular region, a few states account for a large percentage of the facilities, as shown in 

Sector Notebook Project 7 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Introduction to the Products Industry 

Figure 3. These states include California, Ohio, Texas, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and 

New Jersey. 

Table 2: Facility Size Distribution of the Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industry 

Employees per 

Facility Number of Facilities 

Percentage of 

Facilities 

1 to 4 2649 19 

5 to 9 1719 12 

10 to 19 2182 16 

20 to 49 3107 22 

50 to 99 2058 15 

100 to 249 1685 12 

250 to 499 485 3 

500 to 999 117 0 (0.8) 

1,000 to 2,499 20 0 (0.1) 

2,500 or more 1 0 (0.007) 

Total 14,023 100 

Source: 1997 Bureau of the Census data. 

Figure 3: Geographic Distribution of the Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industry 

(Number of Facilities) 

236 

90 

29 

49 

26 

30 

62 

0 

14 

92 

307 

510 

38 

36 

92 34 

99 

42 

24 

8 

192 

1708 

123 

198 

208 124 

137 

842 

358 

161 

296 

137 

126 158 336 

182 

836 

415 

841 

916 

592 

187 

415 

156 

662 

663 

400 

218 

527 

114 

Source: 1997 Bureau of the Census data. 

Sector Notebook Project 8 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Introduction to the Products Industry 

Rubber 

Like the miscellaneous plastics products industry, the rubber products industry 

produces a wide range of products. Rubber products manufacturing establishments are located 

all across the country. As shown in Table 3, approximately 57 percent of rubber products 

establishments, not including tire manufacturers, have fewer than 20 employees. This indicates 

that there are a large number of small businesses in this industry. Approximately 26 percent of 

the industry have between 20 and 100 employees and only 3 percent have more than 500 

employees. 

Although these facilities are not concentrated in any particular region, a few states 

account for a large percentage of the facilities, as shown in Figure 4. These states include 

California, Ohio, Texas, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Florida, Michigan, and Georgia. 

Table 3: Facility Size Distribution of the Rubber Products Industry 

Employees per 

Facility Number of Facilities 

Percentage of 

Facilities 

1 to 4 770 27 

5 to 9 401 14 

10 to 19 460 16 

20 to 49 520 18 

50 to 99 237 8 

100 to 249 246 9 

250 to 499 103 4 

500 to 999 44 2 

1,000 to 2,499 31 1 

2,500 or more 2 0 (0.07) 

Total 2,814 100 

Source: 1997 Bureau of the Census data. 

Sector Notebook Project 9 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Introduction to the Products Industry 

Figure 4: Geographic Distribution of the Rubber Products Industry (Number of Facilities) 

32 

54 

299 

17 

40 

28 

7 

17 

26 

41 

190 

48 

34 

63 

46 

31 

45 60 96 

83 

39 

123 

48 

102 

127 279 

16 

61 

110 

41 

117 

77 

19 16 

55 

11 

39 

80 

28 

15 

8 

5 

111 

Source: 1997 Bureau of the Census data. 

Tires 

According to the 1997 Census of Manufacturers, there are 160 tire-manufacturing 

plants (SIC code 3011) in the United States. During the 2002 National Emission Standards for 

Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) development for tire manufacturing, EPA identified 112 

major facilities along with 19 reporting retreading operations. As shown in Table 4, 46 percent 

of the identified 160 facilities have less than 20 employees. Labor costs currently represent 

about 26 percent of the cost of tire and tube production for U.S. manufacturers. States that 

account for a large percentage of facilities include Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Alabama. 

Sector Notebook Project 10 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Introduction to the Products Industry 

Table 4: Facility Size Distribution of the Tire Industry 

Employees per Facility Number of Facilities 

Percentage of 

Facilities 

1 to 4 30 19 

5 to 9 21 13 

10 to 19 23 14 

20 to 49 16 10 

50 to 99 8 5 

100 to 249 15 9 

250 to 499 10 6 

500 to 999 9 6 

1,000 to 2,499 26 16 

2,500 or more 2 1 

Total 160 100 

Source: 1997 Bureau of the Census data. 

Figure 5: Geographic Distribution of the Tire Industry 

10 

1 

5 

9 

5 

3 

3 11 7 

8 

9 6 14 

6 

9 

8 

12 

7 

1 

2 

3 

Source: 1997 Bureau of the Census data. 

Sector Notebook Project 11 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Introduction to the Products Industry 

The two largest producers of tires, Goodyear and Michelin, accounted for 

approximately 54 percent of tire production in 2001. As shown in Figure 6, the five largest 

producers, Goodyear, Michelin, Bridgestone/Firestone, Continental, and Cooper, accounted for 

87 percent of production. 

Figure 6: North American Tire Sales 

Other 

13% Goodyear/Dunlop 

/

/

7% 

7% 

Michelin Uniroyal 

Bridgestone Firestone 

20% 

Cooper 30% 

Continental 

Goodrich 

23% 

Source: Tire Business 2001 Annual Report 

II.B.3. Economic Trends 

Plastic 

Consumption of miscellaneous plastics products is highest in the electronics, 

health care, construction, transportation, automotive, and food packaging industries. According 

to Plastics Data Source, shipments in the U.S. plastics industry decreased 6.6 percent from 2000 

to 2002. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 1995 to 2000 was 2.2 percent and the 

CAGR from 2000 to 2002 was -5.4 percent, signifying a downturn in the domestic plastics 

industry. Categories accounting for the largest increases in growth included Polystyrene Foam 

Products (16.2 percent) and Plastics Bottles (14.5 percent). Categories accounting for the largest 

decreases included Resilient Floor Covering (15.5 percent) and Urethane and Other Foam 

Products (13.9 percent). Long-term, the aging population in the United States will make plastics 

in healthcare a growth industry but pressures to cut costs will squeeze margins. Plastics in the 

construction industry will continue to be strong as maintenance, repair, and remodeling 

expenditures grow, even as new housing construction might slow. Packaging demand growth 

has slowed during the economic downturn but plastics have continued to gain on other materials 

based on performance, price, and convenience. 

The three largest export markets for the U.S. plastics industry are Canada, 

Mexico, and Japan. In 2000, the U.S. had a trade surplus in plastics products of $894 million. 

That surplus turned into a deficit of $132 million in 2001 and a deficit of $1.38 billion in 2002 

with the deficit expected to continue to increase. In 2002, the trade deficit in plastics products 

with China was $3.72 billion. Plastics products from China had been mostly consumer goods 

Sector Notebook Project 12 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Introduction to the Products Industry 

like cups, plates, curtains, and kitchenware. Now, products like doors, windows, shutters, and 

builders’ ware are hitting the U.S. market. In 2002, Canada accounted for 28.9 percent of U.S. 

plastics products imports while China accounted for 27 percent. U.S. plastics products exports 

no longer compete favorably against lower cost producers in many third-country markets. 

Rubber 

The sales of industrial rubber products are expected to rise 5.7 percent per year to 

more than 18 billion in 2006, outpacing growth in the general economy. This market is closely 

linked to durable goods shipments. Sales for mechanical rubber goods, hose, and belting will be 

aided by the auto industry. The trend to create quieter and more comfortable cars is promoting 

sales of weather stripping and vibration control materials. Slower growth is expected in the 

construction industry through 2006, resulting in lower demands for industrial rubber products 

such as roofing, flooring, and weatherstripping. The U.S. industrial rubber products industry has 

been undergoing a major restructuring process for over a decade. 

Trading patterns reflect the U.S. rubber industry's position as a moderately 

competitive producer; the United States is both a major exporter to industrialized nations and an 

importer of lower-cost products from developing countries. Imports continue to make inroads in 

the domestic market and stand at a nearly 2:1 ratio to exports. 

Tires 

The tire industry shows signs of stabilizing after undergoing a period 

characterized by massive restructuring, the effects of recession in the domestic market, and 

consistently high levels of imports. With tire durability pushed to what many consider the 

practical limit, industry strategy has shifted to servicing the fast-growing emerging markets for 

high-performance, light truck, and recreational vehicle tires. 

Replacement tires for passenger cars dropped 4 percent in 2001 while 

replacement tires for commercial truck tires dropped 10 percent. These declines were offset by 

10.6 percent growth in high-performance tires and 10.2 percent growth in light truck tires. The 

tire industry saw a 2.6 percent growth (anticipated negligible growth) in 2002 and a slight 

increase of 0.6 percent over 2002 and 2003 (but anticipated growth of over 4 percent in 2003). 

Industry shipments reached record levels in 2000, with higher than average growth expected for 

the high-performance, truck, and light truck tires and little or no growth projected for passenger 

tires installed on new cars. 

Key growth figures for segments in the tire industry include the following: 

C Original Equipment Passenger Tires - Little or no growth is anticipated 

from 2004 through 2009 (growth through 2007 expected to be less than 

0.3 percent annualized), partially due to greater light vehicle production 

outside the United States. 

C Original Equipment Light Truck Tires - Growth through 2009 expected to 

be 2.7 percent annualized. 

Sector Notebook Project 13 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Introduction to the Products Industry 

C Original Equipment Medium/Wide-Base Truck Tires - Growth through 

2006 expected to be 50 percent from 2003 level, topping out in 2006 due 

to EPA restrictions on emission standards for these trucks. 

C Replacement Passenger Tires - Growth through 2009 expected to be 

slightly over 2 percent annualized. 

C Replacement Light Truck Tires - Growth through 2009 expected to be just 

under 3 percent annualized. 

C Replacement Medium/Wide-Base Truck Tires - The market grew at a 5.5 

percent rate in 2003. This growth rate is expected to continue through 

2006 and then remain at this level through 2009. 

C Tread rubber for retread tires rebounded in the second half of 2003. 

Shipments through 2005 are expected to increase with an annual growth 

rate of 2.7 percent through 2005. 

During the 1980s, corporate restructuring, mergers, and acquisitions resulted in 

the globalization of the tire industry. More than half of domestic production capacity is now 

owned by foreign-based tire manufacturers, mainly European and Japanese. Among the 

advantages realized by the surviving companies are increased resources for research and 

development, and economies of scale across procurement, manufacturing, distribution, and 

service. 

All four of the major tire producers in the United States are involved in the 

production of the synthetic rubber used in tire production, and two of these producers own and 

operate natural rubber plantations. More than 80 percent of the sales revenue of the four major 

producers (both foreign and domestic) is derived from tires and related transportation products 

such as rubber belts and hoses. 

Sector Notebook Project 14 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

III. INDUSTRIAL PROCESS DESCRIPTION 

This section describes the major industrial processes within the RMPP industry, 

including the materials, equipment, and processes used. The section is designed for those 

interested in gaining a general understanding of the industry, and for those interested in the 

interrelationship between the industrial process and the topics described in subsequent sections 

of this profile - pollutant outputs, pollution prevention opportunities, and federal regulations. 

This section does not attempt to replicate published engineering information that is available for 

this industry. Refer to Section IX for a list of reference documents that are available. 

This section describes commonly used production processes, associated raw 

materials, the by-products produced or released, and the materials either recycled or transferred 

off site. Coupled with schematic drawings of the identified processes, this section concisely 

describes where wastes may be produced in the process and also describes the potential fate (air, 

water, land) of these waste products. 

III.A. Industrial Processes in the RMPP Industry 

The processes used to manufacture plastic and rubber are very diverse; therefore, 

this section presents them individually. 

III.A.1. Plastic 

The production of plastics products, both solid and foam, is a relatively diverse 

industry. Simpler processes consist of: (1) imparting the appropriate characteristics to the plastic 

resin with chemical additives; (2) converting plastic materials in the form of pellets, granules, 

powders, sheets, fluids, or preforms into either intermediate or final formed plastic shapes or 

parts via molding operations; and (3) finishing the product, as shown in Figure 7. 

There are also several methods of reacting plastic resin and catalyst materials to 

form a thermoset plastic material into its final shape, as shown in Figure 8. 

Additives are often mixed with the plastic materials to give the final product 

certain characteristics (some of these additives can also be applied to the shaped product during 

the finishing process). These plastic additives and their functions, in terms of their effect on the 

final product, are listed below. 

C Additive Lubricants assist in easing the flow of the plastic in the molding 

and extruding processes by lubricating the metal surfaces that come into 

contact with the plastic. 

C Antioxidants inhibit the oxidation of plastic materials that are exposed to 

oxygen or air at normal or high temperatures. 

Sector Notebook Project 15 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

Figure 7: Plastics Products Manufacturing Process 

Source: Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313 Reporting Guidance 

for Rubber and Plastics Manufacturing, May 2000. 

Sector Notebook Project 16 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

C Antistats impart a minimal to moderate degree of electrical conductivity 

to the plastic compound, preventing electrostatic charge accumulation on 

the finished product. 

C Blowing Agents (foaming agents) produce a cellular structure within the 

plastic mass and can include compressed gases that expand upon pressure 

release, soluble solids that leach out and leave pores, or liquids that 

change to gases and, in the process, develop cells. 

C Colorants impart color to the plastic resin. 

C Flame Retardants reduce the tendency of the plastic product to burn. 

C Heat Stabilizers assist in maintaining the chemical and physical 

properties of the plastic by protecting it from the effects of heat such as 

color changes, undesirable surface changes, and decreases in electrical and 

mechanical properties. 

C Impact Modifiers prevent brittleness and increase the resistance of the 

plastic to cracking. 

C Organic Peroxides initiate or control the rate of polymerization in 

thermosets and many thermoplastics. 

C Plasticizers increase the plastic product's flexibility and workability. 

C Ultraviolet Stabilizers (UV light absorbers) absorb or screen out ultraviolet radiation, thereby preventing the premature degradation of the 

plastic product. 

After adding the necessary additives to the plastic pellets, granules, powders, etc., 

the plastic mixture is formed into intermediate or final plastics products. To form solid plastics 

products, a variety of molding processes are used, including injection molding, reaction injection 

molding, extrusion, blow molding, thermoforming, rotational molding, compression molding, 

transfer molding, casting, encapsulation, and calendering. Slightly different processes are used 

to make foamed plastics products. The choice of which plastic forming process to use is 

influenced by economic considerations, the number and size of finished parts, the adaptability of 

particular plastic to a process (various plastic will mold, process, etc., differently), and the 

complexity of the post-forming operations. Below are brief descriptions of the most common 

molding and forming processes for creating solid plastics products. 

Injection Molding: In the injection molding process, plastic granules or pellets 

are heated and homogenized in a cylinder until they are fluid enough to be injected (by pressure) 

into a relatively cold mold where the plastic takes the shape of the mold as it solidifies. 

Advantages of this process include speed of production, minimal post-molding requirements, 

and simultaneous multipart molding. The reciprocating screw injection machine is the dominant 

technology used in injection molding. The screw acts as both a material plasticizer and an 

Sector Notebook Project 17 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

injection ram. The buildup of viscous plastic at the nozzle end of a cylinder forces the screw 

backwards as it rotates. When an appropriate charge accumulates, rotation stops and the screw 

moves forward, thereby becoming an injection ram, forcing the melt (liquefied plastic) into the 

mold. The screw remains forward until the melt solidifies and then returns to repeat the cycle, as 

shown in Figure 8. Products made in this way include CDs, DVDs, kitchen utensils, automotive 

components, garbage cans, and countless others. 

Figure 8: Injection Molding 

Source: McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. 

Reaction Injection Molding: In the reaction injection molding process, two 

liquid plastic components, polyols and isocyanates, are mixed at relatively low temperatures (75 

- 140 degrees F) in a chamber and then injected into a closed mold to form polyurethane 

products. The parts molded using this process can be foams or solids, and they can range from 

being flexible to extremely rigid. Products include large polyurethane foams for noise 

abatement and large panels for any indoor or outdoor application. Polyurethane is also used to 

encapsulate items and protect them from the environment. 

Reaction injection molding requires far less energy than other injection molding 

systems because an exothermic reaction occurs when the two liquids are mixed. Reaction 

injection molding is a relatively new processing method that is quickly becoming common in the 

industry. Reinforced reaction injection molding involves placing long fibers or fiber mats in the 

mold before injection. 

Extrusion: In the extrusion process, plastic pellets or granules are fluidized, 

homogenized, and formed continuously as the extrusion machine feeds them through a die, as 

shown in Figure 9. The result is a very long plastic shape such as a tube, pipe, sheet, or coated 

wire. Extruding is often combined with post-extruding processes such as blowing, 

thermoforming, or punching. Extrusion molding has an extremely high rate of output (e.g., pipe 

can be formed at a rate of 2,000 lb/hr (900 kg/hr)). 

Sector Notebook Project 18 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

Figure 9: Extrusion 

Source: McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. 

Blow Molding: Blow molding describes any forming process in which air is 

used to stretch and form plastic materials. In one method of blow molding, a tube is formed 

(usually by extrusion molding) and then made into a free-blown hollow object by injecting air or 

gas into the tube. Blow molding can also consist of putting a thermoplastic material in the rough 

shape of the desired finished product into a mold and then blowing air into the plastic until it 

takes the shape of the mold, similar to blowing up a balloon. Examples of products include a 

wide variety of beverage and food containers. 

Thermoforming: In the thermoforming process, heat and pressure are applied to 

plastic sheets, which are then placed over molds and formed into various shapes. The pressure 

can be in the form of air, compression, or a vacuum, as shown in Figure 10. This process is 

popular because compression is relatively inexpensive. Products include clam shells and blister 

packaging for the shipping industry as well as thin plastic components for retail packaging. 

Rotational Molding: In the rotational molding process, finely ground plastic 

powders are heated in a rotating mold to the point of either melting and/or fusion. The inner 

surface of the rotating mold is then evenly coated by the melted resin. The final product is 

hollow and produced scrap-free. Products include fuel tanks, side paneling for vehicles, and 

carrier cases. 

Sector Notebook Project 19 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

Figure 10: Thermoforming 

plastic sheet clamp 

seal 

vacuum 

mold 

thick areas 

formed part 

thin corners 

and edges 

Source: McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. 

Compression and Transfer Molding: In the compression molding process, 

plastic powder or a preformed plastic part is plugged into a mold cavity and compressed with 

pressure and heat until it takes the shape of the cavity. Transfer molding is similar, except that 

the plastic is liquefied in one chamber and then injected into a closed mold cavity by a 

hydraulically operated plunger, as shown in Figure 11. Transfer molding was developed to 

facilitate the molding of intricate plastics products that contain small deep holes or metal inserts 

because compression molding often ruins the position of the pins that form the holes and the 

metal inserts. 

Sector Notebook Project 20 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

Figure 11: Transfer Molding 

Source: McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. 

Casting and Encapsulation: In the casting process, liquid plastic is poured into 

a mold until it hardens and takes the shape of the mold. In the encapsulation or potting process, 

an object is encased in plastic and then hardened by fusion or a chemical reaction, as shown in 

Figure 12. 

Calendering: In the calendering process, plastic parts are squeezed between two 

rolls to form a thin, continuous film. 

Foamed Plastic: Manufacturing foamed plastics products involves slightly 

different forming processes than those described above. The three types of foam plastic are 

blown, syntactic, and structural. Blown foam is an expanded matrix, similar to a natural sponge; 

syntactic foam is the encapsulation of hollow organic or inorganic micro spheres in the plastic 

matrix; and structural foam is a foamed core surrounded by a solid outer skin. All three types of 

foam plastic can be produced using processes such as injection, extrusion, and compression 

molding to create foam products in many of the same shapes as solid plastics products. The 

difference is that creating foam products requires processes such as chemical blowing agent 

addition, different mixing processes that add air to the plastic matrix, or a unique injection 

molding process used to make structural plastic. 

Sector Notebook Project 21 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

Figure 12: Encapsulation 

Source: McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. 

The following are some basic processes that occur in conjunction with the 

standard molding and forming operations to produce blown foam plastic and syntactic foam 

plastic: 

C A chemical blowing agent that generates gas through thermal 

decomposition is incorporated into the polymer melt; 

C Gas that is under pressure is injected into the melt and then expands 

during pressure relief; 

Sector Notebook Project 22 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

C A low-boiling liquid hydrocarbon is incorporated into the plastic 

compound and volatilized through the exothermic heat of reaction; 

C Nonchemical gas-liberating agents (adsorbed gas on finely divided 

carbon) are added to the resin mix and released during heating; 

C Air is dispersed by mechanical means within the polymer (similar to 

whipping cream); or 

C The external application of heat causes small beads of thermoplastic resin 

containing a blowing agent to expend. 

Structural foam plastic is made by injection molding liquid resins that contain 

chemical blowing agents. Less mixture is injected into the mold than is needed to mold a solid 

plastic part. At first the injection pressure is very high, causing the blowing agent mixture to 

solidify against the mold without undergoing expansion. As the outer skin is formed, the 

pressure is reduced and the remaining resin expands to fill the remainder of the mold. Structural 

foam plastic parts have a high strength-to-weight ratio and often have three to four times greater 

rigidity than solid plastic molded parts of equal weight that are made of the same material. 

After the solid or foam plastic shape is created, post-forming operations such as 

welding, adhesive bonding, machining, applying of additives, and surface decorating (painting 

and metalizing) are used to finish the product. 

Thermoset Resin: To produce a thermoset plastic material, liquid resins are 

combined with a catalyst. Resins used for thermoset plastic products include urethane resins, 

epoxy resins, polyester resins, and acrylic resins. Fillers are often added to the resin-catalyst 

mixture prior to molding to increase product strength and performance and to reduce cost. Most 

thermoset plastic products contain large amounts of fillers (up to 70 percent by weight). 

Commonly used fillers include mineral fibers, clay, glass fibers, wood fibers, and carbon black. 

After the thermoset material is created, a final or intermediate product can be molded. 

Various molding options can be used to create the intermediate or final thermoset 

product. These processes include vacuum molding, press molding, rotational molding, hand 

lamination, casting and encapsulation, spray-up lamination, resin transfer molding, filament 

winding, injection molding, reaction injection molding, and pultrusion. 

III.A.2. Rubber 

Rubber product manufacturing is as diverse as the number of rubber products 

produced. Even with this diversity, there are several basic, common processes. This profile 

focuses on the basic processes of mixing, milling, extruding, calendering, building, vulcanizing, 

and finishing, as shown in Figure 13. 

Sector Notebook Project 23 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

Figure 13: Rubber Manufacturing Process 

Source: Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313 Reporting Guidance 

for Rubber and Plastics Manufacturing, May 2000. 

Mixing: The rubber product manufacturing process begins with the production 

of a rubber mix from polymers (i.e., raw and/or synthetic rubber), carbon black (the primary 

filler used in making a rubber mixture), oils, and miscellaneous chemicals. The miscellaneous 

chemicals include processing aids, vulcanizing agents, activators, accelerators, age resistors, 

Sector Notebook Project 24 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

fillers, softeners, and specialty materials. The following is a list of these miscellaneous 

chemicals and the functions they perform: 

C Processing Aids modify the rubber during the mixing or processing steps, 

or aid in a specific manner during the extrusion, calendering, or molding 

operations. 

C Vulcanizing Agents create cross links between polymer chains. 

C Activators, in combination with vulcanizing agents, reduce the curing 

time by increasing the rate of vulcanization. 

C Accelerators form chemical complexes with activators and thus aid in 

maximizing the benefits from the acceleration system by increasing 

vulcanization rates and improving the final product's properties. 

C Age Resistors slow down the deterioration of the rubber products that 

occurs through reactions with materials that may cause rubber failure 

(e.g., oxygen, ozone, light, heat, radiation). 

C Fillers reinforce or modify the physical properties of the rubber, impart 

certain processing properties, and reduce costs by decreasing the quantity 

of more expensive materials needed for the rubber matrix. 

C Softeners either aid in mixing, promote greater elasticity, produce tack, or 

extend (replace) a portion of the rubber hydrocarbon (without a loss in 

physical properties). 

C Specialty Materials include retarders, colorants, blowing agents, dusting 

agents, odorants, etc. Specialty materials are used for specific purposes, 

and are not required in the majority of rubber compounds. 

Rubber mixes differ depending upon the desired characteristics of the product 

being manufactured. The process of rubber mixing includes the following steps - mixing, 

milling (or other means of sheeting), antitack coating, and cooling. The appropriate ingredients 

are weighed and loaded into an internal mixer known as a "Banbury" mixer, which then 

combines these ingredients. The area where the chemicals are weighed and added to the 

Banbury is called the compounding area. The polymers and miscellaneous chemicals are 

manually introduced into the mixer hopper, while carbon black and oils are often injected 

directly into the mixing chamber from bulk storage systems. The mixer creates a homogeneous 

mass of rubber using two rotors that shear materials against the walls of the machine's body. 

The rubber is then cooled as this mechanical action also adds considerable heat to the rubber. 

Milling: The mixed rubber mass is discharged to a mill or other piece of 

equipment that forms it into a long strip or sheet. The hot, tacky rubber then passes through a 

water-based "antitack" solution that prevents the rubber sheets from sticking together as they 

cool to ambient temperature. The rubber sheets are placed directly onto a long conveyor belt 

Sector Notebook Project 25 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

that, through the application of cool air or cool water, lowers the temperature of the rubber 

sheets. 

After cooling, the sheets of rubber are sent through another mill. These mills 

"warm up" the rubber for further processing on extruders and calenders. Some extruders can be 

"cold fed" rubber sheets, making this milling step unnecessary. 

Extruding: Extruders transform the rubber into various shapes or profiles by 

forcing it through dies via a rotating screw. Extruding heats the rubber, which remains hot until 

it enters a water bath or spray conveyor where it cools. 

Calendering: Calenders receive hot strips of rubber from mills and squeeze them 

into reinforcing fibers or cloth-like fiber matrices, thus forming thin sheets of rubber-coated 

materials. Calenders are also used to produce nonreinforced, thickness-controlled sheets of 

rubber. 

Building: Extruded and calendered rubber components are combined (layered, 

built-up) with wire, polyester, aramid, and other reinforcing materials to produce various rubber 

products. Adhesives, called cements, are sometimes used to enhance the bonding of the various 

product layers. This assembling, reinforcing, precuring, and bonding process is called building. 

Vulcanizing: All rubber products undergo vulcanization (curing). This process 

occurs in heated compression molds, steam-heated pressure vessels (autoclaves), hot air and 

microwave ovens, or various molten and fluidized bed units. During the curing process, the 

polymer chains in the rubber matrix cross-link to form a final product of durable, elastic, 

thermoset rubber. Increasing the number of cross-links in the rubber matrix gives rubber its 

elastic quality. One way to visualize this is to think of a bundle of wiggling snakes in constant 

motion. If the bundle is pulled at both ends and the snakes are not entangled, then the bundle 

comes apart. The more entangled the snakes are (like the rubber matrix after vulcanization), the 

greater the tendency for the bundle to bounce back to its original shape. 

Finishing: Finishing operations are used to prepare the products for delivery to 

the end user. Finishing operations might include balancing, grinding, printing, washing, wiping, 

and buffing. 

Due to the diversity of products and facilities, not all of the processes shown in 

Figure 13 are necessary for every product. For example, many plants do not mix rubber but 

purchase uncured rubber from other facilities. 

Figure 14 illustrates the processes used to manufacture the following rubber 

products: 

C Belts - A typical belt plant does not have an extruder but uses many layers 

of calendered material assembled on a lathe type builder to produce a 

rubber cylinder from which individual belts can be cut. 

Sector Notebook Project 26 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

Figure 14: Processes Used to Manufacture Various Rubber Products Hoses Mix Mill Reinforce Extrude Extrude Vulcanize Finish Belts Mix Mill Calender Build Vulcanize Finish Molded Products Mix Mill Injection Mold Vulcanize Finish Roofing Mix Mill Calender Vulcanize Finish Seals Mix Extrude Finish Mill Vulcanize 

Sector Notebook Project 27 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

C Hoses - A hose plant uses an extruder to produce a tube that is reinforced 

with cord or wire and covered with a layer of rubber applied by an 

extruder. The same extruder may be used to produce the initial tube and 

then to extrude the final "cover" layer onto the reinforced tube. 

C Molded Products - A molded products plant uses extruded material to 

feed compression molds, or may cut strips directly from the mixing 

process to feed the molds. 

C Roofing - Roofing manufacturers processes rubber through mills and 

calenders to produce the necessary sheeting. 

C Sealing - Sealing products manufacturing plants uses extrusion and 

continuous vulcanization in hot air ovens. 

III.A.3. Tires 

The tire manufacturing process is similar to that of manufacturing other rubber 

products. The main difference between the two processes is that the building process for 

manufacturing tires is generally more complex because there are many rubber components. 

As shown in Figure 15, the tire production process in its most basic form consists 

of the following sequential steps: 

C Compounding and mixing elastomers, carbon blacks, pigments, and 

other chemicals such as vulcanizing agents, accelerators, plasticizers, and 

initiators. The process begins with mixing basic rubbers with process oils, 

carbon black, pigments, antioxidants, accelerators and other additives, 

each of which contributes certain properties to the compound. These 

ingredients are mixed in Banbury mixers operating under tremendous heat 

and pressure. They blend the many ingredients into a hot, black gummy 

compound that will be milled again and again. 

C Milling. The cooled rubber takes several forms. Most often it is processed 

into carefully identified slabs that will be transported to breakdown mills. 

These mills feed the rubber between massive pairs of rollers, over and 

over, feeding, mixing, and blending to prepare the different compounds 

for the feed mills, where they are slit into strips and carried by conveyor 

belts to become sidewalls, treads or other parts of the tire. 

C Extruding operations use warming mills and either a hot or cold extruder. 

The equipment forces the rubber compound through dies that create 

individual or a continuous sidewall and tire tread components for future 

tire building. 

Sector Notebook Project 28 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

Figure 15: Tire Manufacturing Process 

Source: Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313 Reporting Guidance 

for Rubber and Plastics Manufacturing, May 2000. 

Sector Notebook Project 29 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

C Tire cord manufacturing and calendering. Processing fabrics and 

coating them with rubber is a calendering operation. A specific rubber 

coats the fabric that is used to make up the tire's body. The fabrics come in 

huge rolls, and they are as specialized and critical as the rubber blends. 

Many kinds of fabrics are used, including polyester, rayon, and nylon. 

C Bead wire processing. It has high-tensile steel wire forming its 

backbone, which will fit against the vehicle's wheel rim. The strands are 

aligned into a ribbon coated with rubber for adhesion, then wound into 

loops that are then wrapped together to secure them until they are 

assembled with the rest of the tire. 

C Tire building. Tires are manually built on one or two tire machines. The 

tire starts with a double layer of synthetic gum rubber called an inner liner 

that will seal in air and make the tire tubeless. The operator uses the tire 

building machine to preshape tires into a form very close to their final 

dimension to make sure the many components are in proper position 

before the tire goes into the mold. The resulting tire is called a “green” 

tire, which is uncured. 

C Lubricating. The lubrication or spraying system provides a coating, 

primarily silicon, on the green tire to afford mold release after curing. 

C Vulcanizing and molding. The curing press is where tires get their final 

shape and tread pattern. Hot molds like giant waffle irons shape and 

vulcanize the tire. The molds are engraved with the tread pattern, the 

sidewall markings of the manufacturer, and those required by law. 

C Finishing and quality assurance. The operation includes balancing, 

grinding, and painting and marking the tire. 

The main piece of equipment used in tire-building is the drum, which is a 

collapsible cylinder shaped like a wide drum that the tire builder can turn and control. The 

building process begins when carcass plies, also known as rubberized fabric, are placed on a 

drum one at a time, after which the cemented beads (rubber coated wires) are added and the plies 

are turned up around them. Narrow strips of fabric are then cemented on for additional strength. 

At this stage, the belts, tread, and sidewall rubber are wrapped around the drum over the fabric. 

The drum is then collapsed and the uncured (green) tire is coated with a lubricant (green tire 

spray) and loaded into an automatic tire press to be molded and cured. Prior to curing, the tire 

looks like a barrel that is open at both ends. The curing process converts the rubber, fabric, and 

wires into a tough, highly elastic product while also bonding the various parts of the tire into one 

single unit, as shown in Figure 16. After curing, the tire is cooled by mounting it on a rim and 

deflating it to reduce internal stress. Finishing the tire involves trimming, buffing, balancing, 

and quality control inspection. 

Sector Notebook Project 30 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

Figure 16: Tire Formation 

Source: "Tire Materials and Construction" in Automotive Engineering, October 1992. 

III.B. Raw Material Inputs and Pollution Outputs in the Production Line 

III.B.1. Plastic

 Most plastic products are grouped into one of three classifications: 

C Thermoplastics. Thermoplastics are plastics that can be heated to become 

soft and harden when cooled. This process can be done repeatedly and the 

plastics do not normally undergo a chemical change during the forming 

process. Thermoplastic products are usually manufactured from solid 

pellets purchased from resin manufacturers. Includes: polyethylene -

(HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, PET); polypropylene - (PP); polystyrene - (PS); 

polyvinyl chloride - (PVC); and saturated polyester. 

C Thermosets. Thermosets undergo a chemical reaction to make them 

permanently solid from heating, pressurizing or reacting with a hardening 

agent. They are usually available in liquid or powder form for reacting 

into products. Unlike thermoplastics, thermosets are not easily remelted 

or refabricated. Includes: epoxy, phenolic, polyurethanes, unsaturated 

polyester, and urea-formaldehyde. 

Sector Notebook Project 31 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

C Foamed Plastics (formed using either thermoplastics or thermosets). 

Includes: polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam, and polyethylene foam. 

Four general types of pollution and resource material outputs can occur at one or 

more stages of the plastics products manufacturing process. In addition, there are some plastics 

products disposal concerns. Manufacturing outputs include spills, leaks, and fugitive emissions 

of chemicals when additives are applied prior to molding or during finishing; wastewater 

discharges during cooling and heating, cleaning, and finishing operations; plastic pellet releases 

to the environment prior to molding; and fugitive emissions from molding and extruding 

machines, as shown in Figure 17. Each of these is discussed below. Section 4.2 of the 

Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313 Reporting 

Guidance for Rubber and Plastics Manufacturing contains a good description of pollution 

sources for this industry. 

Chemicals 

One concern during the plastics products manufacturing process is the potential 

release of the additive chemicals prior to molding and during the finishing process. Releases 

could be in the form of: spills during weighing, mixing, and general handling of the chemicals; 

leaks from chemical containers and molding machines; or fugitive dust emissions from open 

chemical containers. It should be noted that not all plastics products manufacturers use additives 

because many purchased pellets already contain the necessary additives. The chemicals used in 

the plastics products manufacturing process are usually added in such small amounts that most 

manufacturers do not track them closely; however, some of the additives could be toxic and 

therefore releases of even small quantities could present significant problems. According to a 

National Enforcement Investigations Center (NEIC) inspector, the plastic industry is currently 

looking into both the characteristics of plastic additives and their releases so they can better 

understand and address any related environmental or worker safety issues. The following is a 

list of some of the typical chemicals used as additives in the plastics products manufacturing 

process: 

C Lubricants - stearic acid, waxes, fatty acid esters, and fatty acid amines. 

C Antioxidants - alkylated phenols, amines, organic phosphites and 

phosphates, and esters. 

C Antistats - quaternary ammonium compounds, anionics, and amines. 

C Blowing/foaming agents - azodicarbonamide, modified azos, and 

4,4'-Oxybis(benzenesulfonyl hydrazide). Auxiliary blowing agents are 

used to modify foaming and insulation properties. In the past, they were 

CFCs such as CFC-11, CFC-12, 113, and 114. CFCs are being replaced 

by butane, pentane, HCFC-22, 134a, 142, and liquid CO2. A 1992 EPA 

rule that implemented the CAA Section 604 gradually phased out methyl 

chloroform and CFCs. 

Sector Notebook Project 32 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description Plastic Pellet Transfer to the Facility Addition of Chemical Additives Finishing Operations Reaction Molding Molding Casting and and Molding Molding Blow Molding Plastic pellet spills Wastewater discharge Fugitive emissions VOC emissions Chemical additive spills, leaks, and Chemical additive spills, leaks, and VOC emissions Wastewater discharge Plastic pellet spills - Pollution Output

Figure 17: Plastics Products Manufacturing Process Pollution Outputs Injection Injection Calendering Encapsulation Transfer Compression Rotational Thermoforming Extrusion fugitive emissions fugitive emissions - Manufacturing Process 

Sector Notebook Project 33 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

C Colorants - titanium dioxide, iron oxides, anthraquinones, and carbon 

black. 

C Flame Retardants - antimony trioxide, chlorinated paraffins, and 

bromophenols. 

C Heat Stabilizers - lead, barium-cadmium, tin, and calcium-zinc. 

C Organic Peroxides - methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) peroxide, benzoyl 

peroxide, alkyl peroxide, and peresters. 

C Plasticizers - adipates, azelates, trimellitates, and phthalates. 

C Ultraviolet Stabilizers (UV light absorbers) - benzophenones, 

benzotriazole, and salicylates. 

Wastewater 

Contaminated wastewater is another concern in the miscellaneous plastics 

products industry. Water used in the plastic molding and forming processes falls into three main 

categories: (1) water to cool or heat the plastics products; (2) water to clean the surface of both 

the plastics products and the equipment used in production; (3) and water to finish the plastics 

products. 

Cooling and heating water usually comes into contact with raw materials or 

plastics products during molding and forming operations for the purpose of heat transfer. The 

only toxic pollutant that is found in a treatable concentration in some wastewater discharged by 

contact cooling and heating processes is bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (BEHP). Since many 

facilities do not process materials containing BEHP, this is not an issue for those manufacturers. 

Cleaning water includes water that is used to clean the surface of the plastic 

product or the molding equipment that is or has been in contact with the formed plastic product. 

The types of pollution resulting from cleaning water in treatable concentrations are biochemical 

oxygen demand (BOD5), oil and grease, total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand 

(COD), total organic carbon (TOC), total phenols, phenol, and zinc. 

Finishing water consists of water used to carry away waste plastic material or to 

lubricate the product during the finishing operation. TSS, BEHP, di-n-butyl phthalate, and 

dimethyl phthalate are the pollutants identified in finishing water in treatable concentrations. 

Of the pollutants found in all three types of process water, BOD5, oil and grease, 

TSS, and pH are considered conventional pollutants, TOC and COD are considered nonconventional pollutants, and BEHP, di-n-butyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, phenol, and zinc 

are considered priority toxic pollutants. 

Sector Notebook Project 34 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

Pellet Release 

The third concern in the miscellaneous plastics products industry is the release of 

plastic pellets into the environment. Plastic pellets and granules used to mold intermediate and 

final plastics products are often lost to floor sweepings during transport or while being loaded 

into molding machines, and may end up in wastewater. Although they are inert, plastic pellets 

are an environmental concern because of the harm they can cause if runoff carries them to 

wetlands, estuaries, or oceans where they may be ingested by seabirds and other marine species. 

EPA stormwater regulations classify plastic pellets as "significant materials," and therefore the 

discovery of a single pellet in stormwater runoff is subject to federal regulatory action. 

Fugitive Emissions 

Fugitive emissions from the molding processes may be an environmental concern 

because of the many additives, including cadmium and lead, that can be released during the 

application of high heat and pressure. Officials from trade associations (e.g., American Plastic 

Council and The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI)) are currently researching the 

composition of these emissions and their possible effects on air quality. 

Solid Waste Disposal 

Plastics products also pose solid waste disposal concerns. Discarded plastics 

products and packaging make up a growing portion of municipal and solid waste. Because only 

a small percentage of plastic is recycled (less than one percent), virtually all discarded plastics 

products are put into landfills or incinerated. Current estimates show that plastic constitutes 14 

to 21 percent of the waste stream by volume and 7 percent of the waste stream by weight. 

Because of its resistance to degradation, improper plastic disposal can have particularly serious 

ecological risks and aesthetic effects in the marine environment. 

In terms of landfill disposal, the slow degradation of plastic is not a significant 

factor in landfill capacity; research has shown that other constituents (e.g., metals, paper, wood, 

food wastes) also degrade very slowly. However, the additives contained in plastic, such as 

colorants, stabilizers, and plasticizers, may include toxic constituents such as lead and cadmium, 

which can leach out into the environment as the plastic degrades. Plastics contribute 28 percent 

of all cadmium and approximately 2 percent of all lead found in municipal solid waste. Data are 

too limited to determine whether these and other plastic additives contribute significantly to the 

leachate produced in municipal solid waste landfills. Plastic that contains heavy metal-based 

additives may also contribute to the metal content of incinerator ash. 

III.B.2. Rubber 

In the rubber products industry, the primary environmental concerns are fugitive 

emissions, solid wastes, wastewater, and hazardous wastes, as shown in Figure 18. Each of these 

is discussed below. 

Sector Notebook Project 35 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

Figure 18: Rubber Products Manufacturing Process Pollution Outputs 

Finishing 

Building

 Curing/ 

Vulcanizing 

Mixing Milling 

Extruding Calendering 

Raw 

Materials 

Reinforcing 

Materials 

Adhesive Reinforcing 

Materials 

VOC Emissions 

Off-Specification 

Product 

Wastewater 

Scrap Rubber 

Particulate 

Emissions 

Scrap 

Calendered 

Material 

Reinforcing 

Materials 

VOC Emissions 

Scrap Rubber 

VOC Emissions 

Solvent 

Evaporation 

VOC Emissions Wastewater

Adhesives 

Scrap Rubber 

Scrap Rubber 

VOC Emissions 

Sector Notebook Project 36 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

Fugitive Particulate Matter (PM) and Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) 

Emissions 

The compounding area, where dry chemicals are weighed and put into containers 

prior to mixing, can be a source of fugitive emissions and possibly spills and leaks. Because 

additives must be preweighed, in some facilities the chemicals sit in big open bins on the scales 

or while waiting to get on the scales, thus increasing the potential for significant fugitive dust 

emissions. Most mixing facilities have eliminated this problem by purchasing their chemicals in 

small, preweighed, sealed polyethylene bags. The sealed bag is put directly into the Banbury 

mixer thus eliminating a formerly dusty operation. If chemicals are not in preweighed bags, 

fugitive emissions are also produced as the chemicals are loaded into the mixer. Emissions from 

the internal mixers are typically controlled by baghouses. Exhausts from the collection hoods 

are ducted to the baghouses to control particulate and possibly particle-bound semivolatiles and 

metals. The following is a list of the major chemicals used in the rubber compounding and 

mixing processes that can constitute these fugitive emissions: 

C Processing Aids - zinc compounds. 

C Accelerators - zinc compounds, ethylene thiourea, and diethanolamine. 

C Activators - nickel compounds, hydroquinone, phenol, alpha 

naphthylamine, and p-phenylenediamine. 

C Age Restorers - selenium compounds, zinc compounds, and lead 

compounds. 

C Initiator - benzoyl peroxide. 

C Accelerator Activators - zinc compounds, lead compounds, and 

ammonia. 

C Plasticizers - dibutyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, and bis(2-ethylhexyl) 

adipate. 

C Miscellaneous Ingredients - titanium dioxide, cadmium compounds, 

organic dyes, and antimony compounds. 

VOC and hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions are also an environmental 

concern in the rubber product manufacturing processes. A 1994 Rubber Manufacturers 

Association (RMA) Emissions Factors study analyzed data on VOC and HAP emissions 

resulting from the mixing, milling, extruding, calendering, vulcanizing, and grinding processes. 

The findings showed extremely low VOC and HAP emissions for each pound of rubber 

processed. A facility must process 100,000 pounds of rubber to produce 10 pounds of VOCs 

during the mixing process. These emissions may add up, however, at large tire facilities 

producing 50,000 tires a day. The average weight of finished passenger and light truck tires is 

23.5 pounds (approximately 21 pounds without steel and beads); thus, a 50,000 tire per day 

production facility must process at least 1,050,000 pounds of rubber compound. 

Sector Notebook Project 37 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

The RMA VOC emissions factors have been sent to EPA for review and are 

included in Chapter 4 of the AP-42, in draft. EPA used the emission factors, which include 

individual HAP emission factors, in establishing the Maximum Achievable Control Technology 

(MACT) standards subpart XXXX for rubber tire manufacturing. 

Solvent, cement, and adhesive evaporation is another source of VOC and HAP 

emissions. Solvents are used in various capacities during the rubber product manufacturing 

process. For example, solvents are used to degrease equipment and tools and as a type of 

adhesive or cement during building. Typically, releases of solvents occur either when the spent 

solvent solutions are disposed of as hazardous wastes or when degreasing solvents are allowed to 

volatilize. Solvent use is decreasing as water, silicon, and non-solvent-based release compounds 

are now common. 

Wastewater 

Wastewater from cooling, heating, vulcanizing, and cleaning operations is an 

environmental concern at many facilities. Contaminants can be added to wastewater in direct 

contact cooling applications such as extruder cooling conveyors and from direct contact steam 

used in vulcanizing operations. The residual in adhesive-dispensing containers and 

contaminated adhesives can also be sources of contaminated wastewater. 

Zinc is of particular concern as a constituent of stormwater for the facilities 

involved in manufacturing and processing rubber products. A study by the RMA identified 

several processes through which zinc might be introduced into stormwater. Inadequate 

housekeeping is considered to be the primary source of zinc. Inefficient, overloaded, or 

malfunctioning dust collectors and baghouses are another source of zinc. 

Studies have shown that concern about the leaching potential of rubber products 

in landfills is unfounded. The RMA assessed the levels of chemicals, if any, leached from waste 

rubber products using EPA's June 13, 1986 proposed Toxicity Characterization Leaching 

Procedure (TCLP). TCLP tests were performed on 16 types of rubber products to assess the 

leaching potential of over 40 different chemicals, including volatile organics, semivolatile 

organics, and metals. Results of the TCLP study indicate that none of the rubber products tested, 

cured or uncured, exceeded proposed TCLP regulatory levels. Most compounds detected were 

found at trace levels (near method detection limits) from 10 to 100 times less than proposed 

TCLP regulatory limits. The TCLP regulatory levels adopted after June 13, 1986 were even less 

stringent than the original proposal. 

Solid Waste 

Solid wastes are also an issue at rubber products manufacturing facilities. Surface 

grinding activities that generate dust and rubber particles are typically controlled by a primary 

cyclone and a secondary baghouse or electrostatic precipitator. This baghouse-captured PM 

(e.g., chemicals, ground rubber) from compounding areas, Banburys, and grinders is a source of 

solid waste. Used lubricating, hydraulic, and process oils are also prevalent at most 

manufacturing facilities. 

Sector Notebook Project 38 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

Scorched rubber from mixing, milling, calendering, and extruding is a major solid 

waste source within rubber products manufacturing facilities, as is waste rubber produced during 

rubber molding operations. A rubber is scorched when chemical reactions begin to take place in 

the rubber as it is being heated. A scorched rubber is no longer processable. Waste rubber can 

be classified into three categories: (1) uncured rubber waste; (2) cured rubber waste; and (3) offspecification products. Currently, much of the uncured rubber waste is recycled at the facility. 

Cured rubber waste is either recycled at the facility or sold to other companies that use it to make 

products such as mud flaps and playground mats. Off-specification products can be sold to other 

companies that make products from shredded or scrap rubber or it can be disposed of. Much of 

the off-spec, uncured rubber is sold, reprocessed, or recycled. These practices are discussed 

further in Section V. 

Tires 

The resource material and pollution outputs from the tire manufacturing process 

include all of the outputs discussed above in the rubber products manufacturing process. There 

is, however, an emphasis on the VOC and HAP emissions that result from solvent use in 

cementing and spraying operations, as shown in Figure 19, and on scrap tire disposal. 

Volatile Organic Compound Emissions 

VOC and HAP emissions from the rubber tire manufacturing process are caused 

by solvent application, as a process aide, to the different tire components before, during, and 

after the building process (these VOC and HAP emissions can also result from the manufacture 

of other rubber products that require cementing or gluing). The principal VOC and HAP 

emitting processes affected by New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and NESHAP 

regulations are undertread cementing operations, sidewall cementing operations, tread end 

cementing operations, bead cementing operations, green tire spraying operations, Michelin-B 

operations, Michelin-C automatic operations, and processes that use solvents and cements in tire 

production and puncture sealant operations. 

All cementing operations refer to the system used to apply cement to any part of 

the tire. The green tire spraying operation refers to the system used to apply a mold release 

agent and lubricant to the inside and/or outside of green tires as a process aide during the curing 

process and to prevent rubber from sticking to the curing press. VOCs and HAPs are also 

emitted in very limited amounts from operations where rubber is heated, including mixing, 

milling, extruding, calendering, vulcanizing, and grinding. 

Sector Notebook Project 39 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

Figure 19: Tire Manufacturing Process Pollution Outputs 

Compounding 

Calendering -

Rubber/Fabrics 

Building 

Curing 

Vulcanizing 

Cooling 

Cutting 

Finishing 

Extruding -

Bead Wires 

Extruding -

Tread and 

Sidewalls 

Chemcial additive 

spills, leaks, and 

fugitive emissions 

Scrap rubber 

Scrap rubber 

Oil and 

grease spills 

VOC emissions 

Wastewater 

Chemcial additive 

spills, leaks, and 

fugitive emissions 

Particulate emissions 

VOC emissions Scrap rubber

VOC emissions 

- Pollution Outputs 

- Manufacturing Process 

Mixing 

VOC emissions 

Sector Notebook Project 40 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

Scrap Tires 

Probably the biggest environmental concern related to rubber tires is the disposal 

of scrap tires. In 2001, it was estimated that the United States generated approximately 300 

million scrap tires. Approximately 80 percent of these tires were recycled, reused, or recovered. 

Scrap tires pose three environmental threats. One is that tire piles are a fire hazard and burn with 

an intense heat that gives off dense black smoke. These fires are extremely difficult to 

extinguish in part because tire casings form natural air pockets that supply the oxygen that feeds 

the flames. The second threat is that the tires trap rain water, which serves as a nesting ground 

for various insects such as mosquitoes; areas where there are scrap tire piles tend to have severe 

insect problems. The third and most important environmental threat associated with scrap tires 

is that discarded tires are bulky, virtually indestructible, and, when buried, tend to work their 

way back to the surface as casings compressed by the dirt slowly spring back into shape and 

"float" the tire upward. This problem has led to either extremely high tipping fees for scrap tires 

in landfills - at least twice the fee for municipal solid waste - or total bans on whole tires in 

landfills. As discussed above, the RMA has conducted testing to verify that tires are not 

hazardous wastes based on TCLP analysis. The many efforts underway to address this problem 

are discussed in Section V of this profile. 

III.C. Management of Chemicals in Waste Stream 

The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 requires facilities to report information 

about the management of Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) chemicals in waste and efforts made to 

eliminate or reduce those quantities. EPA has collected these data annually in Section 8 of the 

TRI reporting Form R beginning with the 1991 reporting year. The data summarized below 

cover the years 1998-2001 and is meant to provide a basic understanding of the quantities of 

waste handled by the industry, the methods typically used to manage this waste, and recent 

trends in these methods. TRI waste management data can be used to assess trends in source 

reduction within individual industries and facilities and for specific TRI chemicals. This 

information could then be used as a tool in identifying opportunities for pollution prevention 

compliance assistance activities. 

The quantities reported for 1998 to 2001 are estimates of quantities already 

managed. EPA requires these projections to encourage facilities to consider future waste 

generation and source reduction of those quantities as well as movement up the waste 

management hierarchy. 

Table 5 shows that the RMPP industry managed approximately 250,000,000 

pounds of production-related waste (total quantity of TRI chemicals in the waste from routine 

production operations) in 2001 (column B). Approximately 40 percent of the industry's TRI 

wastes were managed on site through recycling, energy recovery, or treatment, as shown in 

columns D, E, and F, respectively. The majority of waste that is released or transferred off site 

can be divided into portions that are recycled off site, recovered for energy off site, or treated off 

site as shown in columns G, H, and I, respectively. The remaining portion of the productionrelated wastes (43.0 percent), shown in column J, is either released to the environment through 

direct discharges to air, land, water, and underground injection, or it is disposed of off site. 

Sector Notebook Project 41 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Industrial Process Description 

Table 5: Quantity of Production-Related Waste Managed by the RMPP Industry 

A B D E F G H I J 

ProductionRelated 

Waste 

On Site Off Site Remaining 

Releases 

and 

Year Disposal

Volume 

(106

 lbs.) % Recycled 

% Energy 

Recovery % Treated % Recycled 

% Energy 

Recovery % Treated 

1998 263 19.53% 7.26% 17.14% 6.66% 3.15% 3.68% 42.57% 

1999 251 19.49% 5.77% 15.78% 7.54% 3.23% 3.74% 44.46% 

2000 229 18.78% 6.68% 15.16% 6.66% 2.97% 4.12% 45.63% 

2001 205 17.07% 11.38% 14.23% 6.48% 3.66% 4.23% 42.95% 

Source: Reduction and Recycling Activity for SIC code 30. 

The yearly data presented in Table 5 show that the portion of TRI wastes reported 

as recycled on site has decreased slightly and the portions treated or managed through energy 

recovery on site have increased slightly between 1998 and 2001. 

Sector Notebook Project 42 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Chemical Release & Other Waste Mgmt. Profile 

IV. CHEMICAL RELEASE AND OTHER WASTE MANAGEMENT 

PROFILE 

This section provides background information on the pollutant releases that are 

reported by this industry in correlation with other industries. The best source of comparative 

pollutant release and other waste management information is the TRI. Pursuant to the 

Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), TRI includes self-reported 

facility release and other waste management data for over 650 toxic chemicals and chemical 

categories. Facilities within SIC codes 10 (except 1011, 1081, and 1094); 12 (except 1241); 20­

39; 4911, 4931, and 4939 (limited to facilities that combust coal and/or oil for the purpose of 

generating electricity for distribution in commerce); 4953 (limited to facilities regulated under 

the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle C, 42 U.S.C. section 6921 et 

seq.); 5169; 5171; and 7389 (limited to facilities primarily engaged in solvents recovery services 

on a contract or fee basis) that have more than 10 employees, and that manufacture, process or 

otherwise use listed chemicals in quantities greater than the established threshold in the course of 

a calendar year are required to report to TRI release and other waste management quantities (on 

and off site) annually. The information presented in this Sector Notebook is derived from the 

most recently available (2002) TRI reporting year (which includes over 650 chemicals and 

chemical categories), and focuses primarily on the on-site releases reported by each sector. 

Because TRI requires consistent reporting regardless of sector, it is an excellent tool for drawing 

comparisons across industries. 

Although this Sector Notebook does not present historical information regarding 

TRI chemical releases over time, note that, in general, toxic chemical releases have been 

declining. According to the 2000 Toxic Release Inventory Public Data Release, reported on-site 

and off-site releases of toxic chemicals to the environment from original TRI reporting industries 

(SIC codes 20-39) decreased by more than 8 percent (644 million pounds) between 1999 and 

2000 (not including chemicals added and removed from the TRI chemical list during this 

period). Reported on-site releases dropped by almost 57 percent between 1988 and 2000. 

Reported transfers of TRI chemicals to off-site locations for disposal increased by almost 7 

percent (28 million pounds) between 1988 and 2000. More detailed information is available in 

EPA's annual Toxics Release Inventory Public Data Release Report (which is available through 

the EPCRA Call Center at (800) 424-9346) or from the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/tri. 

Wherever possible, the sector notebooks present TRI data as the primary indicator 

of chemical release within each industrial category. TRI data provide the type, amount, and 

media receptor of each chemical released or otherwise managed as waste. When other sources 

of pollutant release data have been obtained, EPA included the data to augment the TRI 

information. 

TRI Data Limitations 

Certain limitations exist regarding TRI data. Within some sectors (e.g., printing 

and transportation equipment cleaning), the majority of facilities are not subject to TRI reporting 

either because they do not fall under covered SIC codes, or because they are below the TRI 

reporting threshold amounts. However, EPA lowered threshold amounts for persistent 

bioaccumulative toxic (PBT) chemicals starting in reporting year 2000. For these chemicals, 

Sector Notebook Project 43 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Chemical Release & Other Waste Mgmt. Profile 

EPA included release information from other sources. In addition, many facilities report to TRI 

under more than one SIC code, reflecting the multiple operations carried out on site whether or 

not the operations are the facilities’ primary area of business as reported to the U.S. Census 

Bureau. Reported chemicals are limited to the approximately 650 TRI chemicals and chemical 

categories. A portion of the emissions from the RMPP industry, therefore, are not captured by 

TRI. Also, reported releases and other waste management quantities may or may not all be 

associated with the industrial operations described in this Sector Notebook. 

Note that TRI “pounds released” data presented within the sector notebooks are 

not equivalent to a “risk” ranking for each industry. Weighting each pound of release equally 

does not factor in the relative toxicity of each chemical that is released. EPA has assigned 

toxicological weightings and population exposure levels to chemicals so that one can 

differentiate between pollutants with significant differences in toxicity. This project, the Risk 

Screening Environmental Indicators Model, is discussed at http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/rsei/. 

As a preliminary indication of the environmental impact of the industry's most 

commonly released chemicals, this Sector Notebook briefly summarizes the toxicological 

properties of the top five chemicals (by weight) reported by this sector. 

Definitions Associated With Section IV Data Tables 

General Definitions 

SIC Code -- A statistical classification standard used for all establishment-based 

federal economic statistics. The SIC codes facilitate comparisons between facility and industry 

data. (See Section II.) 

TRI Facilities -- Facilities that are within specified SIC codes that have 10 or 

more full-time employees and are above established threshold amounts for manufacture or 

process or otherwise use activities in the course of a calendar year. These facilities are in SIC 

codes 10 (except 1011, 1081, and 1094), 12 (except 1241), 20-39, 4911 (limited to facilities that 

combust coal and/or oil for the purpose of generating electricity for distribution in commerce), 

4931 (limited to facilities that combust coal and/or oil for the purpose of generating electricity 

for distribution in commerce), 4939 (limited to facilities that combust coal and/or oil for the 

purpose of generating electricity for distribution in commerce), 4953 (limited to facilities 

regulated under the RCRA Subtitle C, 42 U.S.C. section 6921 et seq.), 5169, 5171, and 7389 

(limited to facilities primarily engaged in solvents recovery services on a contract or fee basis), 

and federal facilities. Facilities must submit release and other waste management estimates for 

all chemicals that are on the EPA's defined list and are above manufacturing or processing or 

otherwise use thresholds. 

Data Table Column Heading Definitions 

The following definitions are based upon standard definitions developed by 

EPA’s TRI Program. The categories below represent the possible pollutant destinations that can 

be reported. 

Sector Notebook Project 44 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Chemical Release & Other Waste Mgmt. Profile 

On-Site Releases (Table 9) -- An on-site discharge of a toxic chemical to the 

environment. This includes emissions to the air, discharges to bodies of water, releases at the 

facility to land, as well as contained disposal into underground injection wells. 

Fugitive Air and Point Air Emissions -- All air emissions from industry 

activity. Point emissions occur through confined air streams as found in stacks, ducts, or pipes. 

Fugitive emissions include losses from equipment leaks or evaporative losses from 

impoundments, spills, or leaks. 

Water (Surface Water) Discharges -- Any releases going directly to streams, 

rivers, lakes, oceans, or other bodies of water. Any estimates for stormwater runoff and 

nonpoint losses must also be included. 

Underground Injection -- A contained release of a fluid into a subsurface well 

for the purpose of waste disposal. 

Land Disposal -- Disposal of toxic chemicals in waste to on-site landfills, land 

treatment or incorporation into soil, surface impoundments, spills, leaks, or waste piles. These 

activities must occur within the facility's boundaries for inclusion in this category. 

Transfers (Table 10) -- A transfer of toxic chemicals in wastes to a facility that 

is geographically or physically separate from the facility reporting under TRI. The quantities 

reported represent a movement of the chemical away from the reporting facility. Except for offsite transfers for disposal, these quantities do not necessarily represent entry of the chemical into 

the environment. 

POTW Discharges -- Wastewaters transferred through pipes or sewers to a 

publicly owned treatments works (POTW). Treatment and chemical removal depend on the 

chemical's nature and treatment methods used. Chemicals not treated or destroyed by the POTW 

are generally released to surface waters or land filled within the sludge. Metals and metal 

compounds transferred to POTWs are considered as released to surface water. 

Disposal -- Wastes taken to another facility for disposal, generally as a release to 

land or as an injection underground. 

Recycling -- Wastes sent off site for the purposes of regenerating or recovering 

still valuable materials. Once these chemicals have been recycled, they may be returned to the 

originating facility or sold commercially. 

Treatment -- Wastes moved off site for either neutralization, incineration, 

biological destruction, or physical separation. In some cases, the chemicals are not destroyed but 

prepared for further waste management. 

Energy Recovery -- Wastes combusted off site in industrial furnaces for energy 

recovery. Treating a chemical by incineration is not considered to be energy recovery. 

Sector Notebook Project 45 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Chemical Release & Other Waste Mgmt. Profile 

IV.A. EPA TRI for the RMPP Industry 

This subsection provides TRI data for those facilities categorized under SIC code 

30, the RMPP industry. According to the TRI data, the manufacture of rubber and miscellaneous 

plastics products results primarily in the release of solvents. Commonly released solvents 

include methanol, toluene, MEK, xylene, and dichloromethane. According to the TRI Public 

Data Release for 2002, the RMPP industry released over 71 million pounds of pollutants and 

transferred over 59 million pounds of pollutants. Of pollutants released, approximately 77 

percent were released as point source air emissions, approximately 22 percent were released as 

fugitive air emissions, approximately 0.1 percent were released to water, and approximately 1 

percent were disposed of on land. 

The TRI database is a detailed compilation of self-reported, facility-specific 

chemical releases. The top reporting facilities for this sector are listed below. Table 6 presents 

data for facilities that have reported only the SIC codes covered under this Sector Notebook. 

Table 7 presents data for additional facilities that have reported the SIC code covered in this 

Sector Notebook, and one or more SIC codes that are not within the scope of this notebook. 

Therefore, Table 7 includes data for facilities that conduct multiple operations — some that are 

under the scope of this notebook, and some that are not. Currently, the facility-level data do not 

allow pollutant releases to be broken apart by industrial process. Table 8 lists the number of 

RMPP facilities by state. 

The RMPP industry air releases can be traced primarily to the curing, mixing 

component preparation, and building/assembly stages of the rubber products manufacturing 

process and to the solvent cleaning and finishing stages of the plastics products manufacturing 

process. Major pollutants released to air include styrene, toluene, dichloromethane, and carbon 

disulfide. As discussed in Section III.B., releases of pollutants to water and transfers of 

pollutants to POTWs occur primarily from machinery cleaning and cooling in both the rubber 

and plastics products manufacturing processes and from rubber cooling and heating during the 

rubber products manufacturing process. Major pollutants released to water include nitrate 

compounds, zinc compounds, ethylene glycol, and ammonia. Major pollutants transferred to 

POTWs include nitrate compounds, formaldehyde, N,N-dimethylformamide, and methanol. 

Releases of pollutants to land occur from the use of various chemicals in the rubber and plastic 

mixing processes. Major releases of pollutants to land include sodium nitrite, zinc compounds, 

methyl acrylate, and acrylonitrile. 

The RMPP industry releases and transfers a number of metals in large quantities 

(i.e., transfers as high as millions of pounds and releases as high as hundreds of thousands of 

pounds). These metals include zinc compounds, lead compounds, lead, and zinc. Both zinc and 

lead are used in the rubber mixing process as vulcanizing agents, accelerators, activators, and 

processing aids (zinc only). Lead and zinc are bound within the rubber matrix and are sent off 

site for recycling or disposal. Tables 9, 10, and 11 present releases and transfers for SIC code 30 

TRI reporting facilities. 

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Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Chemical Release & Other Waste Mgmt. Profile 

Table 6: Top 10 TRI Releasing RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30 Only Facilities) 

Rank 

Total TRI 

Releases in 

Pounds Facility Name City State 

1 3,113,500 Teepak LLC Danville IL 

2 3,106,018 Nevamar Co. LLC Hampton SC 

3 2,291,539 Viskase Corp. Loudon TN 

4 1,755,043 Aqua Glass Main Plant Adamsville TN 

5 1,443,305 Viskase Corp. Osceola AR 

6 1,113,389 Texas Recreation Corp. Wichita Falls TX 

7 1,109,555 Pactiv Corp. Winchester VA 

8 1,092,955 Daramic Inc. Corydon IN 

9 1,004,422 Spontex Inc. Columbia TN 

10 768,075 Owens Corning Tallmadge Tallmadge OH 

Source: U.S. EPA, Toxics Release Inventory Database, 2002.

Note: Being included on this list does not mean that the release is associated with noncompliance with environmental laws. 

Table 7: Top 10 TRI Releasing RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30 and Other SIC Code 

Facilities) 

SIC Codes 

Total TRI 

Releases in 

Pounds Facility Name City State 

3089 3,113,500 Teepak LLC Danville IL 

3083 3,106,018 Nevamar Co. LLC Hampton SC 

3089 2,291,539 Viskase Corp. Loudon TN 

3088 1,755,043 Aqua Glass Main Plant Adamsville TN 

3086, 2821 1,590,889 Dow Chemical Co. Riverside Site Pevely MO 

3089 1,443,305 Viskase Corp. Osceola AR 

2822, 3087 1,202,360 Kraton Polymers U.S. LLC Belpre OH 

3086 1,113,389 Texas Recreation Corp. Wichita Falls TX 

3086 1,109,555 Pactiv Corp. Winchester VA 

3089 1,092,955 Daramic Inc. Corydon IN 

Source: U.S. EPA, Toxics Release Inventory Database, 2002.

Note: Being included on this list does not mean that the release is associated with noncompliance with environmental laws.

Sector Notebook Project 47 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Chemical Release & Other Waste Mgmt. Profile 

Table 8: TRI Reporting RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) by State 

Number of 

State Facilities 

AL 34 

AR 29 

AZ 26 

CA 110 

CO 12 

CT 24 

DE 10 

FL 69 

GA 70 

IA 29 

ID 1 

IL 91 

IN 136 

KS 25 

KY 35 

LA 13 

MA 40 

MD 15 

ME 7 

MI 88 

MN 34 

MO 58 

MS 28 

NC 91 

Number of 

State Facilities 

ND 4 

NE 14 

NH 17 

NJ 35 

NM 4 

NV 8 

NY 37 

OH 195 

OK 23 

OR 19 

PA 92 

PR 5 

RI 12 

SC 51 

SD 4 

TN 81 

TX 133 

UT 6 

VA 36 

VT 4 

WA 21 

WI 60 

WV 15 

WY 

Source: U.S. EPA, Toxics Release Inventory Database, 2002. 

Sector Notebook Project 48 February 2005 
49

Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Chemical Release & Othe

Table 9: Releases for RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) in TRI, by Number of Facilities (releases reporte

Chemical Name 

# Facilities 

Reporting 

Chemical 

Fugitive Air 

Emissions 

Point 

Source Air 

Emissions 

Water 

Discharges 

Underground 

Injection 

Land 

Disposal 

R

Styrene 675 5,461,024 19,892,568 532 0 80,789 2Zinc Compounds 442 36,549 86,236 14,232 0 102,952 Lead Compounds 291 8,274 20,050 218 0 3,353 Diisocyanates 274 10,676 9,873 0 0 181,245 Toluene 197 2,288,190 5,059,580 512 0 260 Methyl Ethyl Ketone 163 1,538,639 2,870,242 5 0 676 Bis(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate 155 88,637 471,389 440 0 5,207 Antimony Compounds 154 37,554 5,072 262 0 24,918 Xylene (Mixed Isomers) 108 490,844 2,696,529 7 0 3,267 Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds 85 58 6,967 0 0 1,902 Lead 80 709 112 97 0 9,539 Chromium Compounds (Except Chromite Ore Mined in the Transvaal Region) 

79 973 878 10 0 1 

Toluene Diisocyanate (Mixed Isomers) 

78 5,589 18,348 0 0 0 

Certain Glycol Ethers 72 67,105 606,644 14 0 10,887 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane 65 793,732 1,130,128 0 0 21,421 Barium Compounds 62 900 2,126 168 0 1,756 Methyl Methacrylate 59 169,660 725,407 0 0 0 Benzo(g,h,i)perylene 59 41 114 0 0 0 Decabromodiphenyl Oxide 55 2,762 5,845 58 0 30,243 Methyl Isobutyl Ketone 51 194,762 1,244,271 0 0 170 Thiram 49 1,435 2,074 31 0 9,729 Methanol 47 284,936 2,453,282 635 0 355 Phenol 43 68,348 1,064,463 18 0 0 

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Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Chemical Release & Othe

Table 9: Releases for RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) in TRI, by Number of Facilities 

(releases reported in pounds/year) (Continued) 

Chemical Name 

# Facilities 

Reporting 

Chemical 

Fugitive Air 

Emissions 

Point 

Source Air 

Emissions 

Water 

Discharges 

Underground 

Injection 

Land 

Disposal 

R

Dichloromethane 43 456,421 1,585,297 5 0 0 Ethylbenzene 42 76,514 375,431 17 0 616 Cobalt Compounds 38 25 5,648 287 0 13 Chlorodifluoromethane 37 333,349 344,881 0 0 0 Ethylene Glycol 35 4,256 55,581 0 0 0 N-hexane 35 293,776 166,683 0 0 0 Manganese Compounds 30 531 277 0 0 0 Copper 29 92,217 566 3 0 2,718 N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone 28 9,414 218,983 0 0 38 Diethanolamine 26 1,648 1,111 0 0 0 Nitrate Compounds 26 505 8,043 68,084 0 0 Formaldehyde 24 10,003 106,164 0 0 0 Trichloroethylene 21 1,223,894 126,851 1 0 0 N-butyl Alcohol 20 46,259 168,677 0 0 900 Nickel Compounds 19 45 540 0 0 0 Chromium 18 251 10 0 0 0 Dimethylformamide 18 12,931 142,731 1,902 0 0 Ammonia 18 173,651 810,755 14,040 0 0 2-mercaptobenzothiazole 18 141 647 5 0 0 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene 16 49,583 159,940 0 0 1,794 Dibutyl Phthalate 16 96,520 3,168 0 0 5 4,4-methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) 15 1 6 0 0 0 Cadmium Compounds 15 200 356 5 0 0 Dimethyl Phthalate 14 4,751 58,569 0 0 86 

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Table 9: Releases for RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) in TRI, by Number of Facilities 

(releases reported in pounds/year) (Continued) 

Chemical Name 

# Facilities 

Reporting 

Chemical 

Fugitive Air 

Emissions 

Point 

Source Air 

Emissions 

Water 

Discharges 

Underground 

Injection 

Land 

Disposal 

R

Sodium Nitrite 14 250 10,136 250 0 234,000 Nickel 13 250 750 0 0 0 Copper Compounds 13 48 70 253 0 0 Toluene-2,4-diisocyanate 12 1,806 611 0 0 0 Nitric Acid 11 716 615 0 0 0 Zinc (Fume or Dust) 11 481 3,875 250 0 0 Tetrabromobisphenol A 10 11 38 4 0 0 Mercury Compounds 10 0 10 0 0 0 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane 10 625,482 3,302,675 0 0 0 Antimony 9 500 0 0 0 167 Vinyl Acetate 9 13,167 50,397 0 0 0 Ethylene Thiourea 8 10 91 5 0 0 Hydrochloric Acid (1995 and after "Acid Aerosols" Only) 

8 49,651 467,071 0 0 0 

Toluene-2,6-diisocyanate 8 385 133 0 0 0 Tetrachloroethylene 7 36,735 83,426 0 0 0 Chlorine 7 3,017 304 473 0 0 Aluminum (Fume or Dust) 7 186 6 0 0 0 Carbon Disulfide 7 505,604 7,430,918 556 0 0 Cumene Hydroperoxide 7 7,616 2,226 0 0 0 Phthalic Anhydride 7 753 332 0 0 1,838 Aluminum Oxide (Fibrous Forms) 6 250 39 0 0 0 Benzoyl Peroxide 6 5 5 0 0 0 Acrylonitrile 6 102 657 0 0 250 

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Table 9: Releases for RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) in TRI, by Number of Facilities 

(releases reported in pounds/year) (Continued) 

Chemical Name 

# Facilities 

Reporting 

Chemical 

Fugitive Air 

Emissions 

Point 

Source Air 

Emissions 

Water 

Discharges 

Underground 

Injection 

Land 

Disposal 

R

Cumene 6 131 1,076 0 0 0 Sulfuric Acid (1994 and after "Acid Aerosols" Only) 

6 30,557 137,049 0 0 0 

4,4'-methylene dianiline 5 750 256 0 0 0 Ozone 5 5 142,068 0 0 0 Manganese 5 250 0 0 0 0 Bisphenol A 5 75 6,339 0 0 0 Cyclohexane 4 1,050 21,977 0 0 0 Butyl Acrylate 4 718 341 0 0 0 1,3-phenylenediamine 4 0 0 0 0 0 Mercury 4 2 0 0 0 0 Maleic Anhydride 4 505 5 0 0 0 Ethylene Oxide 4 561 1,987 0 0 0 Cadmium 4 0 0 0 0 0 Butyraldehyde 3 13,664 23,147 0 0 0 Chloroprene 3 0 0 0 Barium 3 2 1 0 0 0 1,1,1-trichloroethane 3 255 5 0 0 0 Dicyclopentadiene 3 98 25 0 0 0 Mixture 3 0 955 0 0 0 Dioxin and Dioxin-like Compounds 3 0 210 0 0 0 Ethyl Acrylate 3 1,154 2,057 0 0 0 Methyl Acrylate 3 1,186 1,784 0 0 0 Hexachlorobenzene 3 388 0 0 0 0 

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Table 9: Releases for RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) in TRI, by Number of Facilities 

(releases reported in pounds/year) (Continued) 

Chemical Name 

# Facilities 

Reporting 

Chemical 

Fugitive Air 

Emissions 

Point 

Source Air 

Emissions 

Water 

Discharges 

Underground 

Injection 

Land 

Disposal 

R

1,4-dioxane 2 360 254 0 0 0 N,N-dimethylaniline 2 0 0 0 0 0 Benzene 2 0 0 0 0 0 Silver 2 5 250 0 0 0 Acetaldehyde 2 2,330 40,000 0 0 0 Acetonitrile 2 2,317 0 0 0 0 Propylene Oxide 2 44 31 0 0 0 Acrylic Acid 2 8 11 0 0 0 2-methoxyethanol 2 0 293,562 0 0 0 1,3-butadiene 2 0 250 0 0 250 Cresol (Mixed Isomers) 2 56 55,826 0 0 0 Formic Acid 2 90 0 0 0 0 Cobalt 2 0 0 0 Chloroethane 2 283,170 188,240 0 0 0 Diphenylamine 2 200 105 0 0 0 Arsenic Compounds 2 0 0 0 Vinyl Chloride 2 0 0 0 1,2-butylene Oxide 1 0 0 0 Vinylidene Chloride 1 145 880 0 0 0 Tert-butyl Alcohol 1 2,231 9,196 0 0 0 Trifluralin 1 238 0 0 0 0 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl Ether 1 0 0 0 Trichlorofluoromethane 1 0 0 0 1,2-dichloroethane 1 0 0 0 

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Table 9: Releases for RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) in TRI, by Number of Facilities 

(releases reported in pounds/year) (Continued) 

Chemical Name 

# Facilities 

Reporting 

Chemical 

Fugitive Air 

Emissions 

Point 

Source Air 

Emissions 

Water 

Discharges 

Underground 

Injection 

Land 

Disposal 

R

Triethylamine 1 0 2,927 0 0 0 Selenium Compounds 1 0 0 0 Tetramethrin 1 1,577 11,023 0 0 0 N-nitrosodiphenylamine 1 0 0 0 0 0 Dimethipin 1 250 0 0 0 0 Epichlorohydrin 1 0 0 0 Chloroform 1 0 0 0 Chlorobenzene 1 0 16,007 0 0 0 Freon 113 1 13,078 0 0 0 0 Methyl Isocyanate 1 1 1 0 0 0 Methyl Tert-butyl Ether 1 0 0 0 0 0 Arsenic 1 0 0 0 0 0 Naphthalene 1 0 0 0 Selenium 1 0 0 0 Diazinon 1 0 0 0 Asbestos (Friable) 1 0 1 0 0 0 Ethylene 1 97 0 97 0 0 O-toluidine 1 0 0 0 Polychlorinated Alkanes 1 0 0 0 0 0 Aniline 1 0 0 0 0 0 Quinone 1 0 0 0 0 0 M-xylene 1 0 0 0 Total 1,952 16,042,856 55,025,345 103,476 0 731,344 7

Source: U.S. EPA, Toxics Release Inventory Database, 2002. Sector Notebook Project 
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Table 10: Transfers for RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) in TRI, by Number of Facilitie

(transfers reported in pounds/year) 

Chemical Name 

# Facilities 

Reporting 

Chemical 

POTW 

Discharges Disposal Recycling Treatment 

Energy 

Recovery 

T

Styrene 675 3,946 859,569 8,792 290,121 1,137,561 Zinc Compounds 442 42,128 5,631,888 2,869,577 0 1,700 Lead Compounds 291 723 183,920 321,365 0 0 Diisocyanates 274 5 235,018 3,986 100,619 56,824 Toluene 197 594 58,387 548,813 435,972 2,107,294 Methyl Ethyl Ketone 163 321 8,806 2,380,041 1,420,252 1,788,074 Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate 155 2,601 605,431 1,499,732 39,571 162,697 Antimony Compounds 154 1,124 292,392 71,779 0 0 Xylene (Mixed Isomers) 108 20 4,462 239,371 1,475,502 600,687 Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds 85 6,747 161,942 121,595 1,239 2,129 Lead 80 78 5,747,333 201,591 8 0 Chromium Compounds(Except Chromite Ore Mined in the Transvaal Region) 

79 913 246,967 14,207 0 0 

Toluene Diisocyanate (Mixed Isomers) 

78 0 24,874 0 82,982 68,032 

Certain Glycol Ethers 72 19,474 81,917 52,397 258,880 151,039 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane 65 2,430 106,287 49,770 6,382 40,063 Barium Compounds 62 63 43,997 14,376 5 0 Methyl Methacrylate 59 38,188 9,824 0 23,535 969,523 Benzo(g,h,i)perylene 59 0 174 514 52 133 Decabromodiphenyl Oxide 55 279 367,722 46,546 3,834 1,655 Methyl Isobutyl Ketone 51 6,591 4,182 62,847 57,896 306,258 

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Table 10: Transfers for RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) in TRI, by Number of Facilitie

(transfers reported in pounds/year) (Continued) 

Chemical Name 

# Facilities 

Reporting 

Chemical 

POTW 

Discharges Disposal Recycling Treatment 

Energy 

Recovery 

T

Thiram 49 1,495 61,124 36,640 9,481 1,182 Methanol 47 554,954 2,130 1,432,879 68,837 1,071,039 Phenol 43 372 104,825 23,334 20,939 31,921 Dichloromethane 43 250 250 27,124 24,498 35,400 Ethylbenzene 42 56 133 34,370 137,642 232,799 Cobalt Compounds 38 702 47,854 13,887 0 0 Chlorodifluoromethane 37 0 6,887 1,208 0 4,137 Ethylene Glycol 35 62,827 3,557 1,276,345 226,706 57,641 N-hexane 35 0 205 0 28,057 63,608 Manganese Compounds 30 267 12,657 3,904 0 0 Copper 29 65 106,504 2,671,557 0 0 N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone 28 172,324 755 204,959 43,123 129,743 Diethanolamine 26 0 0 0 270 1,087 Nitrate Compounds 26 5,397,797 343,938 350 1,359 0 Formaldehyde 24 2,413,754 15,096 374 15,944 7,475 Trichloroethylene 21 42 521 51,085 25,906 250 N-butyl Alcohol 20 150,000 0 6,034 142,462 103,915 Nickel Compounds 19 582 225,073 42,920 0 0 Chromium 18 5 902 420,575 0 0 N,N-dimethylformamide 18 3,584,844 0 0 2,229 219,616 Ammonia 18 14,470 20,698 0 0 0 2-mercaptobenzothiazole 18 10 31,919 500 0 24 

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Table 10: Transfers for RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) in TRI, by Number of Facilitie

(transfers reported in pounds/year) (Continued) 

Chemical Name 

# Facilities 

Reporting 

Chemical 

POTW 

Discharges Disposal Recycling Treatment 

Energy 

Recovery 

T

1,2,4-trimethylbenzene 16 0 1 19,095 30,254 29,577 Dibutyl Phthalate 16 41 6,666 1,904 393 853 4,4'-methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) 15 0 1,440 0 12,269 1,547 Cadmium Compounds 15 41 2,264 0 0 0 Dimethyl Phthalate 14 160 1,100 0 86 35,551 Sodium Nitrite 14 335,137 7,224 5 11,549 1,110 Nickel 13 256 23,497 143,149 0 0 Copper Compounds 13 887 217,815 60,114 0 0 Toluene-2,4-diisocyanate 12 0 5,488 0 614 0 Nitric Acid 11 5 0 0 22,133 0 Zinc (Fume or Dust) 11 0 12,670 0 0 0 Tetrabromobisphenol a 10 9 9,654 0 250 98 Mercury Compounds 10 0 34 0 0 0 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane 10 0 9,498 0 0 0 Antimony 9 0 15,243 3,865 0 0 Vinyl Acetate 9 20,525 1,938 0 28,397 7,517 Ethylene Thiourea 8 1 2,005 2,005 5,470 14 Hydrochloric Acid (1995 and after "Acid Aerosols" Only) 

8 0 0 0 141 0 

Toluene-2,6-diisocyanate 8 0 1,372 0 154 0 Tetrachloroethylene 7 0 33 746 7,917 4,850 Chlorine 7 750 0 0 0 0 

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Table 10: Transfers for RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) in TRI, by Number of Facilitie

(transfers reported in pounds/year) (Continued) 

Chemical Name 

# Facilities 

Reporting 

Chemical 

POTW 

Discharges Disposal Recycling Treatment 

Energy 

Recovery 

T

Aluminum (Fume or Dust) 7 5 2,553 0 5,464 0 Carbon Disulfide 7 123,100 0 0 0 0 Cumene Hydroperoxide 7 0 0 0 0 571 Phthalic Anhydride 7 0 8,611 1,732 0 0 Aluminum Oxide (Fibrous Forms) 6 5 19,250 0 0 0 Benzoyl Peroxide 6 0 2,700 0 0 0 Acrylonitrile 6 5 8,103 0 0 68,027 Cumene 6 0 3,923 0 13,931 13,218 Sulfuric Acid (1994 and after "Acid Aerosols" Only) 

6 0 0 0 0 0 

4,4'-methylene dianiline 5 0 0 0 4,346 0 Ozone 5 0 0 0 0 0 Manganese 5 0 4,343 17,600 0 0 Bisphenol A 5 250 2,130 70 0 250 Cyclohexane 4 0 0 0 500 250 Butyl Acrylate 4 401 20 0 388 8,864 1,3-phenylenediamine 4 54,502 0 0 0 0 Mercury 4 0 18 0 0 0 Maleic Anhydride 4 0 250 0 5,398 0 Ethylene Oxide 4 0 5,674 7,800 0 0 Cadmium 4 0 11 0 0 0 Butyraldehyde 3 310,490 14 0 16,316 0 

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Table 10: Transfers for RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) in TRI, by Number of Facilitie

(transfers reported in pounds/year) (Continued) 

Chemical Name 

# Facilities 

Reporting 

Chemical 

POTW 

Discharges Disposal Recycling Treatment 

Energy 

Recovery 

T

Chloroprene 3 0 0 0 0 0 Barium 3 0 0 0 0 0 1,1,1-trichloroethane 3 0 5 5 0 5,388 Dicyclopentadiene 3 0 1,873 0 17,100 0 Mixture 3 0 0 0 0 0 Dioxin and Dioxin-like Compounds 3 4 0 0 0 0 Ethyl Acrylate 3 1,322 0 0 1,110 2,977 Methyl Acrylate 3 365 1 0 1,001 103,663 Hexachlorobenzene 3 0 21 0 0 0 1,4-dioxane 2 88,954 0 0 20,708 2,544 N,N-dimethylaniline 2 0 0 0 0 0 Benzene 2 0 0 0 0 0 Silver 2 15 0 0 0 0 Acetaldehyde 2 2,610 0 0 5 0 Acetonitrile 2 0 0 0 45,303 0 Propylene Oxide 2 0 0 0 0 0 Acrylic Acid 2 67 0 0 403 0 2-methoxyethanol 2 28,836 0 0 0 7,216 1,3-butadiene 2 5 250 0 0 0 Cresol (Mixed Isomers) 2 0 0 0 3,848 67 Formic Acid 2 300 0 0 61 0 Cobalt 2 0 0 0 0 0 

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Table 10: Transfers for RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) in TRI, by Number of Facilitie

(transfers reported in pounds/year) (Continued) 

Chemical Name 

# Facilities 

Reporting 

Chemical 

POTW 

Discharges Disposal Recycling Treatment 

Energy 

Recovery 

T

Chloroethane 2 0 3,799 0 0 0 Diphenylamine 2 637 1,111 1,368 0 0 Arsenic Compounds 2 0 0 0 0 0 Vinyl Chloride 2 0 0 0 0 0 1,2-butylene Oxide 1 0 0 0 0 0 Vinylidene Chloride 1 0 0 0 0 0 Tert-butyl Alcohol 1 5,513 0 0 4,370 0 Trifluralin 1 0 345 0 0 0 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl Ether 1 0 0 0 0 0 Trichlorofluoromethane 1 0 0 0 0 0 1,2-dichloroethane 1 0 0 0 0 0 Triethylamine 1 0 0 0 5,762 0 Selenium Compounds 1 0 0 0 0 0 Tetramethrin 1 0 0 0 0 0 N-nitrosodiphenylamine 1 0 0 0 0 0 Dimethipin 1 0 0 2,548 0 0 Epichlorohydrin 1 0 0 0 0 0 Chloroform 1 0 0 0 0 0 Chlorobenzene 1 0 0 0 750 0 Freon 113 1 0 0 0 2,141 0 Methyl Isocyanate 1 0 0 0 0 0 Methyl Tert-butyl Ether 1 0 0 0 0 0 

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Table 10: Transfers for RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) in TRI, by Number of Facilitie

(transfers reported in pounds/year) (Continued) 

61

Chemical Name 

# Facilities 

Reporting 

Chemical 

POTW 

Discharges Disposal Recycling Treatment 

Energy 

Recovery 

T

Arsenic 1 0 0 0 0 0 Naphthalene 1 0 0 0 0 0 Selenium 1 0 0 0 0 0 Diazinon 1 0 0 0 0 0 Asbestos (Friable) 1 0 0 0 0 0 Ethylene 1 0 0 0 0 0 O-toluidine 1 0 0 0 0 0 Polychlorinated Alkanes 1 0 85 0 0 1,374 Aniline 1 0 0 0 0 0 Quinone 1 0 0 0 0 0 M-xylene 1 0 0 0 0 0 Total 1,952 13,456,239 16,043,153 15,017,350 5,212,835 9,649,032 5

Source: U.S. EPA, Toxics Release Inventory Database, 2002. Sector Notebook Project 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Chemical Release & Other Waste Mgmt. Profile 

Table 11: Releases by Subsector for RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) in TRI 

SIC Code 3011: Tires and Inner Tubes 

Chemical Name CAS No. 

Carcinogenicity (by source) TRI 

IARC Release (lbs) 1 NTP2 OSHA-Z3 

Zinc Compounds N982 — — — 3,038,118 

N-hexane 110-54-3 — — — 372,293 

Hydrochloric Acid (1995 and after "Acid 

Aerosols" Only) 

7647-01-0 — — — 341,531 

Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds N590 2A or 2B P — 180,743 

Sulfuric Acid (1994 and after "Acid 

Aerosols" Only) 

7664-93-9 — — — 137,049 

Methyl Isobutyl Ketone 108-10-1 — — — 106,339 

Toluene 108-88-3 — — — 105,590 

Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate 117-81-7 — P — 66,233 

Tetrachloroethylene 127-18-4 2B P — 65,424 

Cobalt Compounds N096 2B — — 50,530 

Total release of top TRI chemicals: 4,463,850 

Total release of all TRI chemicals: 4,624,503 

Percentage contributed by top TRI chemicals: 96.5% 

Total release of top carcinogens: 362,930 

Total release of all carcinogens: 419,907 

Percentage contributed by top carcinogens: 86.4% 

SIC Code 3052: Rubber and Plastics Hose and Belting 

Chemical Name CAS No. 

Carcinogenicity (by source) TRI 

IARC Release (lbs) 1 NTP2 OSHA-Z3 

Zinc Compounds N982 — — — 774,149 

Toluene 108-88-3 — — — 699,290 

Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate 117-81-7 — P — 197,362 

Carbon Disulfide 75-15-0 — — — 158,920 

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 95-63-6 — — — 114,954 

Dichloromethane 75-09-2 2B P — 78,611 

Methyl Ethyl Ketone 78-93-3 — — — 77,858 

Trichloroethylene 79-01-6 2A P — 49,990 

Certain Glycol Ethers N230 — — — 46,827 

Tetrachloroethylene 127-18-4 2B P — 26,785 

Total release of top TRI chemicals: 2,224,746 

Total release of all TRI chemicals: 2,311,986 

Percentage contributed by top TRI chemicals: 96.2% 

Total release of top carcinogens: 352,748 

Total release of all carcinogens: 364,655 

Percentage contributed by top carcinogens: 96.7% 

Sector Notebook Project 62 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Chemical Release & Other Waste Mgmt. Profile 

Table 11: Releases by Subsector for RMPP Facilities 

(SIC Code 30) in TRI (Continued) 

SIC Code 3053: Gaskets, Packing, and Sealing Devices 

Chemical Name CAS No. 

Carcinogenicity (by source) TRI 

IARC Release (lbs) 1 NTP2 OSHA-Z3 

Toluene 108-88-3 — — — 480,187 

Methyl Ethyl Ketone 78-93-3 — — — 286,562 

Zinc Compounds N982 — — — 265,518 

Methanol 67-56-1 — — — 180,766 

Copper 7440-50-8 — — — 91,786 

Methyl Isobutyl Ketone 108-10-1 — — — 75,955 

Xylene (Mixed Isomers) 1330-20-7 — — — 37,222 

Trichloroethylene 79-01-6 2A P — 9,724 

Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate 117-81-7 — P — 6,360 

Ethylene Oxide 75-21-8 1 K Z 5,674 

Total release of top TRI chemicals: 1,439,753 

Total release of all TRI chemicals: 1,457,021 

Percentage contributed by top TRI chemicals: 98.8% 

Total release of top carcinogens: 21,758 

Total release of all carcinogens: 29,552 

Percentage contributed by top carcinogens: 73.6% 

SIC Code 3061: Mechanical Rubber Goods 

Chemical Name CAS No. 

Carcinogenicity (by source) TRI 

IARC Release (lbs) 1 NTP2 OSHA-Z3 

Toluene 108-88-3 — — — 909,839 

Xylene (Mixed Isomers) 1330-20-7 — — — 723,208 

Methyl Isobutyl Ketone 108-10-1 — — — 632,816 

Zinc Compounds N982 — — — 518,060 

1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane 1717-00-6 — — — 125,764 

Ethylbenzene 100-41-4 2B — — 117,803 

1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane 75-68-3 — — — 68,000 

Methyl Ethyl Ketone 78-93-3 — — — 67,698 

Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate 117-81-7 — P — 52,213 

Chlorodifluoromethane 75-45-6 — — — 45,000 

Total release of top TRI chemicals: 3,260,401 

Total release of all TRI chemicals: 3,497,059 

Percentage contributed by top TRI chemicals: 93.2% 

Total release of top carcinogens: 170,016 

Total release of all carcinogens: 247,761 

Percentage contributed by top carcinogens: 68.6% 

Sector Notebook Project 63 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Chemical Release & Other Waste Mgmt. Profile 

Table 11: Releases by Subsector for RMPP Facilities 

(SIC Code 30) in TRI (Continued) 

SIC Code 3069: Fabricated Rubber Products, Not Elsewhere Classified (N.E.C.) 

Chemical Name CAS No. 

Carcinogenicity (by source) TRI 

IARC Release (lbs) 1 NTP2 OSHA-Z3 

Toluene 108-88-3 — — — 2,480,705 

Zinc Compounds N982 — — — 1,274,649 

Xylene (Mixed Isomers) 1330-20-7 — — — 890,444 

Ammonia 7664-41-7 — — — 472,159 

Methyl Ethyl Ketone 78-93-3 — — — 327,665 

Sodium Nitrite 7632-00-0 — — — 310,594 

Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate 117-81-7 — P — 216,756 

Methyl Isobutyl Ketone 108-10-1 — — — 177,287 

Nitrate Compounds N511 — — — 133,273 

Dibutyl Phthalate 84-74-2 — — — 91,884 

Total release of top TRI chemicals: 6,375,416 

Total release of all TRI chemicals: 6,804,311 

Percentage contributed by top TRI chemicals: 93.7% 

Total release of top carcinogens: 216,756 

Total release of all carcinogens: 457,039 

Percentage contributed by top carcinogens: 47.4% 

SIC Code 3081: Unsupported Plastics Film and Sheet 

Chemical Name CAS No. 

Carcinogenicity (by source) TRI 

IARC Release (lbs) 1 NTP2 OSHA-Z3 

Methyl Ethyl Ketone 78-93-3 — — — 717,958 

Toluene 108-88-3 — — — 596,016 

Xylene (Mixed Isomers) 1330-20-7 — — — 411,099 

Certain Glycol Ethers N320 — — — 179,770 

Methyl Methacrylate 80-62-6 — — — 164,349 

Methyl Isobutyl Ketone 108-10-1 — — — 143,373 

Ammonia 7664-41-7 — — — 109,852 

Methanol 67-56-1 — — — 102,783 

Ozone 10028-15-6 — — — 94,251 

Ethylbenzene 100-41-4 2B — — 81,390 

Total release of top TRI chemicals: 2,600,841 

Total release of all TRI chemicals: 3,264,037 

Percentage contributed by top TRI chemicals: 79.7% 

Total release of top carcinogens: 81,390 

Total release of all carcinogens: 311,221 

Percentage contributed by top carcinogens: 26.2% 

Sector Notebook Project 64 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Chemical Release & Other Waste Mgmt. Profile 

Table 11: Releases by Subsector for RMPP Facilities 

(SIC Code 30) in TRI (Continued) 

SIC Code 3084: Plastics Pipe 

Chemical Name CAS No. 

Carcinogenicity (by source) TRI 

IARC Release (lbs) 1 NTP2 OSHA-Z3 

Styrene 100-42-5 2B — — 193,741 

Dichloromethane 75-09-2 2B P — 36,660 

Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate 117-81-7 — P — 6,353 

Trifluralin 1582-09-8 — — — 583 

Lead Compounds N420 2B — Z 448 

Bisphenol A 80-05-7 — — — 164 

Zinc (Fume or Dust) 7440-66-6 — — — 50 

4,4'-methylene dianiline 101-77-9 2B P Z 1 

Zinc Compounds N982 — — — 0 

Cobalt Compounds N096 2B — — 0 

Total release of top TRI chemicals: 238,000 

Total release of all TRI chemicals: 238,000 

Percentage contributed by top TRI chemicals: 100.0% 

Total release of top carcinogens: 237,203 

Total release of all carcinogens: 237,203 

Percentage contributed by top carcinogens: 100.0% 

SIC Code 3085: Plastics Bottles 

Chemical Name CAS No. 

Carcinogenicity (by source) TRI 

IARC Release (lbs) 1 NTP2 OSHA-Z3 

1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane 1717-00-6 — — — 12,499 

Ethylene Glycol 107-21-1 — — — 11,000 

Certain Glycol Ethers N230 — — — 27 

Total release of top TRI chemicals: 23,526 

Total release of all TRI chemicals: 23,526 

Percentage contributed by top TRI chemicals: 100.0% 

Total release of top carcinogens: NA 

Total release of all carcinogens: NA 

Percentage contributed by top carcinogens: NA 

Sector Notebook Project 65 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Chemical Release & Other Waste Mgmt. Profile 

Table 11: Releases by Subsector for RMPP Facilities 

(SIC Code 30) in TRI (Continued) 

SIC Code 3086: Plastics Foam Products 

Chemical Name CAS No. 

Carcinogenicity (by source) TRI 

IARC Release (lbs) 1 NTP2 OSHA-Z3 

1-Chloro-1,1-difluoroethane 75-68-3 — — — 3,869,313 

Dichloromethane 75-09-2 2B P — 1,726,324 

1,1-Dichloro-1-fluoroethane 1717-00-6 — — — 1,599,017 

Methyl Ethyl Ketone 78-93-3 — — — 686,688 

Toluene 108-88-3 — — — 662,689 

Chlorodifluoromethane 75-45-6 — — — 579,762 

Chloroethane 75-00-3 — — — 475,229 

Diisocyanates N120 — — — 276,876 

Xylene (Mixed Isomers) 1330-20-7 — — — 247,903 

Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate 117-81-7 — P — 113,906 

Total release of top TRI chemicals: 10,237,708 

Total release of all TRI chemicals: 10,761,266 

Percentage contributed by top TRI chemicals: 95.1% 

Total release of top carcinogens: 1,840,230 

Total release of all carcinogens: 2,029,742 

Percentage contributed by top carcinogens: 90.7% 

SIC Code 3089: Plastics Products, Not Elsewhere Classified (N.E.C.) 

Chemical Name CAS No. 

Carcinogenicity (by source) TRI 

IARC Release (lbs) 1 NTP2 OSHA-Z3 

Styrene 100-42-5 2B — — 12,594,826 

Carbon Disulfide 75-15-0 2B — — 7,762,922 

Methyl Ethyl Ketone 78-93-3 — — — 1,391,619 

Trichloroethylene 79-01-6 2A P — 1,099,186 

Toluene 108-88-3 — — — 1,072,741 

Xylene (Mixed Isomers) 1330-20-7 — — — 893,011 

Nitrate Compounds N511 — — — 540,805 

Methyl Methacrylate 80-62-6 — — — 480,135 

Ammonia 7664-41-7 — — — 428,283 

Certain Glycol Ethers N230 — — — 401,291 

Total release of top TRI chemicals: 26,664,820 

Total release of all TRI chemicals: 29,435,198 

Percentage contributed by top TRI chemicals: 90.6% 

Total release of top carcinogens: 13,694,012 

Total release of all carcinogens: 14,535,784 

Percentage contributed by top carcinogens: 94.2% 

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Table 11: Releases by Subsector for RMPP Facilities 

(SIC Code 30) in TRI (Continued) 

Footnotes 

1

IARC: International Agency for Research on Cancer - from “Monographs.” 

1 - The chemical is known to be carcinogenic to humans. 

2A - The chemical is probably carcinogenic to humans. 

2B - The chemical is possibly carcinogenic to humans. 2

NTP: National Toxicology Program - from “Annual Report on Carcinogens.” 

K - The chemical is known to be carcinogenic. 

P - The chemical may reasonably be anticipated to be carcinogenic. 3

OSHA-Z: 29 CFR 1910, Subpart Z, Toxic and Hazardous Substances, Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration. 

Z - The chemical appears at 29 CFR Part 1910 Subpart Z. 

NA - Not Applicable 

Source of TRI data: US EPA, Toxic Release Inventory Database, Reporting Year 2002. 

Source of HPV data: EPA Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, HPV Challenge Program Chemical List. 

Source of HAP data: EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Air Toxics Web Site. 

Source of carcinogenicity data: Appendix C, “Basis of OSHA Carcinogen Listing for Individual Chemicals,” 2001 

TRI Public Data Release Report. 

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Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Chemical Release & Other Waste Mgmt. Profile 

IV.B. Summary of the Selected Chemicals Released 

This subsection summarizes current scientific toxicity and fate information for the 

top chemicals (by weight) that facilities within the RMPP sector self-reported as released to the 

environment based upon 2002 TRI data. Because this subsection is based upon self-reported 

release data, it does not provide information on management practices used by the sector to 

reduce the release of these chemicals. Information regarding pollutant release reductions over 

time might be available from EPA's TRI program or from the industrial trade associations that 

are listed in Section IX of this document. Because these descriptions are cursory, consult the 

sources referenced below for a more detailed description of both the chemicals described in this 

section and the chemicals that appear on the full list of TRI chemicals appearing in Section 

IV.A. 

The brief descriptions provided below were taken from the 1993 Toxics Release 

Inventory Public Data Release (EPA, 1994), the Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), and 

the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), both accessed via TOXNET1

. The information 

contained below is based upon exposure assumptions that have been made using standard 

scientific procedures. The effects listed below must be taken in context of these exposure 

assumptions that are more fully explained within the full chemical profiles in HSDB. 

The top 10 chemicals released by the RMPP industry in 2002 were: 

1. 1,1-Dichloro-1-Fluoroethane; 

2. 1-Chloro-1,1-Difluoroethane; 

3. Carbon Disulfide; 

4. Dichloromethane; 

5. Methanol; 

6. Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK); 

7. Styrene; 

8. Toluene; 

9. Xylene (Mixed Isomers); and 

10. Zinc Compounds. 

Some of the health and environmental impacts of several of these chemicals are 

discussed below. 

 TOXNET is a computer system run by the National Library of Medicine that includes a number of toxicological 

databases managed by EPA, the National Cancer Institute, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and 

Health. For more information on TOXNET, contact the TOXNET help line at (800) 231-3766. Databases included 

in TOXNET are: CCRIS (Chemical Carcinogenesis Research Information System), DART (Developmental and 

Reproductive Toxicity Database), DBIR (Directory of Biotechnology Information Resources), EMICBACK 

(Environmental Mutagen Information Center Backfile), GENE-TOX (Genetic Toxicology), HSDB (Hazardous 

Substances Data Bank), IRIS (Integrated Risk Information System), RTECS (Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical 

Substances), and TRI (Toxic Release Inventory). HSDB contains chemical-specific information on manufacturing 

and use, chemical and physical properties, safety and handling, toxicity and biomedical effects, pharmacology, 

environmental fate and exposure potential, exposure standards and regulations, monitoring and analysis methods, 

and additional references. 

Sector Notebook Project 68 February 2005 

1
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Chemical Release & Other Waste Mgmt. Profile 

1,1- Dichloro-1-Fluoroethane 

Toxicity. Exposure to 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane can have an anesthetic effect 

on the central nervous system, irritate the eyes, cause asphyxiation and defatting of skin. 

Inhaling 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane may cause dizziness, weakness, fatigue, 

nausea, and headaches. Ingesting of the same may cause gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, 

vomiting, and diarrhea. Overexposure may result in impaired cardiovascular functions. 

Carcinogenicity. There is currently no evidence to suggest that this chemical is 

carcinogenic. 

Environmental Fate. 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane is expected to exist solely as 

vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor phase 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane will be degraded in 

the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically produces hydroxyl radicals. It may be 

partially removed from the atmosphere by rain. 

If released to soil, 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane has limited mobility and it may 

volatilize from dry soil surfaces based on its vapor pressure. Its biodegradability in soil is low. 

If released in water, it is expected to adsorb moderately to suspended solids and sediment. Its 

potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organism is low. 

Carbon Disulfide 

Toxicity. Short-term (acute) exposure of humans to carbon disulfide can cause 

headache, dizziness, fatigue, and irritation of eye, nose, and throat. Exposure to high 

concentrations may result in trouble breathing or respiratory failure. Contact with skin can cause 

severe burns. 

Long-term (chronic) exposure to high levels in excess of regulatory standards 

may result in peripheral nerve damage (involving the nerves that control feet, legs, hands, and 

arms) and cardiovascular effects. A few studies contend that chronic exposure may also result in 

potential reproductive effects. 

Carcinogenicity. There is currently no evidence to suggest that this chemical is 

carcinogenic. 

Environmental Fate. If released on land, carbon disulfide will be primarily lost 

to volatilization and it may leach into the ground where it would be expected to biodegrade. The 

chemical will also volatilize if released to water and does not adsorb to sediment. In air, carbon 

disulfide reacts with atomic oxygen to produce hydroxyl radicals with half-lives of a few days. 

Carbon disulfide gas is adsorbed and degraded by soil, which demonstrates that soil may be a 

natural sink for this chemical. The general population may be exposed to carbon disulfide 

primarily from ambient air as it is released not only from industrial sources, but also from a wide 

variety of natural sources. 

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Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Chemical Release & Other Waste Mgmt. Profile 

Methanol 

Toxicity. Methanol is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and the 

respiratory tract, and is toxic to humans in moderate to high doses. In the body, methanol is 

converted into formaldehyde and formic acid. Methanol is excreted as formic acid. Observed 

toxic effects at high-dose levels generally include central nervous system damage and blindness. 

Long-term exposure to high levels of methanol via inhalation cause liver and blood damage in 

animals. 

Ecologically, methanol is expected to have low toxicity to aquatic organisms. 

Concentrations lethal to half the organisms of a test population are expected to exceed 1 mg 

methanol per liter water. Methanol is not likely to persist in water or to bioaccumulate in aquatic 

organisms. 

Carcinogenicity. There is currently no evidence to suggest that this chemical is 

carcinogenic. 

Environmental Fate. Liquid methanol is likely to evaporate when left exposed. 

Methanol reacts in air to produce formaldehyde, which contributes to the formation of air 

pollutants. In the atmosphere, it can react with other atmospheric chemicals or be washed out by 

rain. Methanol is readily degraded by microorganisms in soils and surface waters. 

Physical Properties. Methanol is highly flammable. 

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) 

Toxicity. Breathing moderate amounts of MEK for short periods of time can 

cause adverse effects on the nervous system ranging from headaches, dizziness, nausea, and 

numbness in the fingers and toes to unconsciousness. Its vapors are irritating to the skin, eyes, 

nose, and throat and can damage the eyes. Repeated exposure to moderate to high amounts may 

cause liver and kidney effects. 

Carcinogenicity. No agreement exists over the carcinogenicity of MEK. One 

source believes MEK is a possible carcinogen in humans based on limited animal evidence. 

Other sources believe that there is insufficient evidence to make any statements about possible 

carcinogenicity. 

Environmental Fate. Most of the MEK released to the environment will end up 

in the atmosphere. MEK can contribute to the formation of air pollutants in the lower 

atmosphere. It can be degraded by microorganisms living in water and soil. 

Physical Properties. MEK is a flammable liquid. 

Toluene 

Toxicity. Inhalation or ingestion of toluene can cause headaches, confusion, 

weakness, and memory loss. Toluene may also affect the way the kidneys and liver function. 

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Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Chemical Release & Other Waste Mgmt. Profile 

Reactions of toluene (see environmental fate) in the atmosphere contribute to the 

formation of ozone in the lower atmosphere. Ozone can affect the respiratory system, especially 

in sensitive individuals such as asthma or allergy sufferers. 

Some studies have shown that unborn animals were harmed when high levels of 

toluene were inhaled by their mothers, although the same effects were not seen when the 

mothers were fed large quantities of toluene. Note that these results may reflect similar 

difficulties in humans. 

Carcinogenicity. There is currently no evidence to suggest that this chemical is 

carcinogenic. 

Environmental Fate. The majority of releases of toluene to land and water will 

evaporate. Toluene may also be degraded by microorganisms. Once volatilized, toluene in the 

lower atmosphere will react with other atmospheric components contributing to the formation of 

ground-level ozone and other air pollutants. 

Physical Properties. Toluene is a volatile organic chemical. 

Xylene (Mixed Isomers) 

Toxicity. Xylenes are rapidly absorbed into the body after inhalation, ingestion, 

or skin contact. Short-term exposure of humans to high levels of xylenes can cause irritation of 

the skin, eyes, nose, and throat, difficulty in breathing, impaired lung function, impaired 

memory, and possible changes in the liver and kidneys. Both short- and long-term exposure to 

high concentrations can cause effects such as headaches, dizziness, confusion, and lack of 

muscle coordination. Reactions of xylenes (see environmental fate) in the atmosphere contribute 

to the formation of ozone in the lower atmosphere. Ozone can affect the respiratory system, 

especially in sensitive individuals such as asthma or allergy sufferers. 

Carcinogenicity. There is currently no evidence to suggest that this chemical is 

carcinogenic. 

Environmental Fate. The majority of releases to land and water will quickly 

evaporate, although some degradation by microorganisms will occur. 

Xylenes are moderately mobile in soils and may leach into groundwater, where 

they may persist for several years. 

Xylenes are volatile organic chemicals. As such, xylenes in the lower atmosphere 

will react with other atmospheric components, contributing to the formation of ground-level 

ozone and other air pollutants. 

Zinc Compounds 

Toxicity. Zinc is a nutritional trace element; toxicity from ingestion is low. 

Severe exposure to zinc might give rise to gastritis with vomiting due to swallowing of zinc 

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Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Chemical Release & Other Waste Mgmt. Profile 

dusts. Short-term exposure to very high levels of zinc is linked to lethargy, dizziness, nausea, 

fever, diarrhea, and reversible pancreatic and neurological damage. Long-term zinc poisoning 

causes irritability, muscular stiffness and pain, loss of appetite, and nausea. Zinc chloride fumes 

cause injury to mucous membranes and to the skin. Ingestion of soluble zinc salts may cause 

nausea, vomiting, and purging. 

Carcinogenicity. There is currently no evidence to suggest that this chemical is 

carcinogenic. 

Environmental Fate. Significant zinc contamination of soil is only seen in the 

vicinity of industrial point sources. 

Zinc bioconcentrates in aquatic organisms. 

IV.C. Other Data Sources 

The Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS) contains a wide range of 

information related to stationary sources of air pollution, including the emissions of a number of 

air pollutants that may be of concern within a particular industry. With the exception of VOCs, 

there is little overlap with the TRI chemicals reported above. Table 12 summarizes annual 

releases of carbon monoxide (CO), ammonia (NH3), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter of 

10 microns or less (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and VOCs from the RMPP industry. 

Table 12: Pollutant Releases (Short Tons/Years) 

Industry CO NH3 NOX PM10 SO2 VOC 

U.S. Total 4,200,454 87,445 8,664,338 1,662,730 15,511,867 1,681,011 

Metal Mining 7,402 1.4 58,450 26,701 22,308 1,714 

Nonmetal Mining 32,729 2,629 16,383 33,540 9,029 6,793 

Lumber and Wood Products 160,262 218 62,420 78,592 5,144 106,331 

Wood Furniture and Fixtures 5,158 4.3 3,461 7,673 1,771 70,669 

Pulp and Paper 499,750 2,339 301,487 115,084 450,669 118,828 

Printing 1,346 25 4,030 2,310 3,430 57,119 

Inorganic Chemicals 127,815 5,430 58,982 19,573 100,105 13,446 

Organic Chemicals 136,885 949 185,159 24,540 130,679 92,594 

Petroleum Refining 187,404 15,815 243,757 42,107 417,048 144,252 

Rubber and Misc. Plastics 

Products 

4,240 170 9,485 9,938 18,516 88,585 

Stone, Clay, Glass, and 

Concrete 

199,381 103 373,658 118,838 268,524 28,859 

Iron and Steel 783,961 4,754 108,721 84,416 102,103 42,304 

Nonferrous Metals 544,482 176 30,973 28,968 266,104 10,008 

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Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Chemical Release & Other Waste Mgmt. Profile 

Table 12: Pollutant Releases (Short Tons/Year) (Continued) 

Industry CO NH3 NOX PM10 SO2 VOC 

Fabricated Metals 6,510 83 10,584 9,361 6,770 74,920 

Electronics 27533 91 5543 7432 8184 19873 

Motor Vehicles, Bodies, 

Parts, and Accessories 

11,514 1,302 10,797 6,299 8,556 81,151 

Dry Cleaning 72 4.4 228 62 125 2161 

Source: U.S. EPA, National Emission Inventory Database, 1999. 

IV.D. Comparison of TRI Between Selected Industries 

This subsection compares pollutant release and transfer data across industrial 

categories. The information gives a general sense as to the relative scale of releases and 

transfers within each sector profiled under this project. Note that Table 13 does not contain 

releases and transfers for industrial categories that are not included in this project, and thus 

cannot be used to draw conclusions regarding the total release and transfer amounts that are 

reported to TRI. Similar information is available within the annual TRI Public Data Release 

book. 

Figure 20 summarizes the 2002 TRI data in graphical form for the RMPP industry 

and the other sectors profiled in separate notebooks. The bar graph presents the total TRI 

releases and total transfers on the left axis and the triangle points show the average releases per 

facility on the right axis. The graph is based on the data in Table 13 and helps compare the 

relative amounts of releases and transfers per facility both within and between these sectors. 

Note, however, that differences in the proportion of facilities captured by TRI exist between 

industry sectors. This can be a factor of poor SIC matching and relative differences in the 

number of facilities reporting to TRI from the various sectors. The 2002 TRI data presented for 

the RMPP industry covers 1,952 facilities. These facilities listed SIC code 30, the RMPP 

industry, as a primary SIC code. 

Sector Notebook Project 73 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Se

Figure 20: Summary of 2002 TRI Data: Releases and Transfers by Industry (SIC Cod

74 

0 

100 200 300 400 500 600 

36 24 32 27 25 2911 34 371 331 30 286 26 281 

Total Pounds (millions)))))) 

/

333 / 3

SIC Code 

Total Releas es Total Trans fers Avg. Releas es Facility 

Sector Notebook Project 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Se

Table 13: Toxic Release Inventory Data for Selected Industries 

75

Industry Sector SIC Range 

# TRI 

Facilities 

Releases Transfers Total 

Total 

Releases 

(106 pounds) 

Avg. Releases 

per Facility 

(pounds) 

Total 

Transfers (106 

pounds) 

Avg. Transfers 

per Facility 

(pounds) 

Releases + 

Transfers 

(106 pounds) 

Avg. Release+ 

Transfers per 

Facility 

(pounds) 

Stone, Clay, and Concrete 32 1,124 45.6 40,546 21.4 19,060 67.0 59,606 Lumber and Wood Products 

24 1,040 30.4 29,202 8.2 7,838 38.5 37,040 

Furniture and Fixtures 25 284 7.9 27,830 8.4 29,548 16.3 57,379 Printing 2711-2789 200 17.2 85,779 15.3 76,343 32.4 162,121 Electronics/Computers 36 1,747 15.5 8,892 336.7 192,724 352.2 201,616 Rubber and Misc. Plastics 30 1,952 71.2 36,836 59.4 30,419 131.3 67,255 Motor Vehicle, Bodies, Parts and Accessories 

371 863 45.2 52,322 135.5 157,029 180.7 209,361 

Pulp and paper 2611-2631 326 187.2 574,531 42.5 130,347 229.7 704,698 Inorganic Chem. Mfg. 2812-2819 518 96.9 187,129 83.5 161,173 180.4 348,301 Petroleum Refining 2911 167 73.4 439,439 21.6 129,072 94.9 568,511 Fabricated Metals 34 3,098 43.8 14,143 412.8 133,250 456.6 147,393 Iron and Steel 3312-3313 

3321-3325 534 87.4 163,666 582.8 1,091,406 670.2 1,255,072 

Nonferrous Metals 333, 334 240 132.6 552,362 159.9 666,350 292.5 1,218,713 Organic Chem. Mfg. 2861-2869 610 203.4 333,511 439.8 720,934 643.2 1,054,445 Metal Mining 10 Industry sector not subject to TRI reporting Nonmetal Mining 14 Industry sector not subject to TRI reporting Dry Cleaning 7215, 7216, 

7218 

Industry sector not subject to TRI reporting 

Source: U.S. EPA, Toxics Release Inventory Database, 2002. 

Sector Notebook Project 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Pollution Prevention Opportunities 

V. POLLUTION PREVENTION OPPORTUNITIES 

The best way to reduce pollution is to prevent it in the first place. Some 

companies have creatively implemented pollution prevention techniques that improve efficiency 

and increase profits while at the same time minimizing environmental impacts. This can be done 

in many ways such as reducing material inputs, reengineering processes to reuse by-products, 

improving management practices, and using substitutes for toxic chemicals. Some smaller 

facilities are able to get below regulatory thresholds just by reducing pollutant releases through 

aggressive pollution prevention policies. 

To encourage these approaches, this section provides both general and companyspecific descriptions of pollution prevention advances that have been implemented within the 

RMPP industry. While the list is not exhaustive, it does provide information that can be used as 

the starting point for facilities interested in beginning their own pollution prevention projects. 

When possible, this section provides information from real activities that can, or are being 

implemented by this sector - including a discussion of associated costs, time frames, and 

expected rates of return. This section summarizes information from activities that may be, or are 

being implemented by this sector. When possible, information is provided that gives the context 

in which the techniques can be effectively used. Note that the activities described in this section 

do not necessarily apply to all facilities that fall within this sector. When evaluating pollution 

prevention options, facilities must carefully consider facility-specific conditions and how each 

option might affect air, land, and water pollution releases. 

V.A. Identification of Pollution Prevention Activities in Use 

V.A.1. Plastic 

In the miscellaneous plastics products industry, there are substantial pollution 

prevention options for most environmental concerns including chemical spills, process 

wastewater (including solvents in wastewater), plastic pellet loss, and plastic product disposal. 

According to one NEIC inspector, pollution prevention for leaks and spills of chemical additives 

during compounding or finishing operations can be as simple as covering the chemical 

containers as often as possible and training employees to properly handle and dispose of 

chemicals. 

Wastewater 

The pollution prevention options for process wastewater from the miscellaneous 

plastics products manufacturing industry are slightly more complex. As discussed in Section 

III.B.1, wastewater can be divided into three categories: contact cooling and heating water; 

cleaning water; and finishing water. The technologies identified by EPA as appropriate for 

contact cooling and heating water are good housekeeping practices and the activated carbon 

process. The activated carbon process uses activated (powered or granulated) carbon to remove 

soluble organics from air and water. The organics are removed as they became physically/ 

chemically attached to the carbon (i.e., adsorbed to the carbon surface). EPA analysis indicates 

that only one pollutant of concern, BEHP, is present in contact cooling and heating water in 

treatable concentrations, and the only technology identified to control BEHP is the activated 

carbon process. To maintain low concentrations of other pollutants currently discharged in 

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contact cooling and heating water, EPA advises applying good housekeeping practices. For 

example, routine segregation of raw materials and lubricating oils from the cooling and heating 

water will keep pollutants not actually generated during the plastic molding and forming 

operation out of the cooling and heating water. 

In cleaning water, the data indicate that there are three conventional pollutants 

(BOD5, oil and grease, and TSS), three nonconventional (COD, TOC, and total phenols), and 

two priority pollutants (phenol and zinc) present in treatable concentrations. For the cleaning 

water category, EPA proposes pollution prevention technologies based on in-process controls. 

One control is recycling process water through a sedimentation tank designed to remove the 

suspended solids so the process water can be reused. The other control is end-of-pipe treatment 

of the discharge from the recycle unit. 

In finishing water, the data indicate that the only pollutants present in treatable 

concentrations are TSS and three phthalates. The only pollution prevention technology EPA has 

identified to remove TSS is a settling unit, and the only technology identified to remove 

phthalates present in finishing water is an activated carbon process. 

Pellet Release 

The issue of plastic resin pellet loss to the environment during the manufacturing 

process is being addressed by many manufacturers through participation in "Operation Clean 

Sweep" (OCS). All participating facilities take measures to minimize spills, promptly and 

thoroughly clean up spills, and properly dispose of pellets. Such measures include employee 

education, extra conscientious sweeping efforts, enhanced pellet capture methods, and disposal 

precautions. Currently, SPI and the American Plastics Council are working together on this 

industry education project. 

Solid Waste Disposal 

Miscellaneous plastics products solid waste disposal, as discussed earlier, is a 

concern because plastics make up a significant portion of the nation's waste stream. The most 

common pollution prevention method currently used is recycling. Both single plastic resins and 

mixtures of plastic resins can be recycled, but the end products from mixtures are often lower in 

quality than those from just one type of resin. Therefore, the success of plastic recycling will 

depend on the development of technologies to separate mixed plastic into single resins, and on 

increasing the markets for products made of mixed plastic resins. Although recycling is the most 

common method of plastic waste pollution prevention, at present, less than one percent of all 

plastics products are recycled. Only a few plastic consumer items such as soft drink bottles and 

milk jugs are being recycled on a wide scale in the United States, and food container and cup 

recycling is just getting started. Enhancing the degradation of plastic has been offered as a 

solution to both the waste stream and marine environmental problems; however, EPA believes 

source reduction and recycling will most significantly reduce the impact of plastic in the 

environment. EPA is conducting a study of substitutes for lead- and cadmium-based additives as 

a possible pollution prevention action for metal leaching at landfills and metal releases from 

incinerator ash. 

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Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Pollution Prevention Opportunities 

V.A.2. Rubber 

As discussed in Section III.B.2, pollution outputs from the rubber products 

industry occur at many stages of the manufacturing process. Most facilities are reducing these 

outputs by using the many reasonable and effective pollution prevention options that exist. 

Chemicals 

The compounding and mixing area of a rubber products manufacturing facility, 

where dry chemicals are weighed, put into small containers, and loaded into the rubber mixer, is 

generally a minor source of particulate emissions. Some mixing facilities have practically 

eliminated particulate emissions by purchasing their chemicals in small preweighed, sealed 

polyethylene bags. The sealed bags are put directly into the Banbury mixer and the bag itself 

becomes part of the rubber matrix, thus eliminating this formerly dusty operation. For facilities 

not purchasing their chemicals in preweighed bags, a variety of other pollution prevention 

options exist. The following pollution prevention methods have been used by various facilities: 

C Careful Transportation Mechanisms - Receiving chemicals in closed 

docks in sealed containers or in bulk rail or truck shipments with a 

minimal history of spills. Storing chemical piles inside the facility to 

ensure that any fugitive emissions can be contained within the facility. 

C Sealed Containers - Providing sealed containers for all open materials. 

Sealed containers should have air space between the chemical and the 

container cover to minimize "puffing" losses when the container is 

opened. Similarly, placing secondary containment mechanisms around all 

storage containers provides further protection from spills and leaks. 

C Automatic Dispensing - Utilizing automatic dispensing and weighing 

equipment whenever possible. Automatic dispensing minimizes waste 

due to spills from manual dispensing and provides quality control. 

C Reduced Toxic Chemical Usage - Reducing the use of toxic chemicals 

via reformulation. Rubber manufacturers continually research 

opportunities for pollution prevention through product reformulation. 

However, rubber manufacturers must adhere to stringent product 

performance requirements. Therefore, pollution prevention opportunities 

must be balanced with product specifications. 

C Computer Inventories - Providing computer inventory control methods 

to minimize the amount of stock purchased. 

C Spills and Sweeping Protocols - Providing protocols for cleaning up 

spills and sweeping to ensure the proper segregation of waste. 

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Wastewater 

Contaminated wastewater is another pollution concern at many rubber products 

manufacturing facilities. All but the largest rubber products manufacturing facilities participate 

in wastewater pretreatment programs with local POTWs. Many plants meet pretreatment 

standards without treating their wastewater. Some facilities, however, require solids settling, pH 

adjustment, or oil removal. To address the wastewater issue, many facilities have implemented 

water reuse and recycling programs. Options for wastewater reuse and recycling include 

installing a closed-loop water cooling or heating system. Another problem is that wastewater is 

often contaminated by oil and grease. To prevent spilling and leaking waste oil and grease, 

which contaminates wastewater, EPA suggests the following pollution prevention methods: 

C Substituting lubricating grease for oil, especially for milling 

equipment. Grease has been shown to reduce substantially the amount of 

manifested waste. 

C Performing preventive maintenance of processing, molding, and 

curing equipment. Such practices can further reduce the volume of 

manifested oil and grease waste by reducing waste from worn seals and 

gaskets. 

C Removing oil from oily wastewaters prior to disposal to reduce the 

volume of wastewater disposal. For instance, oily wastewaters collected 

from equipment engine pits could be routed through a centrally located 

oil/water separator prior to discharge. 

Spent Solvents 

Spent solvents known to contribute to ozone depletion is not a problem in rubber 

products manufacturing facilities. A major initiative by the rubber products industry to eliminate 

ozone-depleting chemicals in 1994 and early 1995 resulted in many innovative spent solvent 

pollution prevention activities. Among the accomplishments were replacing solvent cleaning 

applications with high pressure water systems, using caustic cleaning solutions, and substituting 

old solvents with cleaner, citrus-based solvents. Many mold release compounds, coatings, and 

adhesives that formerly used ozone-depleting chemicals as carriers were reformulated to 

eliminate the offending chemicals. In some cases, process changes directly eliminated the 

chemicals of concern. Most rubber products are now free from having been manufactured with 

ozone-depleting chemicals. 

Disposal 

A significant issue in the rubber products industry is the disposal of waste rubber. 

To prevent the improper disposal of scrap rubber, facilities can segregate and recycle rubber 

wastes. Properly segregating waste streams may be as simple as placing a screen over part of the 

molding equipment so that waste rubber stock produced during preforming operations can be 

segregated from the oily wastewaters and recycled back into the process. Other segregation 

processes may include separating cured from uncured rubber, and recycling the uncured portion 

back into the process. 

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Reclaiming and recycling cured, off-specification rubber is also a waste 

minimization option. Reprocessing rubber involves taking used rubber products and processing 

them in a manner such that they can be incorporated into virgin rubber compounds. 

Scrap rubber that cannot be recycled within the manufacturing process is being 

used in the following manner: 

C Adding it to coal and wood waste fuels for firing process boilers; 

C Making it into sheets and various shapes to use as athletic area surfaces 

and other floor coverings; 

C Making it into sheet gasket material; and 

C Making it into loading dock bumpers. 

An important factor that limits recycling post-consumer and post-production 

scrap into products is the increased performance requirements of the materials. Automobile 

components are continuously being designed for greater endurance (e.g., automobiles capable of 

150,000 miles without maintenance or a tune-up). Such performance standards require 

manufacturers to use high-purity chemicals and quality, precision manufacturing processes. 

These rubber products, whether they are tires, belts, hoses, motor mounts, gaskets, or seals, turn 

out to be highly engineered entities with strict quality standards. Introducing used, offspecification, or unknown quality ingredients into the dynamically stressed, high-performance 

rubber product can be a problem. As a result, recycling of the post-consumer and postproduction waste applies to materials used in less demanding applications. 

To better understand how much waste is being produced by their facility in 

comparison to other facilities, many rubber product manufacturers are monitoring waste indices 

(i.e., pounds of waste per 100 pounds of product) with the goal of continuously reducing the 

index. Index criteria include the following: 

C Total pounds of nonrecyclable waste shipped off site per 100 pounds of 

product; and 

C Total pounds of solid and hazardous water generated per 100 pounds of 

product. 

V.A.3. Tires 

All of the pollution prevention options discussed in Section V.A.2 also apply to 

tire production. In addition, the two pollution issues that apply specifically to the tire industry 

are VOC and HAP emissions from the building and assembly process and scrap tire disposal. 

Volatile Organic Compound Emissions 

In terms of pollution prevention for VOC and HAP emissions from tire cementing 

and spraying operations, the EPA NESHAP requires 99 percent reduction in the amount of HAP 

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use in the solvents and cements used in the tire manufacturing industry. This requirement also 

applies to retread and recapping industries. The primary recommendation is eliminating or 

substituting the HAPs used in the solvents and cements. Many of the major manufacturers have 

begun eliminating all solvents and cements from the tire building process as the compatibility of 

the rubber compound components allows for adhesion without the solvent and cement aides. 

Some capture and control technologies for undertread cementing operations, tread endcementing operations, bead cementing operations, and green tire spraying operations where 

organic solvent-based sprays are used. Most of the major tire manufacturing plants in the United 

States commonly use silicone and water-based sprays for green tire spraying operations (i.e., any 

green tire spray that contains 12 percent or less, by weight, of VOC as sprayed) or organic 

solvent-based sprays. 

Scrap Tires 

While not technically a "pollution" output from the tire manufacturing process, 

scrap tire disposal has been a big waste disposal issue in the United States. Recently, legislation 

and initiatives have been finding innovative ways to address this issue. The RMA is leading the 

effort to find and expand markets for the environmentally and economically sound uses of scrap 

tires. According to the RMA, in 2001, an estimated 78 percent of the 281 million tires scrapped 

annually were utilized in a positive manner. This represents a 50-percent increase of scrap tire 

use since 1994, and more than a seven-fold increase since 1990. The principal use of scrap tires 

is as a fuel and fuel supplement in a variety of utility and industrial applications. Other major 

uses include ground rubber as an additive to asphalt paving materials, whole and processed tire 

uses in civil engineering, and utilization of cut, split, and ground tires in new products. In 

addition, approximately 33 million passenger and light duty truck tires are recycled (i.e., 

recapped for resale each year). The tires not utilized are landfilled or stockpiled. 

In 2001, 115 million tires were used in energy recovery. Civil engineering 

utilized nearly 20 million tires and paving utilized 15 million tires. The equivalent of 8 million 

tires were used to manufacture various new products. Table 14 shows the trends in the number 

of scrap tires used in various capacities. 

Table 14: Scrap Tire Usage 

Scrap Tire Uses (Millions of Units) 

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2001 

Fuel 24.5 57 101 115 114 115 

Ground Rubber 0.0 5.0 1.5 7.5 7 21 

Paving N/A N/A 3 5 8 12 

Civil Engineering N/A 5 9 10 20 40 

Products N/A N/A 8 8 8 8 

Other N/A 1 16 19 20.5 22 

Total Usage 24.5 68 138.5 164.5 177.5 218 

Source: RMA U.S. Scrap Tire Markets 2001. 

N/A - Not available. 

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The first line of defense against increasing scrap tire numbers is tire retreading. 

The figures presented in Table 14 do not include retreaded tires because tire casings that are 

capable of being retreaded are not, by definition, scrap tires. Only tires that can no longer be 

used for their original intended purpose, even if retreaded, are considered scrap tires. 

The Federal Government is working to identify and implement pollution 

prevention strategies to decrease the number of scrap tires and the economic and environmental 

problems that accompany scrap tire disposal. If the retread markets could be developed so that 

all passenger and light truck tires suitable for retreading were actually retreaded, approximately 

20 million fewer new replacement tires would be needed annually. This would reduce the 

number of scrap tires generated per year by almost 10 percent. 

As of January 1991, 36 states regulated scrap tires as a form of waste, up from 

only one state in 1985. Twenty-four states have final regulations in place that address storage of 

tires; typical provisions include requiring permits for tire piles over a certain size and requiring 

fire lanes in large tire piles. Funds may also be used to provide grants or loans to entrepreneurs 

who are recycling tires or incinerating them for energy recovery. At least four states (Oregon, 

Wisconsin, Utah, and Oklahoma) have developed rebate systems for scrap tires in which users of 

scrap tires are paid rebates of one cent per pound or more for recycling tires or burning them for 

energy recovery. 

Additional Initiatives to Improve Environmental Performance Within the RMPP 

Industry 

Many dry chemicals are purchased in sealed preweighed poly-logs that can be put 

directly into the manufacturing process, thus eliminating fugitive emission. Fluorescent lamps 

and pressurized spray cans are managed to minimize adverse impact on the environment. Also, 

packaging materials are being reduced, returnable containers are being used, and waste oil 

recycled. General production improvements include upgrading and adding plant ventilation 

systems, which provides cleaner air in the workplace, improving solvent application efficiency 

to decrease the amount of solvents needed, using more efficient coating equipment that speeds 

the production process, and refining preventive maintenance programs that often virtually 

eliminate unplanned shutdowns. Solvent use in the rubber industry has been reduced through the 

development of water-based adhesives and coatings and astute raw material substitution. 

Enhanced personnel training, product substitution, and process alternations have 

reduced the amount of hazardous waste generated. The recycling of paper, wood, skids, plastic 

shrink wrap, cardboard, cord, wire, fabric, and white office paper has increased. Some 

manufacturing plants have reduced wastewater discharges by installing closed-loop water 

cooling systems. Some manufacturing plants have removed their underground storage tanks 

(USTs) and replaced them with aboveground tanks that are easier to monitor for leaks. 

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Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Summary of Federal Statutes and Regulations 

VI. SUMMARY OF FEDERAL STATUTES AND REGULATIONS 

This section discusses the federal regulations that may apply to the RMPP sector. 

The purpose of this section is to highlight and briefly describe the applicable federal 

requirements, and to provide citations for more detailed information. The three following 

subsections are included: 

C Section VI.A contains a general overview of major statutes; 

C Section VI.B lists regulations specific to this industry; and 

C Section VI.C lists pending and proposed regulatory requirements. 

The descriptions in Section VI are intended solely for general information. 

Depending upon the nature or scope of the activities at a particular facility, these summaries may 

or may not necessarily describe all applicable environmental requirements. Moreover, they do 

not constitute formal interpretations or clarifications of the statutes and regulations. For 

example, some facilities in the RMPP industry are co-located with facilities that manufacture the 

plastic resins used by the RMPP industry. The resin manufacturing facilities have additional 

regulatory requirements. These requirements can be found in the Profile of the Plastic Resins 

and Man-made Fibers Industry located at: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/ 

publications/assistance/sectors/notebooks/ and on EPA’s Air Toxics website for National 

Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants located at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/ 

mactfnlalph.html. For further information, consult the Code of Federal Regulations and other 

state or local regulatory agencies. EPA Hotline contacts are also provided for each major statute. 

To search the CFR, go to the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) at 

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr/. The e-CFR consists of two linked databases: the "current 

Code" and "amendment files." The Office of Federal Register updates the current Code database 

according to the effective dates of amendments published in the Federal Register. The Federal 

Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of federal agencies 

and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents. The Federal 

Register can be searched at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html. 

VI.A. General Description of Major Statutes 

The RMPP industry is affected by multiple federal environmental statutes. In 

addition, the industry is subject to numerous laws and regulations from state, tribal, and local 

governments designed to protect and improve the nation’s health, safety, and environment. 

Table 15 summarizes the major federal regulations affecting air, water, and waste outputs from 

the RMPP industry. 

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Table 15: Summary of Potentially Applicable EPA Regulations 

Water Programs (CWA and SWDA) 

40 CFR Part 112 Oil Pollution Prevention 

40 CFR Part 122 EPA-administered Permit Programs: The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 

System 

40 CFR Part 141 National Primary Drinking Water Regulations 

40 CFR Part 142 National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Implementation 

40 CFR Part 143 National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations 

40 CFR Part 144 Underground Injection Control (“UIC”) Program 

40 CFR Part 145 State UIC Program Requirements 

40 CFR Part 146 UIC Program: Criteria and Standards 

40 CFR Part 147 State UIC Programs 

40 CFR Part 148 Hazardous Waste Injection Restrictions 

40 CFR Part 403 General Pretreatment Regulations for Existing and New Sources of Pollution 

Solid and Hazardous Wastes (RCRA) 

40 CFR Part 260 Hazardous Waste Management System 

40 CFR Part 261 Identification and Listing of Hazardous Waste 

40 CFR Part 262 Standards Applicable to Generators of Hazardous Waste 

40 CFR Part 263 Standards Applicable to Transporters of Hazardous Waste 

40 CFR Part 264 Standards for Owners and Operators of Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, and 

Disposal Facilities 

40 CFR Part 265 Interim Status Standards for Owners and Operators of Hazardous Waste Treatment, 

Storage, and Disposal Facilities 

40 CFR Part 266 Standards for the Management of Specific Hazardous Wastes and Specific Types of 

Hazardous Waste Management Facilities 

40 CFR Part 268 Land Disposal Restrictions 

40 CFR Part 273 Standards for Universal Waste Management 

40 CFR Part 279 Standards for the Management of Used Oil 

40 CFR Part 280 Technical Standards and Corrective Requirements for Owners and Operators of 

Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) 

Hazardous Substances and Chemicals, Environmental Response, Emergency Planning, and Community 

Right-to-Know Programs (CERCLA and EPCRA) 

40 CFR Part 302 Designation, Reportable Quantities, and Notification 

40 CFR Part 355 Emergency Planning and Notification 

40 CFR Part 370 Hazardous Chemical Reporting: Community Right-to-Know 

40 CFR Part 372 Toxic Chemical Release Reporting: Community Right-to-Know 

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Table 16: Summary of Applicable EPA Regulations (Continued) 

Air Programs (CAA) 

40 CFR Section 52.21 Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality 

40 CFR Part 60 Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources 

40 CFR Part 61 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, Subpart M, National 

Emission Standard for Asbestos 

40 CFR Part 63 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Source Categories (all 

applicable provisions) 

40 CFR Part 68 Chemical Accident Prevention Provisions 

40 CFR Part 70 State Operating Permit Programs 

40 CFR Part 82 Protection of Stratospheric Ozone 

All applicable provisions of State Implementation Plan Regulations (promulgated pursuant to Section 110 of the 

Clean Air Act) including the New Source Review regulations 

Toxic Substances (TSCA) 

40 CFR Part 745 Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention in Certain Residential Structures 

40 CFR Part 761 Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Manufacturing, Processing, Distribution in 

Commerce, and Use Prohibitions 

40 CFR Part 763 Asbestos 

Pesticide Programs (FIFRA) 

40 CFR Part 160 Good Laboratory Practice Standards 

40 CFR Part 162 State Registration of Pesticide Products 

40 CFR Part 170 Worker Protection Standard 

40 CFR Part 171 Certification of Pesticide Applicators 

40 CFR Part 172 Experimental Use Permits 

Note that, in the RMPP industry, compliance with environmental regulations may 

be handled in many different ways. Though ideally all employees should help comply, official 

responsibility could lie at the corporate level, it could lie within the RMPP facility as either a 

centrally or non-centrally organized activity, or it could be part of a function for vendored-out 

services. EPA observes that the organizations that successfully achieve compliance engage all 

or many employees in the various facility operations. 

Clean Water Act 

The primary objective of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, commonly 

referred to as the Clean Water Act (CWA), is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and 

biological integrity of the nation's surface waters. Pollutants regulated under the CWA are 

classified as either “toxic” pollutants; “conventional” pollutants, such as BOD, TSS, fecal 

coliform, oil and grease, and pH; or “nonconventional” pollutants, including any pollutant not 

identified as either conventional or priority. 

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The CWA regulates both direct and indirect dischargers (those who discharge to 

POTWs). The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program 

(CWA section 402) controls direct discharges into navigable waters. Direct discharges or “point 

source” discharges are from sources such as pipes and sewers. NPDES permits, issued by either 

EPA or an authorized state (EPA has authorized 43 states and one territory to administer the 

NPDES program), contain industry-specific, technology-based and water-quality-based limits 

and establish pollutant monitoring and reporting requirements. A facility that proposes to 

discharge into the nation's waters must obtain a permit prior to initiating a discharge. A permit 

applicant must provide quantitative analytical data identifying the types of pollutants present in 

the facility's effluent. The permit will then set forth the conditions and effluent limitations under 

which the facility may discharge. 

Water-quality-based discharge limits are based on federal or state water quality 

criteria or standards that were designed to protect designated uses of surface waters, such as 

supporting aquatic life or recreation. These standards, unlike the technology-based standards, 

generally do not take into account technological feasibility or costs. Water quality criteria and 

standards vary from state to state and site to site, depending on the use classification of the 

receiving body of water. Most states follow EPA effluent guidelines, which propose aquatic life 

and human health criteria for many of the 126 priority pollutants. 

As stated in Section I of this document, wastewater sources for RMPP facilities 

include heating, cooling, cleaning, and finishing process waters as well as stormwater. The 

RMPP industry is subject to various provisions of the CWA including: 

C Wastewater Discharges: NPDES effluent limitations and guidelines for 

direct dischargers and general pretreatment standards. 

C Stormwater Permits: Municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4), 

such as those from RMPP facilities, and construction activities are subject 

to stormwater permitting requirements. 

C Oil Pollution Prevention Requirements: RMPP facilities that have 

aboveground oil storage capacity exceeding 660 gallons individually or 

1,320 gallons total or an underground storage capacity exceeding 42,000 

gallons are subject to spill prevention control and countermeasure (SPCC) 

plan requirements. 

Wastewater Discharges 

As stated above, the water regulations establish different permitting programs for 

direct and indirect wastewater discharges. Most facilities in the RMPP industry are indirect 

dischargers. 

C Indirect Dischargers: RMPP facilities that are indirect dischargers are 

subject to regulations by the local sewer authority. At present, 

approximately 1,500 of the nation's largest municipalities are required to 

implement industrial pretreatment programs that include issuing industrial 

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user permits to significant industrial users. Some municipalities have 

determined RMPP facilities to be significant industrial users. 

Federal pretreatment regulations prohibit discharges of fire or explosion 

hazards; corrosive discharges (pH < 5.0); solid or viscous pollutants; heat 

(in amounts that cause the treatment plant influent to exceed 104 degrees 

F); pollutants that cause toxic gases, fumes, or vapors; and any other 

pollutant (including oil and grease) that will interfere with or pass through 

the treatment plant. 

C Direct Dischargers: Facilities that directly discharge process and sewer 

wastes must be permitted (i.e., obtain a permit) for any point source 

discharge of pollutants to waters of the United States. These permits are 

issued either by U.S. EPA or the state, where the state has been authorized 

to implement the NPDES permit program. The federal regulations 

establish the permit application and permit requirements. Specific 

numeric limitations that apply to a RMPP facility depend on the receiving 

stream of the discharge. EPA Regional pretreatment coordinators can 

provide detailed information on numeric limitations. Contact information 

can be found at the following web site: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes 

contacts.cfm?program_id=3&type=REGION/. 

Stormwater Discharges 

EPA's NPDES web site http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes provides technical and 

regulatory information about the NPDES) permit program. The stormwater program is part of 

the NPDES program and is designed to prevent the discharge of contaminated stormwater into 

navigable waters http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=6 

EPA promulgated Phase I of the stormwater program in 1990 and applied it to 

medium and large municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4), certain industrial facilities, 

and any construction activity disturbing greater than 5 acres (large construction sites). 

The Agency promulgated Phase II of the stormwater program in 1999; Phase II 

applies to small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4) and construction activity greater 

than 1 acre and less than 5 acres (small construction sites). 

The term MS4 does not solely refer to municipally owned storm sewer systems, 

but rather has a much broader application that can include, in addition to local jurisdictions, state 

departments of transportation, universities, local sewer districts, hospitals, military bases, and 

prisons. A MS4 also is not always just a system of underground pipes - it can include roads with 

drainage systems, gutters, and ditches. RMPP facilities in urban areas should consult with their 

state NPDES authority to evaluate whether a permit authorization is required. 

The regulatory definition of an MS4 is provided in 40 CFR 122.26(b)(8). General 

stormwater information can be found at http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=6 

and the Stormwater Phase II Compliance Assistance Guide, at 

http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/comguide.pdf. 

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EPA’s Office of Water operates a Water Resource Center with a 24-hour voice 

mail system for publication orders or reference questions at (202) 566-1729 (e-mail address: 

center.water-resource@epa.gov). Long-distance callers in the United States may also use the 

Wetlands Helpline ((800) 832-7828), operating weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., EST, 

excluding federal holidays. Visit the Office of Water web site (http://www.epa.gov/OW/ 

index.html) and the NPDES web site (http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/) for additional material. 

Wetlands 

Wetlands, commonly called swamps, marshes, fens, bogs, vernal pools, playas, 

and prairie potholes, are a subset of “waters of the United States,” as defined in Section 404 of 

the CWA. The placement of dredge and fill material into wetlands and other water bodies (i.e., 

waters of the United States) is regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) under 33 

CFR Part 328. The Corps regulates wetlands by administering the CWA Section 404 permit 

program for activities that impact wetlands. EPA’s authority under Section 404 includes veto 

power of Corps permits, authority to interpret statutory exemptions and jurisdiction, enforcement 

actions, and delegating the Section 404 program to the states. 

The EPA Wetlands Helpline ((800) 832-7828, or (202) 566-1730 for international 

calls) provides information and referral services on wetland topics (e-mail address: 

wetlands.helpline@epa.gov). The helpline operates weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., EST, 

excluding federal holidays. Visit the Office of Water Wetlands web site at 

http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/ for additional material. 

Oil Pollution Prevention Regulation 

Section 311(b) of the CWA prohibits the discharge of oil, in such quantities as 

may be harmful, into the navigable waters of the United States and adjoining shorelines. The 

EPA Discharge of Oil regulation, 40 CFR Part 110, provides information regarding these 

discharges. The Oil Pollution Prevention regulation, 40 CFR Part 112, under the authority of 

Section 311(j) of the CWA, requires regulated facilities to prepare and implement spill 

prevention, control, and countermeasure (SPCC) plans. The intent of an SPCC plan is to prevent 

the discharge of oil from onshore and offshore non-transportation-related facilities. In 1990, 

Congress passed the Oil Pollution Act (OPA), which amended Section 311(j) of the CWA to 

require facilities, that because of their location could reasonably be expected to cause 

“substantial harm” to the environment by a discharge of oil, to develop and implement Facility 

Response Plans (FRP). The intent of an FRP is to provide for planned responses to discharges of 

oil. 

A facility is SPCC-regulated if the facility, due to its location, could reasonably 

be expected to discharge oil into or upon the navigable waters of the United States or adjoining 

shorelines, and the facility meets one of the following criteria regarding oil storage: (1) the 

capacity of any aboveground storage tank exceeds 660 gallons, or (2) the total aboveground 

storage capacity exceeds 1,320 gallons, or (3) the underground storage capacity exceeds 42,000 

gallons. When determining facility capacity, the following exemptions apply: 

C Completely buried tanks subject to the Underground Storage Tank rules; 

C Containers with less than 55-gallon capacity; 

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C Wastewater treatment facilities; and 

C Permanently closed tanks. 

40 CFR Part 112.7 contains the format and content requirements for an SPCC 

plan. In New Jersey, SPCC plans can be combined with discharge prevention, containment, and 

countermeasures plans, required by the state, provided there is an appropriate cross-reference 

index to the requirements of both regulations at the front of the plan. 

According to the FRP regulation, a facility can cause “substantial harm” if it 

meets one of the following criteria: (1) the facility has a total oil storage capacity greater than or 

equal to 42,000 gallons and transfers oil over water to or from vessels; or (2) the facility has a 

total oil storage capacity greater than or equal to one million gallons and meets any one of the 

following conditions: (i) does not have adequate secondary containment, (ii) a discharge could 

cause “injury” to fish and wildlife and sensitive environments, (iii) shut down a public drinking 

water intake, or (iv) has had a reportable oil spill greater than or equal to 10,000 gallons in the 

past five years. Appendix F of 40 CFR Part 112 contains the format and content requirements 

for an FRP. FRPs that meet EPA’s requirements can be combined with U.S. Coast Guard FRPs 

or other contingency plans, provided there is an appropriate cross-reference index to the 

requirements of all applicable regulations at the front of the plan. 

For additional information regarding SPCC plans, contact EPA’s RCRA, 

Superfund, and EPCRA Call Center, at (800) 424-9346 (or e-mail at epacallcenter@bah.com). 

Additional documents and resources can be obtained from the call center’s homepage at 

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hotline. The call center operates weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 

5:00 p.m., EST, excluding federal holidays. Visit EPA’s Oil Program web site 

(http://www.epa.gov/oilspill/index.htm) for further material. 

Safe Drinking Water Act 

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) mandates that EPA establish regulations 

to protect human health from contaminants in drinking water. The law authorizes EPA to 

develop national drinking water standards and to create a joint federal-state system to ensure 

compliance with these standards. The SDWA also directs EPA to protect underground sources 

of drinking water by controlling underground injection of fluid wastes. 

EPA has developed primary and secondary drinking water standards under its 

SDWA authority. EPA and authorized states enforce the primary drinking water standards, 

which are contaminant-specific concentration limits that apply to certain public drinking water 

supplies. Primary drinking water standards consist of maximum contaminant level goals 

(MCLGs), which are nonenforceable health-based goals, and maximum contaminant levels 

(MCLs), which are enforceable limits set generally as close to MCLGs as possible, considering 

cost and feasibility of attainment. 

Part C of the SDWA mandates EPA to protect underground sources of drinking 

water from inadequate injection practices. EPA has published regulations codified at 40 CFR 

Parts 144 to 148 to comply with this mandate. The Underground Injection Control (UIC) 

regulations break down injection wells into five different types, depending on the fluid injected 

and the formation that receives it. The regulations also include construction, monitoring, testing, 

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and operating requirements for injection well operators. All injection wells have to be 

authorized by permit or by rule depending on their potential to threaten Underground Sources of 

Drinking Water. RCRA also regulates hazardous waste injection wells, and a UIC permit is 

considered to meet the requirements of a RCRA permit. EPA has authorized delegation of the 

UIC for all well classes in 34 states, implements the program in 10 states and all Native 

American lands, and shares responsibility with 6 states. 

The SDWA also provides for a federally implemented Sole Source Aquifer 

program, which prohibits federal funds from being expended on projects that may contaminate 

the sole or principal source of drinking water for a given area, and for a state-implemented 

Wellhead Protection program, designed to protect drinking water wells and drinking water 

recharge areas. 

The SDWA Amendments of 1996 require states to develop and implement source 

water assessment programs (SWAP) to analyze existing and potential threats to the quality of the 

public drinking water throughout the state. Every state is required to submit a program to EPA 

and to complete all assessments within 31⁄2 years of EPA approval of the program. SWAP 

include: (1) delineating the source water protection area, (2) conducting a contaminant source 

inventory, (3) determining the susceptibility of the public water supply to contamination from 

the inventory’s sources, and (4) releasing the results of the assessments to the public. 

EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline, at (800) 426-4791 (or (703) 412-3330 for 

local and international calls), answers questions and distributes guidance pertaining to SDWA 

standards (e-mail: hotline-sdwa@epa.gov). The Hotline operates from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 

EST, excluding federal holidays. Visit the web site at http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw for additional 

material. 

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 

The Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA), as amended by the RCRA of 1976, 

addresses solid and hazardous waste management activities. The Act is commonly referred to as 

RCRA. The Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA) of 1984 strengthened RCRA’s 

waste management provisions and added Subtitle I, which governs USTs. 

Although RCRA is a federal statute, many states administer the RCRA hazardous 

waste program in lieu of the federal program. Currently, EPA has authorized 48 of the 50 states 

and two U.S. territories to administer various provisions of RCRA Subtitle C. States must have 

regulations consistent with and at least as stringent as the federal program; some states have 

additional reporting requirements. RMPP facilities should contact their state or tribal authority 

to determine which state or tribal requirements apply to their business. RCRA does not enable 

EPA to authorize tribal hazardous waste programs in lieu of the federal program; therefore, EPA 

directly implements RCRA hazardous waste programs in Indian country, but tribes may have 

their own, independent hazardous waste programs. 

RCRA assigns each hazardous waste reporting facility a generator status. 

Reporting requirements are different for each generator type. Hazardous waste generators are 

divided into three categories, according to how much they generate in a calendar month: 

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C Large Quantity Generators (LQG) generate greater than or equal to 

1,000 kg (approximately 2,200 lbs) of hazardous waste per month, or 

greater than 1 kg (approximately 2.2 lbs) of acutely hazardous waste per 

month. EPA considers acute hazardous wastes the P-listed wastes. If 

facilities generate more than 1 kg (approximately 1 quart) of acutely 

hazardous waste, then they are LQGs and must comply with all LQG 

reporting requirements. 

C Small Quantity Generators (SQG) generate greater than 100 kg 

(approximately 220 lbs) but less than 1,000 kg of hazardous waste per 

month and/or less than 1 kg (approximately 2.2 lbs) of acutely hazardous 

waste per month. 

C Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators (CESQG) generate 

less than or equal to 100 kg of hazardous waste per month, and less than 

or equal to 1 kg of acutely hazardous waste per month. Not all states 

recognize the CESQG class. 

C Large Quantity Handler of Universal Waste store greater than 5,000 kg 

of universal waste on site. 

C Small Quantity Handler of Universal Waste store less than 5,000 kg or 

about 11,000 lbs of universal waste (all types combined) on any given day 

during the calendar year. 

Regulations promulgated pursuant to Subtitle C of RCRA (40 CFR Parts 260­

299) establish a “cradle-to-grave” system governing hazardous waste from the point of 

generation to disposal. RCRA defines hazardous waste as a subset of solid waste. Solid waste is 

defined as garbage, refuse, sludge, or other discarded material (including solids, semisolids, 

liquids, and contained gaseous materials). Once a waste is considered solid waste, facilities must 

determine if it is hazardous waste. RCRA hazardous wastes include the specific materials listed 

in the regulations (discarded commercial chemical products, designated with the code “P” or 

“U”; hazardous wastes from specific industries/sources, designated with the code “K”; or 

hazardous wastes from nonspecific sources, designated with the code “F”) or materials that 

exhibit a hazardous waste characteristic (ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity and 

designated with the code “D”). 

Subtitle C permits are required for treatment, storage, or disposal facilities. These 

permits contain general facility standards such as contingency plans, emergency procedures, 

recordkeeping and reporting requirements, financial assurance mechanisms, and unit-specific 

standards. RCRA also contains provisions (40 CFR Subparts I and S) for conducting corrective 

actions that govern the cleanup of releases of hazardous waste or constituents from solid waste 

management units at RCRA treatment, storage, or disposal facilities. 

Entities that generate hazardous waste are subject to Federal standards applicable 

to generators of hazardous waste (e.g., hazardous waste manifest, pre-transportation, 

recordkeeping and reporting, etc). Storage of hazardous waste generally requires a permit under 

RCRA hazardous waste regulations, but provisions under RCRA do allow generators to 

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"accumulate" hazardous waste on site without a permit or interim status as long as they comply, 

among other things, with the technical standards for the containment unit(s). The length of time 

a generator is allowed to accumulate hazardous waste on site without a permit or interim status 

depends on the generator's classification. For instance, Large Quantity Generators may 

accumulate any quantity on-site for 90 days or less without a permit or interim status. Small 

Quantity Generators may accumulate no more than 6,000 kg of hazardous waste without a 

permit or interim status for 180 days or less (or for 270 days or less depending on transport 

distance). CESQGs may accumulate 1,000 kg of waste, 1kg acute waste, or 100 kg residue or 

contaminated soil from a cleanup of an acute hazardous waste spill. Generators also may treat 

hazardous waste in accumulation tanks or containers (in accordance with the requirements of 40 

CFR Part 262.34) without a permit or interim status. Facilities that treat, store, or dispose of 

hazardous waste generally are required to obtain a RCRA permit. 

Generator status is determined by calendar month; therefore, one month a facility 

may be a CESQG, and the rest of the year it may be an SQG. In this case, it might be easier to 

comply with SQG reporting requirements for consistency. On the other hand, if the facility is 

usually an SQG, a store room or laboratory cleanout might push it into being an LQG. In 

exceptional cases like this when it is a one time occurrence, some states have made exceptions so 

that the cleanout does not trigger LQG status. 

Generators “count” the amount of waste generated, by adding up the total weight 

of all quantities of characteristic and listed waste generated at a particular facility. Certain 

wastes, such as those that are reclaimed or recycled continuously on site, are not counted under 

the federal regulations but might be counted under some state regulations. 

Most RCRA requirements are not industry-specific but apply to any company that 

generates, transports, treats, stores, or disposes of hazardous waste. Below are some important 

RCRA regulatory requirements: 

C Criteria for Classification of Solid Waste Disposal Facilities and 

Practices (40 CFR Part 257) establish the criteria for determining which 

solid waste disposal facilities and practices pose a reasonable probability 

of adverse effects on health or the environment. The criteria were adopted 

to ensure nonmunicipal, nonhazardous waste disposal units that receive 

CESQG waste do not present risks to human health and environment. 

C Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (40 CFR Part 258) 

establish minimum national criteria for all municipal solid waste landfill 

units, including those that are used to dispose of sewage sludge. 

C Identification of Solid and Hazardous Wastes (40 CFR Part 261) 

establishes the standard to determine whether the material in question is 

considered a solid waste and, if so, whether it is a hazardous waste or is 

exempted from regulation. 

C Standards for Generators of Hazardous Waste (40 CFR Part 262) 

establishes the responsibilities of hazardous waste generators including 

obtaining an EPA identification number, preparing a manifest, ensuring 

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proper packaging and labeling, meeting standards for waste accumulation 

units, and recordkeeping and reporting requirements. Generators can 

accumulate hazardous waste on site for up to 90 days (or 180 days 

depending on the amount of waste generated) without obtaining a permit. 

C Land Disposal Restrictions (LDRs) (40 CFR Part 268) prohibit the 

disposal of hazardous waste on land without prior treatment. Under the 

LDR program, materials must meet treatment standards prior to placement 

in a RCRA land disposal unit (landfill, land treatment unit, waste pile, or 

surface impoundment). Generators of waste subject to the LDRs must 

provide notification of such to the designated TSD facility to ensure 

proper treatment prior to disposal. 

C Used Oil Management Standards (40 CFR Part 279) impose 

management requirements affecting the storage, transportation, burning, 

processing, and re-refining of used oil. For parties that merely generate 

used oil, regulations establish storage standards. A party considered a 

used oil processor, re-refiner, burner, or marketer (one who generates and 

sells off-specification used oil directly to a used oil burner) must meet 

additional tracking and paperwork requirements. 

RCRA contains unit-specific standards for all units used to store, treat, or 

dispose of hazardous waste, including Tanks and Containers. Tanks and 

containers used to store hazardous waste with a high volatile organic 

concentration must meet emission standards under RCRA. Regulations 

(40 CFR Part 264-265, Subpart CC) require generators to test the waste to 

determine the concentration of the waste, to satisfy tank and container 

emissions standards, and to inspect and monitor regulated units. These 

regulations apply to all facilities that store such waste, including large 

quantity generators accumulating waste prior to shipment off site. 

C Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) containing petroleum and 

hazardous substances are regulated under Subtitle I of RCRA. Subtitle I 

regulations (40 CFR Part 280) contain tank design and release detection 

requirements, as well as financial responsibility and corrective action 

standards for USTs. The UST program also includes upgrade 

requirements for existing tanks that were to be met by December 22, 1998. 

C Boilers and Industrial Furnaces (BIFs) that use or burn fuel containing 

hazardous waste must comply with design and operating standards. BIF 

regulations (40 CFR Part 266, Subpart H) address unit design, provide 

performance standards, require emissions monitoring, and, in some cases, 

restrict the type of waste that may be burned. 

Some wastes have special exclusions for practices that are not considered to be 

hazardous, as determined by federal policy. Several exclusions and exemptions pertain 

specifically to RMPP facilities. Keep in mind that some states do not recognize the federal 

exclusions. Some federal exclusions that are relevant to RMPP facilities are listed below: 

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C Domestic Sewage Exclusion. Mixtures of domestic sewage and other 

wastes that discharge to a sewer system and then to a POTW for treatment 

are excluded from the definition of solid waste. For example, an 

employee may generate a hazardous waste by washing hands with a soap 

containing listed hazardous waste. The mixture will be going through a 

POTW; therefore, it is excluded from the facility’s hazardous waste 

“count.” Generators need to contact their local POTW for prior approval. 

Note that wastes must actually reach the POTW to be covered by this 

exclusion. Waste that volatilizes in the drain or corrodes the pipes does 

not reach the POTW. 

C Point Source Exclusions. Point source discharges of industrial waste 

waters that are subject to regulation under Section 402 of the CWA are 

excluded from the definition of solid waste. 

C Wastewater Treatment Unit. Any hazardous waste tank system used to 

store or treat the wastewater that is managed at an on-site wastewater 

treatment facility with an NPDES permit or that discharges to a POTW is 

exempt from the RCRA regulations. Most RMPP facilities do not perform 

this type of wastewater treatment but instead perform elementary 

neutralization, discussed below. 

C Elementary Neutralization Unit. Tanks used for neutralizing waste that 

is hazardous solely because of its corrosive characteristic are excluded 

from the permitting requirements. 

C De Minimis Exclusion. Small quantities of some solvents and other 

chemicals are exempt from the regulations when they are mixed with 

wastewater in a wastewater treatment system discharging, according to the 

Clean Water Act. 

RCRA defines lead-based paint debris as hazardous waste, unless generated 

during abatement, renovation, and remodeling of homes or other residences. Lead-based paint 

debris may be generated at a facility during renovations. Regardless of the debris source, 

facilities cannot dump or open-burn lead-based paint debris. See the Toxic Substances Control 

Act (TSCA) for further lead rules. For more information on lead regulations, visit the web site 

http://www.epa.gov/lead/regulation.htm. 

EPA's RCRA, Superfund, and EPCRA Call Center, at (800) 424-9346, responds 

to questions and distributes guidance regarding all RCRA regulations. Additional documents 

and resources can be obtained from the hotline’s homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/ 

hotline. The RCRA Hotline operates weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., EST, excluding 

federal holidays. Visit the web site (http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/laws-reg.htm) for 

additional material. 

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Universal Waste Rule 

EPA created the Universal Waste Rule to encourage and streamline recycling 

efforts. It allows facilities to count wastes as universal instead of hazardous, which does not 

count toward generator status. Segregating universal wastes from the rest of the hazardous waste 

streams can save RMPP facilities money on disposal costs, as well as on recordkeeping. Federal 

universal wastes include certain batteries, mercury-containing thermostats, and fluorescent light 

bulbs. Facilities should make sure that their state or territory has adopted these universal wastes. 

Section VI.C also discusses this rule. 

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 

(CERCLA), a 1980 law commonly known as Superfund, authorizes EPA to respond to releases, 

or threatened releases, of hazardous substances that may endanger public health, welfare, or the 

environment. CERCLA also enables EPA to force parties responsible for environmental 

contamination to clean it up or to reimburse the Superfund for response or remediation costs 

incurred by EPA. The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986 

revised various sections of CERCLA, extended the taxing authority for the Superfund, and 

created a free-standing law, SARA Title III, also known as EPCRA. 

The CERCLA hazardous substance release reporting regulations (40 CFR Part 

302) direct the person in charge of a facility to report to the National Response Center (NRC) 

any environmental release of a hazardous substance that equals or exceeds a reportable quantity. 

Reportable quantities are listed in 40 CFR Part 302.4. A release report may trigger a response by 

EPA or by one or more federal or state emergency response authorities. 

EPA implements hazardous substance responses according to procedures outlined 

in the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) (40 CFR Part 

300). The NCP includes provisions for cleanups. The National Priorities List (NPL) currently 

includes 1,240 sites (as of January 2004). Both EPA and states can act at other sites; however, 

EPA provides responsible parties the opportunity to conduct cleanups and encourages 

community involvement throughout the Superfund response process. 

EPA's RCRA, Superfund, and EPCRA Call Center, at (800) 424-9346, responds 

to questions and distributes guidance pertaining to the Superfund program. Additional 

documents and resources can be obtained from the hotline’s homepage at http://www.epa.gov/ 

epaoswer/hotline. The Superfund Hotline operates weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., EST, 

excluding federal holidays. Visit the Superfund web site (http://www.epa.gov/superfund 

/index.htm) for additional material. 

Emergency Planning And Community Right-To-Know Act 

The SARA of 1986 created EPCRA (also known as SARA Title III), a statute 

designed to improve community access to information about chemical hazards and to facilitate 

the development of chemical emergency response plans by state and local governments. Under 

EPCRA, states establish State Emergency Response Commissions (SERC), responsible for 

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coordinating certain emergency response activities and for appointing Local Emergency 

Planning Committees (LEPC). 

EPCRA establishes the following types of reporting obligations for facilities that 

store or manage specified chemicals: 

C EPCRA Section 302 requires facilities to notify the SERC and LEPC of 

the presence of any extremely hazardous substance at the facility in an 

amount in excess of the established threshold planning quantity. The list 

of extremely hazardous substances and their threshold planning quantities 

is found at 40 CFR Part 355, Appendices A and B. 

C EPCRA Section 303 requires that each LEPC develop an emergency 

plan. The plan must contain (but is not limited to) the identification of 

facilities within the planning district, likely routes for transporting 

extremely hazardous substances, a description of the methods and 

procedures to be followed by facility owners and operators, and the 

designation of community and facility emergency response coordinators. 

C EPCRA Section 304 requires the facility to notify the SERC and the 

LEPC in the event of a release exceeding the reportable quantity of a 

CERCLA hazardous substance (defined at 40 CFR Part 302) or an 

EPCRA extremely hazardous substance. 

C EPCRA Sections 311 and 312 require a facility at which a hazardous 

chemical, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Act, is present 

in an amount exceeding a specified threshold to submit to the SERC, 

LEPC, and local fire department material safety data sheets (MSDS) or 

lists of MSDSs and hazardous chemical inventory forms (also known as 

Tier I and II forms). This information helps the local government respond 

in the event of a spill or release of the chemical. 

C EPCRA Section 313 requires certain covered facilities to submit an 

annual toxic chemical release report. This report, commonly known as 

Form R, covers releases and transfers of toxic chemicals to various 

facilities and environmental media. EPA maintains the data reported in 

the TRI database. Covered facilities meet the following requirements: (1) 

have 10 or more employees; (2) are included in one of the following SIC 

codes: 

— 10 (except 1011, 1081, and 1094), 

— 12 (except 1241), 

— 20 through 39, 

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— 4911, 4931, or 4939 (limited to facilities that combust coal and/or 

oil for the purpose of generating electricity for distribution in 

commerce), 

— 4953 (limited to facilities regulated under RCRA Subtitle C), 

— 5169, 

— 5171, and 

— 7389 (limited to facilities primarily engaged in solvents recovery 

services on a contract or fee basis); and 

(3) manufacture, process, or use specified chemicals in amounts greater 

than threshold quantities. Starting with reporting year 2000, EPA lowered 

the threshold quantities on PBT chemicals. Visit the TRI web site 

(http://www.epa.gov/tri/) for additional material. 

All information submitted pursuant to EPCRA regulations is publicly accessible, 

unless protected by a trade secret claim. 

EPA's RCRA, Superfund, and EPCRA Call Center, at (800) 424-9346, responds 

to questions and distributes guidance regarding the emergency planning and community rightto-know regulations. Additional documents and resources can be obtained from the hotline’s 

homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hotline. The EPCRA Hotline operates weekdays 

from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., EST, excluding federal holidays. 

Clean Air Act 

The Clean Air Act (CAA) and its amendments are designed to “protect and 

enhance the nation's air resources so as to promote the public health and welfare and the 

productive capacity of the population.” The CAA consists of six sections, known as Titles, 

which direct EPA to establish national standards for ambient air quality and for EPA and the 

states to implement, maintain, and enforce these standards through a variety of mechanisms. 

Under the CAA, many facilities are required to obtain operating permits that consolidate their air 

emission requirements. State and local governments oversee, manage, and enforce many of the 

requirements of the CAA. CAA regulations appear at 40 CFR Parts 50-99. 

VOC and PM emissions are the main concern for this industry, which accounts 

for approximately 5 percent of total emissions for these pollutants. VOC emissions result from 

the mixing, milling, extruding, calendering, vulcanizing, and grinding processes as well as 

solvent use. Although VOC emissions are low per mass of material processed, the facilities 

processing large quantities of materials face the potential of significant VOC emissions. PM 

emissions result from mixing, milling, cutting, and grinding processes; many of these processes 

produce fugitive emissions that are difficult to quantify. 

Pursuant to Title I of the CAA, EPA has established national ambient air quality 

standards (NAAQSs) to limit levels of “criteria pollutants,” including CO, lead, nitrogen dioxide 

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(NO2), particulate matter, ozone, and SO2. Geographic areas that meet NAAQSs for a given 

pollutant are designated as attainment areas; those that do not meet NAAQSs are designated as 

nonattainment areas. Under Section 110 and other provisions of the CAA, each state must 

develop a State Implementation Plan (SIP) to identify sources of air pollution and to determine 

what reductions are required to meet federal air quality standards. Revised NAAQSs for 

particulates and ozone became effective in 2004. 

Title I also authorizes EPA to establish NSPS, which are nationally uniform 

emission standards for new and modified stationary sources falling within particular industrial 

categories. NSPSs are based on the pollution control technology available to that category of 

industrial source (see 40 CFR Part 60). 

Under Title I, EPA establishes and enforces NESHAPs, nationally uniform 

standards oriented toward controlling specific HAPs. Section 112(c) of the CAA further directs 

EPA to develop a list of source categories that emit any of 188 HAPs, and to develop regulations 

for these categories of sources. To date, EPA has listed 185 source categories and developed a 

schedule for establishing emission standards. The emission standards are being developed for 

both new and existing sources based on MACT. The MACT is defined as the control 

technology achieving the maximum degree of reduction in the emission of the HAPs, taking into 

account cost and other factors. 

Title II of the CAA pertains to mobile sources, such as cars, trucks, buses, and 

planes. Reformulated gasoline, automobile pollution control devices, and vapor recovery 

nozzles on gas pumps are a few of the mechanisms EPA uses to regulate mobile air emission 

sources. 

Title IV-A establishes a SO2 and NOx emissions program designed to reduce the 

formation of acid rain. Sulfur dioxide releases will be reduced by granting to certain sources 

limited emissions allowances that are set below previous levels of SO2 releases. 

Title V of the CAA establishes an operating permit program for all “major 

sources” (and certain other sources) regulated under the CAA. One purpose of the operating 

permit is to include in a single document all air emissions requirements that apply to a given 

facility. States have developed the permit programs in accordance with guidance and regulations 

from EPA. Once a state program is approved by EPA, the state issues and monitors permits. 

Title VI is intended to protect stratospheric ozone by phasing out the manufacture 

of ozone-depleting chemicals and restricting their use and distribution. Production of Class I 

substances, including 15 kinds of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), was phased out (except for 

essential uses) in 1996. 

EPA's Clean Air Technology Center, at (919) 541-0800 (in Spanish: (919) 541­

1800) or http://www.epa.gov/ttn/catc, provides general assistance and information on CAA 

standards (e-mail: catcmail@epamail.epa.gov). The Stratospheric Ozone Information Hotline, 

at (800) 296-1996, or the Ozone Depletion web site (http://www.epa.gov/ozone), provides 

general information about regulations promulgated under Title VI of the CAA. The RCRA, 

Superfund, and EPCRA Call Center, at (800) 424-9346 or http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hotline, 

responses to questions about accidental release prevention under CAA Section 112(r). 

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Information on air toxics can be accessed through the Unified Air Toxics web site at 

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/. In addition, the Clean Air Technology Center’s web site includes 

recent CAA rules, EPA guidance documents, and updates of EPA activities. 

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act 

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) was first passed 

in 1947 and amended numerous times, most recently by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) 

of 1996. FIFRA provides EPA with the authority to oversee, among other things, the 

registration, distribution, sale and use of pesticides. The Act applies to all types of pesticides, 

including insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, and antimicrobials. FIFRA covers 

both intrastate and interstate commerce. 

Establishment Registration 

Section 7 of FIFRA requires that establishments producing pesticides, or active 

ingredients used in producing a pesticide subject to FIFRA, register with EPA. Registered 

establishments must report the types and amounts of pesticides and active ingredients they 

produce. FIFRA also provides EPA inspection authority and enables the Agency to take 

enforcement actions against facilities that are not in compliance with FIFRA. 

Product Registration 

Under Section 3 of FIFRA, all pesticides (with few exceptions) sold or distributed 

in the United States must be registered by EPA. Pesticide registration is very specific and 

generally allows use of the product only as specified on the label. Each registration specifies the 

use site (i.e., where the product may be used) and the amount that may be applied. The person 

who seeks to register the pesticide must file an application for registration. The application 

process often requires either the citation or submission of extensive environmental, health, and 

safety data. 

To register a pesticide, the EPA Administrator must make a number of findings, 

one of which is that the pesticide, when used in accordance with widespread and commonly 

recognized practice, will not generally cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment. 

FIFRA defines “unreasonable adverse effects on the environment” as “(1) any 

unreasonable risk to man or the environment, taking into account the economic, social, and 

environmental costs and benefits of the use of the pesticide, or (2) a human dietary risk from 

residues that result from a use of a pesticide in or on any food inconsistent with the standard 

under section 408 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) (21 U.S.C. 346a).” 

Under FIFRA section 6(a)(2), after a pesticide is registered, the registrant must 

also notify EPA of any additional facts and information concerning unreasonable adverse 

environmental effects of the pesticide. Also, if EPA determines that additional data are needed 

to support a registered pesticide, registrants may be requested to provide additional data. If EPA 

determines that the registrant(s) did not comply with their request for more information, the 

registration can be suspended under FIFRA section 3(c)(2)(B). 

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Use Restrictions 

As a part of the pesticide registration, EPA must classify the product for general 

use, restricted use, or general for some uses and restricted for others. For pesticides that may 

cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment, including injury to the applicator, EPA 

may require that the pesticide be applied either by, or under the direct supervision of, a certified 

applicator. 

Reregistration 

Due to concerns that much of the safety data underlying pesticide registrations 

becomes outdated and inadequate, in addition to requiring that registrations be reviewed every 

15 years, FIFRA requires EPA to reregister all pesticides that were registered prior to 1984 

(section 4). After reviewing existing data, EPA may approve the reregistration, request 

additional data to support the registration, cancel, or suspend the pesticide. 

Tolerances and Exemptions 

A tolerance is the maximum amount of pesticide residue that can be on a raw 

product and still be considered safe. Before EPA can register a pesticide that is used on raw 

agricultural products, it must grant a tolerance or exemption from a tolerance (40 CFR Parts 

163.10 through 163.12). Under the FFDCA, a raw agricultural product is deemed unsafe if it 

contains a pesticide residue, unless the residue is within the limits of a tolerance established by 

EPA or is exempt from the requirement. 

Cancellation and Suspension 

EPA can cancel a registration if it is determined that the pesticide or its labeling 

does not comply with the requirements of FIFRA or causes unreasonable adverse effects on the 

environment. 

In cases where EPA believes that an “imminent hazard” would exist if a pesticide 

were to continue to be used through the cancellation proceedings, EPA may suspend the 

pesticide registration through an order, and thereby halt the sale, distribution, and usage of the 

pesticide. An “imminent hazard” is defined as an unreasonable adverse effect on the 

environment or an unreasonable hazard to the survival of a threatened or endangered species that 

would be the likely result of allowing continued use of a pesticide during a cancellation process. 

When EPA believes an emergency exists that does not permit a hearing to be held 

prior to suspending, EPA can issue an emergency order that makes the suspension immediately 

effective. 

Imports and Exports 

Under FIFRA section 17(a), pesticides not registered in the United States and 

intended solely for export are not required to be registered, provided that the exporter obtains 

and submits to EPA, prior to export, a statement from the foreign purchaser acknowledging that 

the purchaser is aware that the product is not registered in the United States and cannot be sold 

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for use there. EPA sends these statements to the government of the importing country. FIFRA 

sets forth additional requirements that must be met by pesticides intended solely for export. The 

enforcement policy for exports is codified at 40 CFR Parts 168.65, 168.75, and 168.85. 

Under FIFRA section 17(c), imported pesticides and devices must comply with 

U.S. pesticide law. Except where exempted by regulation or statute, imported pesticides must be 

registered. FIFRA section 17(c) requires that EPA be notified of the arrival of imported 

pesticides and devices. To do this, an importer must complete the Notice of Arrival (NOA) 

(EPA Form 3540-1) prior to importation and submit it to the EPA Regional office applicable to 

the intended port of entry. U.S. Customs regulations prohibit importing pesticides without a 

completed NOA. The EPA-reviewed and signed form is returned to the importer to present to 

U.S. Customs when the shipment arrives in the United States. NOA forms can be obtained from 

contacts in the EPA Regional offices or http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/international/noalist.htm. 

Additional information on FIFRA and the regulation of pesticides can be 

obtained from a variety of sources, including EPA’s Pesticide Program at 

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides, EPA’s Office of Compliance, Agriculture and Ecosystem Division 

at http://www.epa.gov/compliance/assistance/sectors/agriculture.html, or The National 

Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center, (888) 663-2155 or http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/ 

(e-mail: agcenter@epa.gov). Other sources include the National Pesticide Information Center, 

(800) 858-7378 or http://npic.orst.edu/, and EPA’s Antimicrobial hotline, (703) 308-0127, 

operating weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., EST, excluding federal holidays (e-mail: 

info_antimicrobial@epa.gov) or web site, http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/. 

Toxic Substances Control Act 

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) granted EPA authority to create a 

regulatory framework to collect data on chemicals in order to evaluate, assess, mitigate, and 

control risks that may be posed by their manufacture, processing, and use. TSCA provides a 

variety of control methods to prevent chemicals from posing unreasonable risk. It is important 

to note that pesticides as defined in FIFRA are not included in the definition of a “chemical 

substance” when manufactured, processed, or distributed in commerce for use as a pesticide. 

RMPP facilities may be subject to TSCA through: 

C Lead hazard reduction regulations;

C Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) hazard reduction regulations; and 

C Asbestos hazard reduction regulations.

TSCA Regulations for Lead

C National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (TSCA section 

405(b)) establishes protocols, criteria, and minimum performance 

standards for laboratory analysis of lead in paint, dust, and soil. 

C Hazard Standards for Lead in Paint, Dust, and Soil (TSCA section 

403) establishes standards for lead-based paint hazards and lead dust 

cleanup levels in most pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities. 

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C Training & Certification Program for Lead-Based Paint Activities 

(TSCA section 402/404) ensures that individuals conducting lead-based 

paint abatement, risk assessment, or inspection are properly trained and 

certified, that training programs are accredited, and that these activities are 

conducted according to reliable, effective, and safe work practice 

standards. 

C Pre-Renovation Education Rule (TSCA section 406(b)) ensures that 

owners and occupants of most pre-1978 housing are provided information 

concerning potential hazards of lead-based paint exposure before 

beginning certain renovations on that housing. 

C Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule (TSCA section 1018) requires 

disclosure of known lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards by 

persons selling or leasing housing constructed before the phase-out of 

residential lead-based paint use in 1978. 

TSCA Regulations for PCBs 

The PCB regulations and requirements apply to both PCB waste materials and 

PCBs still in use. Because of potential harmful effects on human health and the environment, 

federal law banned U.S. production of PCBs as of July 2, 1979. However, PCB-containing 

materials may be present at facilities and PCB-laden wastes may be generated during 

renovations. 

Items with a PCB concentration of 50 ppm or greater are regulated for disposal 

under 40 CFR Part 761. Some potential sources of PCBs include: 

C Mineral-oil filled electrical equipment such as motors or pumps 

manufactured prior to July 2, 1979; 

C Capacitors or transformers manufactured prior to July 2, 1979; 

C Plastics, molded rubber parts, applied dried paints, coatings or sealants, 

caulking, adhesives, paper, Galbestos, sound-deadening materials, 

insulation, or felt or fabric products such as gaskets manufactured prior to 

July 2, 1979; 

C Fluorescent light ballasts manufactured prior to July 2, 1979; 

C Waste or debris from the demolition of buildings and equipment 

manufactured, serviced, or coated with PCBs; and 

C Waste containing PCBs from spills, such as floors or walls contaminated 

by a leaking transformer. 

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The general requirements for handling PCB materials and equipment include 

identifying and labeling the material, notifying EPA, properly storing the material, and properly 

disposing of the material. 

TSCA Regulations for Asbestos 

EPA and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have 

promulgated rules regulating asbestos production, use, and disposal. OSHA regulates private 

sector and some public sector employees’ exposure to asbestos and specifies work practices and 

engineering controls for removing and handling asbestos. Along with EPA and OSHA, some 

states also have established asbestos requirements that extend the federal requirements. 

Asbestos programs implemented under TSCA include the Asbestos Hazard Emergency 

Response Act (AHERA), which regulates asbestos contained in schools and all public and 

commercial buildings including RMPP facilities. It requires the development of management 

plans; specifies work practices and engineering controls for removing and handling asbestos; and 

sets emissions limitations in schools after an abatement activity is completed. EPA Region 6 

lists suspected asbestos-containing materials at http://www.epa.gov/Region06/6pd/asbestos/ 

asbmatl.htm. 

EPA’s TSCA Assistance Information Service, at (202) 554-1404 (e-mail: tscahotline@epa.gov), responds to questions and distributes guidance pertaining to TSCA standards. 

The Service operates from 8:30 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., EST, excluding federal holidays. 

Coastal Zone Management Act 

The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) encourages states/tribes to preserve, 

protect, develop, and where possible, restore or enhance valuable natural coastal resources such 

as wetlands, floodplains, estuaries, beaches, dunes, barrier islands, and coral reefs, as well as the 

fish and wildlife using those habitats. It includes areas bordering the Atlantic, Pacific, and 

Arctic Oceans, Gulf of Mexico, Long Island Sound, and Great Lakes. A unique feature of this 

law is that participation by states/tribes is voluntary. 

In the Coastal Zone Management Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA) of 

1990, Congress identified nonpoint source pollution as a major factor in the continuing 

degradation of coastal waters. Congress also recognized that effective solutions to nonpoint 

source pollution could be implemented at the state/tribe and local levels. In CZARA, Congress 

added section 6217 (16 U.S.C. section 1455b), which calls upon states/tribes with federally 

approved coastal zone management programs to develop and implement coastal nonpoint 

pollution control programs. The Section 6217 program is administered at the federal level 

jointly by EPA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA). 

Section 6217(g) of CZARA called for EPA, in consultation with other agencies, 

to develop guidance on “management measures” for sources of nonpoint source pollution in 

coastal waters. Under section 6217, EPA is responsible for developing technical guidance to 

assist states/tribes design coastal nonpoint pollution control programs. On January 19, 1993, 

EPA issued its Guidance Specifying Management Measures For Sources of Nonpoint Pollution 

in Coastal Waters, which addresses five major source categories of nonpoint pollution: (1) urban 

runoff, (2) agriculture runoff, (3) forestry runoff, (4) marinas and recreational boating, and (5) 

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hydromodification. This document is available online at the following web site: 

http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/MMGI/index.html. 

Additional information on coastal zone management can be obtained from EPA’s 

Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, http://www.epa.gov/owow, or from the Watershed 

Information Network, http://www.epa.gov/win. The NOAA web site, 

http://www.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov/czm/, also contains additional information on coastal zone 

management. 

VI.B. Industry-Specific Requirements 

Although the RMPP manufacturing industries are grouped together under SIC 

code 30, current federal regulations separate the two industries. The environmental issues 

directly addressed for rubber products manufacturing are recycling mandates, air emissions, and 

hazardous waste disposal. Recycling requirements exist at the state and local level for plastics 

products and will be expanded upon later. Based on their pollutant outputs, both plastics and 

rubber products manufacturing processes have the potential to be regulated under the CAA, the 

CWA, and RCRA. The specific requirements of each of these statutes on the RMPP sector are 

discussed in this subsection. 

Clean Air Act 

Under Title I of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA) and under 

previous legislation, EPA has provided guidance and other information to state and local 

agencies on reducing VOC emissions from existing sources in ozone nonattainment areas. These 

documents are referred to as Control Techniques Guidelines (CTG) and Alternative Control 

Techniques (ACT). EPA issued a CTG for rubber tire manufacturing in 1978 (Control of 

Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Manufacture of Pneumatic Rubber Tires, EPA450/2-78/030). The Agency also issued an ACT for coating of plastic parts in 1994 (Alternative 

Control Techniques Document: Surface Coating of Automotive/Transportation and Business 

Machine Plastic Parts, EPA - 453/R-94/017). 

National Ambient Air Quality Standards 

At rubber and plastics products manufacturing facilities, air emissions from both 

process and combustion units are regulated under the NAAQS and the State Implementation 

Plans (SIP) that enforce the standards. States may implement controls to limit emissions of PM, 

NOx, VOC, and SO2. 

Although many limits are implemented at the state level, there are national 

guidelines that serve as a basis for more specific limits. Sources that are considered "major" 

under the CAA are subject to prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) or new source review 

(NSR). Both PSD and NSR are permit programs for facilities that were constructed or modified 

after a certain date. 

Facilities in NAAQS attainment areas must follow PSD requirements by 

demonstrating that the construction/modification project will not cause a violation of air quality 

limits and by implementing the best available control technology (BACT). 

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New or modified facilities in nonattainment areas must follow NSR requirements, 

which require the source to meet the lowest achievable emission rate and to obtain emission 

offsets to ensure that the nonattainment problem is not made worse by the new/modified source. 

In addition to the PSD/NSR preconstruction obligations, there are processspecific operational standards, NSPS. 40 CFR 60 lists these standards, which serve as minimum 

requirements in states SIPs. Individual states may impose requirements that are more strict. The 

following NSPSs are particularly relevant to the RMPP industry: 

Subparts D, Db, Dc Industrial Boilers 

(Regulates PM, NOx, and SO2 from new boilers) 

Subpart GG Gas-Fired Turbines 

(Regulates PM, NOx, and SO2 from new gas-fired turbines) 

Subpart Kb Volatile Organic Liquid Storage Vessels 

(Including Petroleum Liquid Storage Vessels) 

(Regulates VOCs from applicable storage tanks containing 

volatile organic liquids) 

Subpart BBB Rubber and Tire Manufacturing Industry 

(Regulates VOC emissions from undertread cementing, 

sidewall cementing, tread end cementing, bead cementing, 

and green tire spraying operations) 

Subpart TTT Industrial Surface Coating: Surface Coating of Plastic Parts 

for Business Machines 

(Regulates VOC emissions from prime coats, color coats, 

texture coats, and touch-up coats) 

Subpart VVV Polymeric Coating of Supporting Substrates 

(Regulates VOC emissions from coating operations) 

Hazardous Air Pollutants 

Air toxics regulations apply to rubber and plastics products manufacturing 

industries. EPA has developed NESHAPs expressly for several processes in these industries. 

The NESHAPs establish process-based MACT for "major sources," which are defined as 

facilities that emit or have the potential to emit 10 tons per year or more of any HAP or 25 tons 

per year or more of any combination of HAPs. The following NESHAPs are particularly 

relevant to the RMPP industry: 

40 CFR 61 Subpart M Controlling asbestos emissions from 

demolition or renovation activities. 

40 CFR 63 Subpart H Controlling HAP emissions from equipment 

leaks, “Leak Detection and Repair.” 

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40 CFR 63 Subpart Q Controlling chromium emissions from 

cooling towers. 

40 CFR 63 Subpart III Controlling HAP emissions from facilities 

that make flexible polyurethane foam 

products, targeting methylene chloride in 

particular. 

40 CFR 63 Subpart MMMM Controlling HAP emissions from facilities 

that coat miscellaneous metal parts and 

products. 

40 CFR 63 Subpart PPPP Controlling HAP emissions from facilities 

that coat plastic parts and products. 

40 CFR 63 Subpart WWWW Controlling HAP emissions from facilities 

that make reinforced plastic composites 

products, targeting styrene in particular. 

40 CFR 63 Subpart XXXX Controlling HAP emissions from all rubber 

tire manufacturing industry facilities that 

make rubber tire products. 

40 CFR 63 Subpart MMMMM Controlling HAP emissions from facilities 

that cut, glue, and/or laminate pieces of 

flexible polyurethane foam. 

Some NESHAPS such as 40 CFR 63 Subpart J Polyvinyl Chloride and 

Copolymers Production and 40 CFR 63 Subpart U Group 1 Polymers and Resins Production 

apply to facilities that manufacture the plastic resins used by the RMPP industry. Since these 

facilities are sometimes co-located with facilities in the RMPP industry, these regulations may 

also apply. Additional information concerning potentially applicable NESHAPs can be found in 

the Profile of the Plastic Resins and Man-made Fibers Industry located at: 

http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/publications/assistance/sectors/notebooks/ 

and on EPA’s Air Toxics website for National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants 

located at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/mactfnlalph.html. Unlike the industry-specific NESHAP 

standards, chemical-specific NESHAPs may apply to all facilities regardless of their size. 

Risk Management Program 

RMPP manufacturing facilities are subject to section 112(r) of CAA, which states 

that stationary sources using extremely hazardous substances have a “general duty” to initiate 

specific activities to prevent and mitigate accidental releases. The general duty requirements 

apply to stationary sources that produce, process, handle, or store these substances, regardless of 

the quantity managed at the facility. Although there is no list of “extremely hazardous 

substances,” EPA’s Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office provides some 

guidance at its web site: http://yosemite.epa.gov/oswer/ceppoweb.nsf/content/index.html. The 

general duty clause requires facilities to identify hazards that may result from accidental 

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releases, to design and maintain a safe facility, and to minimize the consequences of releases 

when they occur. 

Many large RMPP manufacturing facilities are subject to additional, more explicit 

risk management requirements. Facilities that have more than a threshold quantity of any of the 

140 regulated substances in a single process are required to develop a risk management program 

and to summarize their program in a risk management plan (RMP). Facilities subject to the 

requirements were required to submit a registration and RMP in 1999 or whenever they first 

exceed the threshold for a listed regulated substance after that date. 

All facilities meeting the RMP threshold requirements must follow Program 1 

requirements: 

C Conduct off-site consequence analysis that evaluates specific potential 

release scenarios, including worst-case and alternative scenarios; 

C Maintain a five-year history of certain accidental releases of regulated 

substances from covered processes; and 

C Prepare an RMP, revised at least once every five years, that describes and 

documents these activities for all covered processes. 

In addition, many RMPP manufacturing facilities may be subject to the 

requirements of Program 2 or 3. These additional requirements include: 

C An integrated prevention program to manage risk. The prevention 

program will include hazards identification, written operating procedures, 

training, maintenance, and accident investigation. 

C An emergency response program. 

C An overall management system to put these program elements into effect. 

The list of chemicals that trigger RMP requirements can be found in 40 

CFR68.130; information to determine the required program level also can be found in 40 CFR 

68. 

Title V Permits 

Title V requires that all "major sources" (and certain minor sources) obtain an 

operating permit. Many RMPP facilities are required to have a Title V permit, and may be 

required to submit information about emissions, control devices, and the general processes at the 

facility in the permit application. Permits may limit pollutant emissions and impose monitoring, 

recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. 

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Title VI Stratospheric Ozone Protection 

Many RMPP facilities operate industrial process refrigeration units, such as 

chillers for chlorine dioxide plants. For those units that utilize ozone-depleting chemicals, such 

as CFCs, facilities are required under Title VI to follow leak repair requirements. 

Clean Water Act 

There are two industry-specific components of the CWA requirements: NPDES 

permitting and pretreatment programs. Other general CWA requirements, such as those for 

wetlands and stormwater, may also apply to rubber and plastics products manufacturing facilities 

and are described in Section VI.A. 

In addition to applicable general CWA requirements, rubber product 

manufacturers are subject to the specific requirements contained in 40 CFR Part 428, "EPA 

Effluent Guidelines and Standards for Rubber Manufacturing." These regulations contain pretreatment and performance standards and requirements for the application of best practicable 

control technologies and/or best available technologies. The regulated pollutants include TSS, 

oil and grease, pH, COD, BOD5, lead, and chromium. The standards are promulgated under the 

authority of Sections 301, 304, 306, 307, 308, and 501 of the CWA and in response to the 

settlement reached in Natural Resources Defense Council v. Train. 

EPA promulgated regulations contained in the Federal Register, Vol. 55 No. 222, 

"National Pollutants Discharge Elimination System Permit Application Regulations for Storm 

Water Discharge: Final Rule" on November 16, 1990. These regulations require permit 

applications for stormwater discharges from selected municipal and industrial point sources. 

The rubber manufacturing industry is regulated because it is covered by SIC code 30. Only 

areas where material handling equipment or activities, raw materials, intermediate products, final 

products, waste materials, by-products, or industrial equipment are exposed to stormwater are 

covered. The regulations require that a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) be 

developed for each facility covered by this regulation. The regulations require that the SWPPP 

be prepared in accordance with good engineering practices and in accordance with the factors 

outlined in 40 CFR Section 125.3(d)(2) or (3) as appropriate. 

Plastics products manufacturers are subject to applicable general CWA 

requirements and to the specific requirements contained in 40 CFR Part 463, "Plastic Molding 

and Forming Point Source Category Effluent Limitations Guidelines; Pretreatment Standards 

and New Source Performance Standards." This regulation establishes effluent limitations 

guidelines and standards that limit the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters by existing 

and new sources engaged in plastic molding and forming. The regulated pollutants include 

BOD5, TSS, oil and grease, and pH. 

For facilities that discharge their wastewater to a POTW, pretreatment standards 

may apply. In addition to general standards established by EPA that address all industries, there 

are pretreatment standards for new sources and pretreatment standards for existing sources that 

are specific to the RMPP industry. These standards regulate the biocides trichlorophenol and 

pentachlorophenol, with limits that are specified for each subcategory of the industry. 

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Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act 

Three of the components of EPCRA are directly relevant to the rubber and 

plastics products manufacturing facilities: 

C Emergency Planning (Section 302(a)) - Businesses that produce, use or 

store "hazardous substances" must submit: 1) MSDSs or the equivalent, 

and 2) Tier I/Tier II annual inventory report forms to the appropriate local 

emergency planning commission. Those handling "extremely hazardous 

substances" also are required to submit a one-time notice to the SERC. 

C Emergency Notification of Extremely Hazardous Substance Release 

(Section 304) - A business that unintentionally releases a reportable 

quantity of an extremely hazardous substance must report that release to 

the SERC and the LEPC. 

C Release Reporting (Section 313) - Manufacturing businesses with 10 or 

more employees that manufactured, processed, or otherwise used a listed 

toxic chemical in excess of the "established threshold" must annually file 

a Toxic Chemical Release form with EPA and the state. Documentation 

supporting release estimates must be kept for three years. 

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 

Facilities engaged in rubber product or rubber tire manufacture use RCRAregulated commercial chemical products which, if spilled or sent for disposal, are considered 

hazardous waste. These include ethylene thiourea, phenol, guanidines, and some lead, selenium, 

and cadmium compounds. Because these are all compounding agents that are added to the 

rubber mixture in their original form, spills are a reasonable possibility and RCRA requirements 

are likely to apply. Some waste streams containing solvents such as toluene, MEK, 1,1,1-

trichloroethane, acetone, methanol, xylene, methyl isobutyl ketone, trichlorofluoromethane, 

trichloroethylene, and n-butyl alcohol may be hazardous waste if they are D001 ignitable. 

VI.C. Pending and Proposed Regulatory Requirements 

The following pending and proposed regulations affect the RMPP industry: 

Clean Water Act 

Minimizing Adverse Environmental Impact from Cooling Water Intake 

Structures at Existing Facilities Under Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act, 

Phase III 

This rulemaking affects existing facilities that use cooling water intake structures, 

and whose intake flow levels exceed a minimum threshold EPA will determine. The rule will 

require that the location, design, construction, and capacity of cooling water intake structures 

reflect the best technology available for minimizing adverse environmental impact. The final 

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rule is anticipated before December 2004. (Deborah Nagle, Office of Water, (202) 566-1063 or 

J.T. Morgan, Office of Water, (202) 564-7684) 

Clean Air Act 

NESHAP: Industrial/Commercial/Institutional Boilers and Process Heaters 

This rule would affect any new or existing boiler or process heater at a major (for 

HAPs) source facility. The final rule was signed in 2004. A copy of the final signed version and 

the proposed version are at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/boiler/boilerpg.html. 

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 

Universal Waste Regulations 

In June 2002, EPA proposed to add mercury-containing equipment to the 

universal waste list. The Universal Waste Rule allows facilities to streamline the waste 

management of certain widely generated hazardous wastes. The waste management 

requirements of universal wastes are less strict than those for other RCRA-listed hazardous 

wastes. Visit the web site www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/id/univwast/regs.htm for more 

information. 

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VII. COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT PROFILE 

Background 

Until recently, EPA has focused much of its attention on ensuring compliance 

with specific environmental statutes. This approach allows the Agency to track compliance with 

the CAA, the RCRA, the CWA, and other environmental statutes. Within the last several years, 

the Agency has begun to supplement single-media compliance indicators with facility-specific, 

multimedia indicators of compliance. In doing so, EPA is in a better position to track 

compliance with all statutes at the facility level, and within specific industrial sectors. 

A major step in building the capacity to compile multimedia data for industrial 

sectors was EPA’s creation of the Integrated Data for Enforcement Analysis (IDEA) system. 

IDEA has the capacity to "read into" the Agency's single-media databases, extract compliance 

records, and match the records to individual facilities. The IDEA system can match Air, Water, 

Waste, Toxics/Pesticides/EPCRA, TRI, and Enforcement Docket records for a given facility, and 

generate a list of historical permit, inspection, and enforcement activity. IDEA also has the 

capability to analyze data by geographic area and corporate holder. As the capacity to generate 

multimedia compliance data improves, EPA will make available more in-depth compliance and 

enforcement information. Additionally, sector-specific measures of success for compliance 

assistance efforts are under development. 

Compliance and Enforcement Profile Description 

This section uses inspection, violation, and enforcement data from the IDEA 

system to present the historical compliance and enforcement activity of the RMPP sector. 

Compliance and enforcement records from EPA's data systems are compiled to the facility level 

using the Facility Registry System's (FRS) Master Source ID, which links records from virtually 

any of EPA's data systems to a facility record. For each facility (i.e., Master Source ID), the 

Industry Sector Notebooks analysis uses the facility-level SIC code that is designated by IDEA, 

which can be described as follows: 

1. If the facility reports to TRI, then the designated SIC code is the primary 

SIC code reported in the most recent TRI reporting year. 

2. If the facility does not report to TRI, the first SIC codes from all linked 

AIRS Facility Subsystem (AFS), Permit Compliance System (PCS), 

RCRAInfo, and BIS ID/permits are assembled. If more than one 

permit/ID exists for a particular program, then only one record from that 

data system is used. The SIC code that occurs most often, if there is one, 

becomes the designated SIC code. 

3. If the facility does not report to TRI and no SIC code occurs more often 

than others, the designated SIC code is chosen from the linked programs 

in the following order: AFS, PCS, BIS, RRR, National Compliance 

Database (NCDB), DCK. If more than one permit/ID exists for a 

particular program, then only one record from that data system is used. 

Sector Notebook Project 111 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Compliance and Enforcement Profile 

Note that EPA does not attempt to define the actual number of facilities that fall 

within each sector. Instead, the information presented in this section reflects the records of a 

subset of facilities within the sector that are well defined within EPA databases. 

As a check on the relative size of the full sector universe, most notebooks contain 

an estimated number of facilities within the sector according to the Bureau of Census (See 

Section II). With sectors dominated by small businesses, such as metal finishers and printers, 

the reporting universe within the EPA databases might be small compared to Census data. 

However, the facilities selected for inclusion in this data analysis section should be consistent 

with this sector's general make-up. 

Following this introduction is a list defining each data column presented within 

this section. These values represent a retrospective summary of inspections or enforcement 

actions, and solely reflect EPA, state, and local compliance assurance activity that have been 

entered into EPA databases. To identify any changes in trends, EPA ran two data queries, one 

for the past five calendar years (February 1999 to February 2004) and the other for the most 

recent 24-month period (February 2002 to February 2004). The five-year analysis gives an 

average level of activity for that period for comparison to the more recent activity. 

Because most inspections focus on single-media requirements, the data queries 

presented in this section are taken from single media databases. These databases do not provide 

data on whether inspections are state/local- or EPA-led. However, the table breaking down the 

universe of violations does provide a general measure of the EPA's and states' efforts within each 

media program. The presented data illustrate the variations across Regions for certain sectors.2 

This variation may be attributable to state/local data entry variations, specific geographic 

concentrations, proximity to population centers, sensitive ecosystems, highly toxic chemicals 

used in production, or historical noncompliance. Therefore, these data do not rank regional 

performance or necessarily reflect which regions may have the most compliance problems. 

This section contains five tables which summarize enforcement and compliance 

activities for the RMPP and selected industries. Table 16 looks exclusively at the RMPP 

industry for the past 5 years. Tables 17 and 18 look at the RMPP and selected industries for the 

past 5 and 2 year periods respectively. Tables 17 and 18 look at the RMPP and selected 

industries for the past 5 and 2 year periods respectively based on statutes. Following this 

introduction is a list defining each column in the tables presented in this section. The data in 

these tables solely reflect EPA, state, and local compliance assurance activity data that have been 

entered into EPA databases. 

2

 EPA Regions include the following states: I (CT, MA, ME, RI, NH, VT); II (NJ, NY, PR, VI); III (DC, DE, MD, 

PA, VA, WV); IV (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN); V (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI); VI (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX); 

VII (IA, KS, MO, NE); VIII (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY); IX (AZ, CA, HI, NV, Pacific Trust Territories); X (AK, 

ID, OR, WA). 

Sector Notebook Project 112 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Compliance and Enforcement Profile 

Compliance and Enforcement Data Definitions 

General Definitions 

Facility Registry System (FRS) -- this system assigns a common Master Source 

ID to EPA single-media permit records. The Master Source ID allows EPA to compile and 

review all permit, compliance, enforcement, and pollutant release data for any given regulated 

facility. 

Integrated Data for Enforcement Analysis (IDEA) -- is a data integration 

system that can retrieve information from the major EPA program office databases. IDEA uses 

the FRS-maintained Master Source ID identification number to "glue together" separate data 

records from EPA’s databases. This is done to create a "master list" of data records for any 

given facility. Some of the data systems accessible through IDEA are: Air Facility Indexing and 

Retrieval System, PCS, RCRAInfo (Resource Conservation and Recovery Information System, 

Office of Solid Waste), NCDB, CERCLIS (Comprehensive Environmental and Liability 

Information System, Superfund), and TRIS (Toxic Release Inventory System). IDEA also 

contains information from outside sources such as Dun and Bradstreet and OSHA. Most data 

queries displayed in notebook sections IV and VII were conducted using IDEA. 

Data Table Column Heading Definitions 

Facilities in Search -- based on the number of the FRS-maintained Master 

Source IDs that were designated to the listed SIC code range. The SIC code range selected for 

each search is defined by each notebook's selected SIC code coverage described in Section II 

(Tables 16-20). 

Facilities Inspected -- the number of EPA and state agency inspections for the 

facilities in this data search. These values show what percentage of the facility universe is 

inspected in a 24- or 60-month period (Table 16-20). 

Number of Inspections -- the total number of inspections conducted in this 

sector. An inspection is counted each time it is entered into a single media database (Tables 16­

20. 

Average Number of Months Between Inspections -- an average length of time, 

in months, between compliance inspections at a facility within the defined universe (Tables 16­

17). 

Facilities with One or More Enforcement Actions -- the number of facilities 

that were subject to at least one enforcement action within the defined time period. This 

category is broken down further into federal and state actions. Data are obtained for 

administrative, civil/judicial, and criminal enforcement actions. Administrative actions include 

Notices of Violation (NOVs). A facility with multiple enforcement actions is only counted once 

in this column (facility with three enforcement actions counts as one). All percentages that 

appear are referenced to the number of facilities inspected (Tables 16-18). 

Sector Notebook Project 113 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Compliance and Enforcement Profile 

Total Enforcement Actions -- the total number of enforcement actions identified 

for an industrial sector across all environmental statutes. A facility with multiple enforcement 

actions is counted multiple times (e.g., a facility with three enforcement actions counts as three) 

(Tables 16-18). 

Percentage of State Led Actions -- percentage of the total enforcement actions 

taken by state and local environmental agencies. Varying levels state use of EPA data systems 

may limit the volume of actions accorded state enforcement activity. Some states extensively 

report enforcement activities to EPA data systems, while other states may use their own data 

systems (Tables 16-18). 

Percentage of Federal Led Actions -- percentage of the total enforcement 

actions taken by EPA, including referrals from state agencies. Many of these actions result from 

coordinated or joint state/federal efforts (Table 16-18). 

Enforcement-to-Inspection Ratio -- how often enforcement actions result from 

inspections. This value is a ratio of enforcement actions to inspections, and is presented for 

comparative purposes only. This measure simply indicates historically how many enforcement 

actions can be attributed to inspection activity. Reported inspections and enforcement actions 

under the CWA (PCS), CAA (AFS), and RCRA are included in this ratio. Inspections and 

actions from the TSCA/FIFRA/EPCRA database are not factored into this ratio because most of 

the actions taken under these programs are not the result of facility inspections. This ratio does 

not account for enforcement actions arising from noninspection compliance monitoring activities 

(e.g., self-reported water discharges) that can result in enforcement action within the CAA, 

CWA and RCRA (Tables 16-18). 

Facilities with One or More Violations Identified -- the percentage of 

inspected facilities having a violation identified in one of the following data categories: In 

Violation or Significant Violation Status (CAA); Reportable Noncompliance, Current Year 

Noncompliance, Significant Noncompliance (CWA); Noncompliance and Significant 

Noncompliance (FIFRA, TSCA, and EPCRA); and Unresolved Violation and Unresolved High 

Priority Violation (RCRA). The values presented in this column reflect the extent of 

noncompliance within the measured time frame, but not the severity of the noncompliance. 

Percentages within this column can exceed 100 percent because facilities can be in violation 

status without being inspected. Violation status may be a precursor to an enforcement action, 

but does not necessarily indicate that an enforcement action will occur (Table 18). 

Media Breakdown of Enforcement Actions and Inspections -- four columns 

identify the proportion of total inspections and enforcement actions within EPA Air, Water, 

Waste, and TSCA/FIFRA/EPCRA databases. Each column is a percentage of either the “Total 

Inspections,” or the “Total Actions” column (Tables 19-20). 

VII.A. The RMPP Industry Compliance History (1999 to 2004) 

Table 16 provides a Regional breakdown of the five-year enforcement and 

compliance activities for the RMPP industry. Regions IV and V conducted approximately 60 

percent of the inspections of rubber and miscellaneous plastics products manufacturing facilities 

Sector Notebook Project 114 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Compliance and Enforcement Profile 

performed in the United States over the past five years. This large percentage is due to the 

concentration of rubber and miscellaneous plastics products facilities in these areas. 

VII.B. Comparison of Enforcement Activity Between Selected Industries (1999 to 

2004) 

Tables 17 through 20 contain summaries of the two- and five-year enforcement 

and compliance activities for the RMPP industry, as well as for other selected industries. As 

indicated in Tables 17 and 18, the RMPP industry has an average enforcement-to-inspection 

ratio (9 percent) when compared to other industries. Of the 9,231 inspections conducted at 3,821 

RMPP manufacturing facilities over a five-year period, 787 (9 percent) resulted in enforcement 

actions. Approximately 10 percent of inspections in the manufacturing sector as a whole 

resulted in enforcement actions. 

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Table 16: Five-Year Enforcement and Compliance Summary for the Rubber and Plastics Industry 

116

A B C D E F G H 

Facilities with 1 

Rubber and Average Number of or More Total Percentage of Per

Plastic Facilities in Facilities Number of Months Between Enforcement Enforcement State-Led of F

(SIC Code 30) Search Inspected Inspections Inspections Action Actions Actions Led 

Region I 214 121 339 38 31 42 76% Region II 278 140 366 46 46 84 86% Region III 379 271 1533 15 38 61 92% Region IV 979 622 3180 18 120 227 94% Region V 1,000 570 1688 36 106 145 91% Region VI 309 182 667 28 57 93 100% Region VII 261 158 609 26 27 49 82% Region VIII 64 46 180 21 3 7 100% Region IX 219 101 371 35 43 55 69% Region X 118 81 298 24 10 24 96% Total/Average 3,821 2,292 9,231 287 481 787 90% 

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Table 17: Five-Year Enforcement and Compliance Summary for Selected Industries (1999 

117

Sector 

Facilities In 

Search 

Facilities 

Inspected 

Number of 

Inspections 

Average 

Number of 

Months 

Between 

Inspections 

Facilities with 

1 or More 

Enforcement 

Actions 

Total 

Enforcement 

Actions 

Percentage 

of State-Led 

Actions 

P

F

Rubber and Plastic 3,823 2,294 9,239 25 481 787 90% Aerospace 764 526 2,704 17 246 238 65% Ag Chem Pesticide & Fertilizer 585 345 2,123 17 138 107 57% Ag Crop Production 131 69 165 48 12 7 86% Ag Livestock Production 53 17 58 55 14 28 11% Air Transportation 428 211 619 41 80 62 71% Dry Cleaning 3,345 1,620 2,944 68 232 178 92% Electronics & Computer 1,852 906 2,486 45 286 196 75% Fossil Fuel Elec Power Gen 3,520 2,543 18,758 11 1,170 1,582 78% Ground Transportation 4,970 3,338 13,612 22 1,084 880 96% Healthcare 1,798 1,187 3,953 27 195 343 96% Inorganic Chemical 1,007 629 5,291 11 352 414 79% Iron and Steel 683 480 6,060 7 312 536 78% Lumber & Wood Products 3,038 2,045 10,728 17 872 814 85% Metal Casting 1,346 797 3,549 23 348 340 79% Metal Fabrication 8,279 5,092 16,568 30 2,138 1,716 76% Metal Mining 281 183 980 17 70 71 85% Motor Vehicle Assembly 1,886 1,211 5,531 20 500 448 77% Non-Fuel, Non-Metal Mining 3,778 2,005 9,291 24 522 524 95% Nonferrous Metals 531 327 2,968 11 242 395 88% Oil & Gas Extraction 2,783 1,681 6,371 26 1,120 949 96% Organic Chemical 1,050 787 8,483 7 558 846 73% 

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Table 17: Five-Year Enforcement and Compliance Summary for Selected Industries (1999 - 2004) 

118

Sector 

Facilities In 

Search 

Facilities 

Inspected 

Number of 

Inspections 

Average 

Number of 

Months 

Between 

Inspections 

Facilities with 

1 or More 

Enforcement 

Actions 

Total 

Enforcement 

Actions 

Percentage 

of State-Led 

Actions 

P

F

Petroleum Refining 438 297 5,405 5 352 1,335 69% Pharmaceutical 572 414 2,108 16 174 199 84% Plastic Resins & Fibers 709 502 4,637 9 344 444 85% Printing 2,384 1,460 4,913 29 476 435 90% Pulp and Paper 566 467 5,830 6 336 498 90% Shipbuilding & Repair 235 168 870 16 96 83 81% Stone Clay Glass&Concrete 3,388 2,013 12,190 17 876 930 89% Textiles 1,226 814 3,859 19 304 310 87% Water Transportation 269 158 384 42 40 36 89% Wood Furniture & Fixtures 1,652 1,047 5,515 18 440 382 89% 

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Table 18: Two-Year Enforcement and Compliance Summary for Selected Industries (2002 

119

Facilities with 1 or More Facilities with 1 or More 

Violations Enforcement Actions 

Percentage of Percentage of Tota

Facilities Facilities Number of Inspected Inspected Enforcem

Sector In Search Inspected Inspections Number Facilities1 Number Facilities1 Action

Rubber and 3,823 1,494 3,499 618 41% 241 16% 33Plastic Aerospace 764 338 974 167 49% 82 24% 7Ag Chem Pesticide & Fertilizer 

585 192 626 68 35% 62 32% 4

Ag Crop Production 131 37 64 12 32% 10 27% Ag Livestock Production 

53 4 5 5 125% 10 250% 2

Air Transportation 428 118 226 52 44% 28 24% 1Dry Cleaning 3,345 687 1,038 269 39% 120 17% 7Electronics & Computer 

1,852 431 806 279 65% 96 22% 6

Fossil Fuel Elec Power Gen 

3,520 2,021 7,011 492 24% 580 29% 60

Ground Transportation 

4,970 2,195 4,879 452 21% 592 27% 41

Healthcare 1,798 743 1,561 266 36% 121 16% 20Inorganic Chemical 1,007 414 1,651 189 46% 170 41% 16Iron and Steel 683 350 1,505 209 60% 146 42% 21Lumber & Wood Products 

3,038 1,399 3,647 557 40% 404 29% 35

Metal Casting 1,346 518 1,149 274 53% 160 31% 12Metal Fabrication 8,279 2,815 5,884 1599 57% 960 34% 68Metal Mining 281 128 320 26 20% 40 31% 3Motor Vehicle Assembly 

1,886 797 2,026 407 51% 282 35% 20

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Table 18: Two-Year Enforcement and Compliance Summary for Selected Industries (2002 - 2004) 

120

Facilities with 1 or More Facilities with 1 or More 

Violations Enforcement Actions 

Percentage of Percentage of Tota

Facilities Facilities Number of Inspected Inspected Enforcem

Sector In Search Inspected Inspections Number Facilities1 Number Facilities1 Action

Non-Fuel, Non- 3,778 1,113 2,850 334 30% 220 20% 17Metal Mining Nonferrous Metals 531 215 875 132 61% 114 53% 12Oil & Gas Extraction 

2,783 1,048 2,171 291 28% 556 53% 41

Organic Chemical 1,050 537 2,729 292 54% 308 57% 35Petroleum Refining 438 224 1,409 147 66% 224 100% 50Pharmaceutical 572 276 784 118 43% 82 30% 8Plastic Resins & Fibers 

709 358 1,514 169 47% 176 49% 18

Printing 2,384 865 1,829 337 39% 262 30% 19Pulp and Paper 566 379 1,856 125 33% 166 44% 16Shipbuilding & Repair 

235 106 275 50 47% 44 42% 3

Stone Clay Glass&Concrete 

3,388 1,390 4,123 473 34% 432 31% 36

Textiles 1,226 545 1,378 175 32% 156 29% 12Water Transportation 

269 76 122 16 21% 20 26% 1

Wood Furniture & Fixtures 

1,652 693 1,954 311 45% 198 29% 16

1Percentages are based on the number of facilities inspected. Percentages can exceed 100% because violations and enforcement actions 

facility inspection. 

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Table 19: Five-Year Inspection and Enforcement Summary by Statute for Selected Industries (1

121

Number of Total 

Clean Air Act Clean Water Act RCRA 

% of Total % of Total % of To

Facilities In Facilities Total Enforcement % of Total Enforcement % of Total Enforcement % of Total Enforcem

Sector Search Inspected Inspections Actions Inspections Actions Inspections Actions Inspections Action

Rubber and Plastic 3,823 2,294 9,239 787 71% 73% 1% 0% 27% 23% Aerospace 764 526 2,704 238 52% 43% 3% 3% 44% 51% Ag Chem Pesticide & Fertilizer 

585 345 2,123 107 55% 34% 12% 8% 27% 31% 

Ag Crop Production 131 69 165 7 50% 71% 0% 0% 46% 29% Ag Livestock Production 53 17 58 28 53% 89% 0% 7% 47% 0% Air Transportation 428 211 619 62 38% 23% 1% 2% 61% 74% Dry Cleaning 3,345 1,620 2,944 178 26% 35% 0% 0% 74% 65% Electronics & Computer 1,852 906 2,486 196 31% 14% 4% 5% 64% 67% Fossil Fuel Elec Power Gen 3,520 2,543 18,758 1,582 75% 88% 18% 8% 6% 3% Ground Transportation 4,970 3,338 13,612 880 78% 76% 0% 1% 21% 23% Healthcare 1,798 1,187 3,953 343 78% 82% 0% 2% 21% 16% Inorganic Chemical 1,007 629 5,291 414 48% 54% 13% 10% 37% 31% Iron and Steel 683 480 6,060 536 61% 67% 13% 10% 26% 20% Lumber & Wood Products 3,038 2,045 10,728 814 75% 76% 1% 0% 24% 23% Metal Casting 1,346 797 3,549 340 60% 59% 3% 2% 36% 33% Metal Fabrication 8,279 5,092 16,568 1,716 45% 46% 2% 1% 52% 46% Metal Mining 281 183 980 71 56% 52% 28% 39% 15% 7% Motor Vehicle Assembly 1,886 1,211 5,531 448 60% 56% 1% 1% 38% 40% Non-Fuel, Non-Metal Mining 3,778 2,005 9,291 524 97% 99% 1% 0% 2% 1% Nonferrous Metals 531 327 2,968 395 64% 70% 9% 5% 27% 22% Oil & Gas Extraction 2,783 1,681 6,371 949 97% 98% 0% 1% 3% 2% Organic Chemical 1,050 787 8,483 846 47% 55% 12% 13% 39% 28% 

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Table 19: Five-Year Inspection and Enforcement Summary by Statute for Selected Industries (1999 - 2

122

Number of Total 

Clean Air Act Clean Water Act RCRA 

% of Total % of Total % of To

Facilities In Facilities Total Enforcement % of Total Enforcement % of Total Enforcement % of Total Enforcem

Sector Search Inspected Inspections Actions Inspections Actions Inspections Actions Inspections Action

Petroleum Refining 438 297 5,405 1,335 57% 83% 15% 6% 27% 10% Pharmaceutical 572 414 2,108 199 40% 49% 7% 8% 52% 37% Plastic Resins & Fibers 709 502 4,637 444 51% 59% 19% 17% 29% 22% Printing 2,384 1,460 4,913 435 65% 66% 0% 0% 34% 33% Pulp and Paper 566 467 5,830 498 67% 75% 26% 18% 7% 4% Shipbuilding & Repair 235 168 870 83 59% 34% 6% 8% 35% 57% Stone Clay Glass&Concrete 3,388 2,013 12,190 930 85% 87% 1% 1% 13% 10% Textiles 1,226 814 3,859 310 76% 59% 12% 23% 12% 14% Water Transportation 269 158 384 36 42% 50% 1% 0% 56% 50% Wood Furniture & Fixtures 1,652 1,047 5,515 382 76% 75% 0% 1% 23% 23% 

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Table 20: Two-Year Inspection and Enforcement Summary by Statute for Selected Industries (2

123

Number of Total 

Clean Air Act Clean Water Act RCRA 

% of % of % 

Facilities In Facilities Total Enforcement % of Total Total % of Total Total % of Total To

Sector Search Inspected Inspections Actions Inspections Actions Inspections Actions Inspections Act

Rubber and Plastic 3,823 1,494 3,499 339 73% 78% 1% 0% 26% 18Aerospace 764 338 974 70 47% 61% 4% 0% 49% 3Ag Chem Pesticide & Fertilizer 

585 192 626 41 51% 42% 14% 5% 31% 2

Ag Crop Production 131 37 64 6 50% 67% 0% 0% 45% 3Ag Livestock Production 53 4 5 20 80% 95% 0% 5% 20% Air Transportation 428 118 226 18 43% 17% 1% 0% 57% 7Dry Cleaning 3,345 687 1,038 79 23% 60% 0% 0% 77% 4Electronics & Computer 1,852 431 806 63 30% 16% 4% 5% 66% 7Fossil Fuel Elec Power Gen 3,520 2,021 7,011 607 75% 93% 18% 4% 7% Ground Transportation 4,970 2,195 4,879 418 79% 87% 1% 1% 21% 1Healthcare 1,798 743 1,561 200 80% 87% 0% 1% 20% 1Inorganic Chemical 1,007 414 1,651 168 41% 60% 15% 8% 44% 3Iron and Steel 683 350 1,505 212 48% 73% 16% 9% 36% 1Lumber & Wood Products 3,038 1,399 3,647 352 71% 78% 1% 0% 28% 2Metal Casting 1,346 518 1,149 120 52% 62% 3% 1% 44% 3Metal Fabrication 8,279 2,815 5,884 683 45% 51% 2% 0% 52% 4Metal Mining 281 128 320 33 52% 67% 30% 24% 18% Motor Vehicle Assembly 1,886 797 2,026 207 57% 55% 2% 1% 41% 4Non-Fuel, Non-Metal Mining 3,778 1,113 2,850 172 96% 99% 2% 0% 2% Nonferrous Metals 531 215 875 129 59% 74% 10% 5% 31% 1Oil & Gas Extraction 2,783 1,048 2,171 414 97% 99% 0% 1% 3% Organic Chemical 1,050 537 2,729 359 44% 65% 14% 10% 42% 2

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Table 20: Two-Year Inspection and Enforcement Summary by Statute for Selected Industries (2002 - 2

124

Number of Total 

Clean Air Act Clean Water Act RCRA 

% of % of % 

Facilities In Facilities Total Enforcement % of Total Total % of Total Total % of Total To

Sector Search Inspected Inspections Actions Inspections Actions Inspections Actions Inspections Act

Petroleum Refining 438 224 1,409 502 40% 86% 23% 6% 38% Pharmaceutical 572 276 784 85 43% 55% 7% 8% 49% 3Plastic Resins & Fibers 709 358 1,514 187 48% 69% 21% 5% 31% 2Printing 2,384 865 1,829 193 66% 0% 0% 0% 34% Pulp and Paper 566 379 1,856 168 62% 86% 31% 9% 7% Rubber and Plastic 3,823 1,494 3,499 339 73% 78% 1% 0% 26% 1Shipbuilding & Repair 235 106 275 31 56% 52% 6% 0% 37% 4Stone Clay Glass&Concrete 3,388 1,390 4,123 369 84% 89% 2% 2% 14% Textiles 1,226 545 1,378 128 76% 66% 11% 21% 13% 1Water Transportation 269 76 122 17 34% 65% 2% 0% 64% 3Wood Furniture & Fixtures 1,652 693 1,954 162 78% 81% 0% 1% 22% 1

Sector Notebook Project 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Compliance and Enforcement Profile 

VII.C. Review of Major Legal Actions 

This section discusses major legal cases and pending litigation within the rubber 

and plastics products industry as well as supplemental environmental projects (SEPs) involving 

rubber and plastics products facilities. Detailed information regarding major cases or pending 

litigation is available from the Office of Regulatory Enforcement. 

VII.C.1. Review of Major Cases 

As indicated in EPA's ICIS EZ Search, several enforcement cases were resolved 

between 1999 and 2004 for the RMPP manufacturing industry. Of these actions, 23 involved 

violations of EPCRA; 7 involved violations of CERCLA; 4 involved violations of TSCA, CWA, 

and FIFRA; 3 involved violations of CAA; and 1 involved violations of RCRA. A majority of 

the cases were brought against plastics products manufacturers. The cases involving the rubber 

products manufacturing industry included discharging water without an NPDES permit, failure 

to file Form R, and failure to register a PCB transformer. 

Five of the six enforcement actions resulted in the assessment of a penalty. 

Penalties ranged from $100 to $89,050, and, in several cases, the defendant was ordered to spend 

additional money to improve the processes or technologies and to increase future compliance. 

For example, in the matter of Associated Plastics, Inc. (1999), the company paid a $10,367 

penalty and spent approximately $162,000 on SEPs. The average penalty per case was 

approximately $21,000 and SEPs were required in six of the cases. In another case, BP Amoco 

Chemical Company (2001) was required to provide training for LEPC. Table 21 lists recent 

SEPs for this industry. 

The case of U.S. et al. v. Production Plated Plastic, Inc. et al. (1992) is considered 

significant by EPA because the court held a corporate officer and the owner of the company 

personally liable. 

VII.C.2. Supplementary Environmental Projects 

SEPs are compliance agreements that reduce a facility's stipulated penalty in 

return for an environmental project that exceeds the value of the reduction. Often, these projects 

fund pollution prevention activities that can significantly reduce the future pollutant loadings of 

a facility. 

The EPA's ICIS EZ Search provides information on the number and type of SEPs 

for a sector. Table 21 contains a sample of the SEPs addressing the RMPP industry. The 

information contained in Table 21 is not comprehensive and provides only a sample of the types 

of SEPs developed for the RMPP industry. 

Sector Notebook Project 125 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Se

Table 21: Supplemental Environmental Projects in RMPP Facilities (SIC Code 30) 

126

General Information Violation Information Supplemental Environmental 

SEP Cost 

State/ Assessed to 

FY Docket # Company Name Region Type Penalty Company SEP Category S

2002 06-2001-3318 BP Amoco 

Chemical Company 

TX CERCLA 103 $2,000 $32,000 Emergency Planning 

and Preparedness 

Sponsorsh

2000 09-1999-0103 Fiberglass CA EPCRA 313 $100 $400 Environmental Conduct a 

Representatives Compliance Promotion outreach pInc. 

1999 09-1999-0024 Associated 

Plastics Inc. 

CA EPCRA 313 $10,367 $162,150 

1999 05-1999-0208 FOAMEX LP IN CERCLA 103 $3,867 $14,800 Pollution Prevention/ 

Equipment-Technology Modification 

1999 06-1999-0747 BP Amoco AK CERCLA 103 $2,000 $12,000 Emergency Planning Donation o

Chemical and Preparedness and donatiCompany 

1998 06-1998-0663 Interplastics OK EPCRA 312 $1,300 $6,000 Emergency Planning Donate eq

Corporation and Preparedness the LEPC 

conference

1997 06-1997-0702 Dynagen Inc. TX CERCLA 103 $4,000 $16,000 Emergency Planning Donation o

and Preparedness and donati

provide traalarms. 

Sector Notebook Project 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Compliance Activities and Initiatives 

VIII. COMPLIANCE ACTIVITIES AND INITIATIVES 

This section highlights the activities undertaken by the RMPP sector and public 

agencies to voluntarily improve the sector's environmental performance. These activities include 

those independently initiated by industrial trade associations. This section lists and describes 

national and regional trade associations. 

VIII.A. Sector-Related Environmental Programs and Activities 

Bridgestone/Firestone Wildlife Habitat Projects 

Bridgestone/Firestone donated a 10,000-acre natural treasure to the state of 

Tennessee, officially designated the Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness. This area 

includes over 12 miles of the Caney Fork River Gorge in White and Van Buren Counties. 

Other projects include partnering with the Wildlife Habitat Council to establish 

wildlife habitat projects at Bridgestone/Firestone manufacturing plants. These land conservation 

and grounds management initiatives are currently promoting environmental awareness at the 

Oklahoma City, OK and Warren County, TN facilities as well as their surrounding communities. 

Gillette Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) Project 

The objective of the Gillette ELP is to develop and implement a third-party 

compliance and management systems audit and verification process. The project will involve 

developing environmental compliance and environmental management systems audit protocol 

criteria that can be adopted and easily implemented by other facilities to assess compliance with 

relevant regulations. The three Gillette facilities that are participating are: South Boston 

Manufacturing Center, blade and razor manufacturing; North Chicago Manufacturing Center, 

batch chemical manufacturing; and Santa Monica, CA, stationary products manufacturing. 

(Contact: Scott Throwe, (202) 564-7013.) 

VIII.B. EPA Voluntary Programs 

Compliance Assistance Clearinghouse 

The National Environmental Compliance Assistance Clearinghouse is a webbased clearinghouse designed to provide quick access to compliance assistance tools, contacts, 

and planned activities across EPA and other compliance assistance providers. The 

Clearinghouse also serves as a forum to collaborate and exchange information. The 

Clearinghouse provides links to compliance assistance activities, tools, or technical assistance 

that: (1) assist the regulated community in understanding and complying with environmental 

regulations; or (2) assist compliance assistance providers in helping the regulated community to 

comply with environmental regulations. The Clearinghouse web site is 

http://www.epa.gov/clearinghouse/. 

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Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Compliance Activities and Initiatives 

High Production Volume Challenge 

As part of EPA’s Chemical Right-to-Know Initiative, chemical producers and 

importers have been invited to provide basic toxicity information voluntarily on their high 

production volume (HPV) chemicals. HPV chemicals are those chemicals that are produced in 

or imported to the United States in amounts over 1 million pounds per year. The information 

generated through the Voluntary Challenge Program is available to the public through the EPA 

web site, which is provided below. 

Chemical companies that participate in the voluntary program make commitments 

identifying the chemicals they will adopt and test, and the schedule of which chemicals they will 

begin to test in each year of the program. Following the guidance established by EPA, 

participating companies will assess the adequacy of existing data; design and submit test plans; 

provide test results as they are generated; and prepare summaries of the data characterizing each 

chemical. 

The voluntary program uses the same tests, testing protocols, and basic 

information summary formats used by the Screening Information Data Set (SIDS) program. 

SIDS is a cooperative, international effort to secure basic toxicity information on HPV chemicals 

worldwide. Information prepared for this U.S. domestic program will be acceptable in the 

international effort as well. As of 2002, the program has been very successful; 403 companies 

have committed to providing health and environmental data on 2,011 chemicals. For more 

information, see the web site at http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/chemrtk/. 

Chem Right to Know - Voluntary Children’s Chemical Evaluation Program 

(VCCEP) 

The VCCEP makes information available that helps the public better understand 

the potential health risks to children associated with certain chemical exposures. VCCEP’s goal 

is to ensure that adequate data are publicly available to assess the special impact that industrial 

chemicals may have on children. 

EPA has identified industrial/commercial chemicals to which children have a 

high likelihood of exposure based on biomonitoring data, and has designed VCCEP to develop 

the information needed to assess the impact on children. The hazard, exposure, and risk 

assessments for four chemicals were submitted to EPA and underwent peer consultations in 

fiscal year 2003. The outcomes of the peer consultations are expected to conclude whether data 

are sufficient to adequately characterize the risks to children or whether additional data are 

necessary. For more information, see the web site at http://www.epa.gov/chemrtk/vccep/. 

Green Suppliers Network (GSN) 

GSN is partnered with the Department of Commerce and the National Institute of 

Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) to provide direct 

technical assistance to suppliers. GSN offers a NIST technical assistance package of ‘Lean 

Manufacturing’ and ‘Pollution Prevention’ practices directly to manufacturer’s suppliers through 

on-site engagements with supplier facilities. 

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GSN has actively engaged other EPA, state and other federal agencies’ voluntary 

programs to provide training for NIST MEP centers and additional implementation resources for 

suppliers. 

GSN looks at identified opportunities such as lowering scrap and rework, 

changing to a more environmentally benign die lubricant, and reduction in disposal of waste to 

provide significant environmental impact reductions. Suppliers agree to report back to EPA and 

their manufacturer on the progress of implementing the opportunities identified through the GSN 

review. For more information, see the web site at http://www.epa.gov/p2/programs/gsn.htm. 

Design for the Environment (DfE) Program 

EPA’s DfE Program works directly with industry sectors to compare human 

health and environmental risks, taking into consideration traditional business factors of cost and 

performance. The DfE Program works as a catalyst for lasting change, providing a better 

understanding of the relative risks of chemicals that allows businesses to move to cleaner 

technologies and safer chemical alternatives – protecting workers, consumers, and the 

environment. Rather than rely on end-of-pipe controls, DfE encourages pollution prevention, or 

front-end innovations, through the redesign of formulations, technologies, and management 

processes. Current and fiscal year 2005 activities are listed below: 

Automotive Refinishing: EPA is conducting best practices site visits and 

train-the-trainer workshops to reduce toxic paint emissions in 60,000 auto body shops and 

neighboring communities. Partner shops reduced emissions by as much as 30 percent, while 

saving roughly $4,000 per shop. 

Electronics: The industry is moving to using lead-free solder, wire, and cable in 

printed wiring boards (PWBs). Partnership has had substantial impacts on the industry’s move 

toward cleaner technologies for manufacturing PWBs, with significant increase in the use of 

lead-free surface finishes. 

Formulator: Formulators are using safer surfactants, solvents, bleaches, and 

fragrances in detergents, cleaning, floor care, and other products. One partnership eliminated 

over 340,000 gallons of toxic chemicals, while saving over 100 million gallons of water along 

with the energy to heat it. 

Industrial Design: DfE is collaborating with the 15,000 industrial designers to 

drive choices of materials, finishes, colors, and assemblage of products. 

Integrated Environmental Management Systems: EPA is developing a 

template/manual for greening industry. 

Flame Retardants: Working with furniture and foam manufacturers, DfE is 

helping to facilitate the transition to safer alternatives. 

Polyurethane Foam: Building on DfE best practices and safer substitutes, EPA 

is developing an approach to reduce emissions of diisocyanates, the leading cause of 

occupational asthma. 

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Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Compliance Activities and Initiatives 

See http://www.epa.gov/dfe for more information and other DfE projects. 

Green Chemistry Program 

Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that are safer to 

human health and the environment. The environmentally conscious design of chemical products 

and processes is the central focus of EPA’s Green Chemistry Program, a voluntary partnership 

program with the chemical industry and scientific community. Key program activities include 

the following: 

Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge: This program recognizes 

outstanding accomplishments in green chemistry through an annual awards program in order to 

demonstrate their scientific, economic, and environmental benefits. 

Green Chemistry Research: The Green Chemistry Program supports the 

research, development, and implementation of innovative green chemistry technologies in order 

to provide industry with scientifically sound and cost-effective alternatives. 

Green Chemistry Curriculum Development: The Green Chemistry Program 

supports a variety of educational activities including the development of materials and courses to 

assist in the training of professional chemists in industry and education of students in academia. 

Scientific Outreach: The Green Chemistry Program supports a number of 

outreach projects including organizing and participating in prominent scientific meetings and 

workshops, publishing in scientific journals and books, and developing and disseminating 

computational tools and databases. 

International Activities: While the United States is recognized as the world 

leader in green chemistry, other countries are becoming increasingly interested and active in the 

area. The United States continues to coordinate with other countries to promote green chemistry 

on a global scale. 

National Environmental Performance Track 

EPA's National Environmental Performance Track Program is designed to 

motivate and reward top environmental performance. By encouraging a systematic approach to 

managing environmental responsibilities, taking extra steps to reduce and prevent pollution, and 

being good corporate neighbors, the program is rewarding companies that strive for 

environmental excellence. At the same time, many participating companies are finding that they 

are saving money and improving productivity. (Contact: Performance Track hotline at 

(888) 339-PTRK or the web site at http://www.epa.gov/performancetrack/.) 

The rubber industry has 'Charter Members' in Performance Track. Since its 

inception in June 2000 to the end of December 2003, Performance Track members went beyond 

legal requirements to reduce: 

C Energy use by 3.1 million mmBtus;

C Water use by 775 million gallons;

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Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Compliance Activities and Initiatives 

C Hazardous materials use by 17,996 tons; 

C Solid waste by 176,126 tons; 

C Hazardous waste by 6,558 tons; 

C Emissions of greenhouse gases by 40,193 tons; 

C Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 2,152 tons; 

C Emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) by 13,621 tons; and 

C Toxic discharges to water by 6,834 tons. 

Members also increased their use of reused and recycled materials by 13,760 tons and preserved

or restored 4,485 acres of habitat. 

Reference: http://www.epa.gov/performancetrack/members/PTtemplate/fastfacts.htm.

WasteWi$e Program 

The WasteWi$e Program was started in 1994 by EPA’s Office of Solid Waste 

and Emergency Response (OSWER). The program is aimed at reducing municipal solid wastes 

by promoting waste minimization, recycling collection, and the manufacturing and purchase of 

recycled products. As of 2001, the program had about 1,175 companies as members, including a 

number of major corporations. Members agree to identify and implement actions to reduce their 

solid wastes and must provide EPA with their waste reduction goals along with yearly progress 

reports. EPA in turn provides technical assistance to member companies and allows the use of 

the WasteWi$e logo for promotional purposes. Over 30 chemical companies currently are 

members of WasteWi$e. (Contact: Jeff Tumarkin at EPA’s OSWER at (703) 308-8686 or 

Tumarkin.Jeff@epa.gov, or the WasteWi$e Hotline at (800) EPA-WISE ((800) 372-9473) or 

http://www.epa.gov/wastewise.) 

Project XL 

Project XL, which stands for “eXcellence and Leadership,” is a national pilot 

program that allows state and local governments, businesses and federal facilities to develop 

with EPA innovative strategies to test better or more cost-effective ways of achieving 

environmental and public health protection. In exchange, EPA will issue regulatory, program, 

policy, or procedural flexibilities to conduct the experiment. Under Project XL, private 

businesses, federal facilities, business sectors, and state and local governments are conducting 

experiments that address the following eight Project XL selection criteria: 

C Produce superior environmental results beyond those that would have 

been achieved under current and reasonably anticipated future regulations 

or policies; 

C Produce benefits such as cost savings, paperwork reduction, regulatory 

flexibility, or other types of flexibility that serve as an incentive to both 

project sponsors and regulators; 

C Provide support by stakeholders; 

C Achieve innovation/pollution prevention; 

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Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Compliance Activities and Initiatives 

C Produce lessons or data that are transferable to other facilities; 

C Demonstrate feasibility; 

C Establish accountability through agreed-upon methods of monitoring, 

reporting, and evaluations; and 

C Avoid shifting the risk burden (i.e., do not create worker safety or 

environmental justice problems as a result of the experiment). 

By 2001, three chemical companies (Crompton, Eastman Kodak, and PPG) had 

undertaken projects under Project XL. (For more information, contact Chris Knopes in the 

Office of Reinvention Programs at (202) 260-9298 or Knopes.Christopher@epa.gov, or the web 

site at http://www.epa.gov/projectxl.) 

Energy Star® 

In 1991, EPA introduced Green Lights®, a program designed for businesses and 

organizations to proactively combat pollution by installing energy efficient lighting technologies 

in their commercial and industrial buildings. In April 1995, Green Lights® expanded into 

Energy Star® Buildings—a strategy that optimizes whole-building energy-efficiency 

opportunities. The energy needed to run commercial and industrial buildings in the United 

States produces 19 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions, 12 percent of NOx, and 25 percent 

of SO2, at a cost of $110 billion a year. If implemented in every U.S. commercial and industrial 

building, the Energy Star® Buildings upgrade approach could prevent up to 35 percent of the 

emissions associated with these buildings and cut the nation’s energy bill by up to $25 billion 

annually. 

The more than 7,000 participants include corporations, small businesses, 

universities, health care facilities, nonprofit organizations, school districts, and federal and local 

governments. Energy Star® has successfully delivered energy and cost savings across the 

country, saving businesses, organizations, and consumers more than $5 billion a year. Over the 

past decade, Energy Star® has been a driving force behind the more widespread use of such 

technological innovations as LED traffic lights, efficient fluorescent lighting, power 

management systems for office equipment, and low standby energy use. 

Manufacturers can become partners in Energy Star® by pledging to undertake the 

following steps: 

C Measure, track, and benchmark their organization’s energy performance 

by using tools such as those offered by Energy Star®; 

C Develop and implement a plan to improve energy performance in their 

facilities and operations by adopting the strategy provided by Energy 

Star®; and 

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Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Compliance Activities and Initiatives 

C Educate their staff and the public about their partnership with Energy 

Star®, and highlight their achievements with the Energy Star label, where 

available. 

(Contact: Energy Star Hotline, (888) STAR-YES ((888) 782-7937) or visit the 

web site at http://www.energystar.gov.) 

National Industrial Competitiveness through Energy, Environment, and 

Economics (NICE3

) 

The U.S. Department of Energy administers a grant program called NICE3. By 

providing grants of up to 50 percent of the total project cost, the program encourages industry to 

reduce industrial waste at its source and become more energy-efficient and cost-competitive 

through waste minimization efforts. Industry uses the grants to design, test, demonstrate, and 

assess the feasibility of new processes and/or equipment with the potential to reduce pollution 

and increase energy efficiency. The program is open to all industries; however, priority is given 

to proposals from participants in the chemicals, agriculture, aluminum, pulp and paper, glass, 

metal casting, mining, petroleum, and steel industries. (Contact: DOE’s Golden Field Office at 

(303) 275-4728, or see the web site at http://www.oit.doe.gov/nice3.) 

EPA Audit Policy 

EPA encourages companies with multiple facilities to take advantage of the 

Agency's Audit Policy (Incentives for Self-Policing: Discovery, Disclosure, Correction and 

Prevention of Violations, 65 FR 19618 (April 11, 2000) ) to conduct audits and develop 

environmental compliance systems. The Audit Policy eliminates gravity-based penalties for 

companies that voluntarily discover, promptly disclose, and expeditiously correct violations of 

federal environmental law. More information on EPA’s Audit Policy can be obtained from the 

web site at: http://www.epa.gov/Compliance/resources/policies/incentives/auditing/ 

index-old.html. 

Small Business Compliance Policy 

The Small Business Compliance Policy promotes environmental compliance 

among small businesses (those with 100 or fewer employees) by providing incentives to discover 

and correct environmental problems. EPA will eliminate or significantly reduce penalties for 

small businesses that voluntarily discover violations of environmental law and promptly disclose 

and correct them. A wide range of resources is available to help small businesses learn about 

environmental compliance and take advantage of the Small Business Compliance Policy. These 

resources include training, checklists, compliance guides, mentoring programs, and other 

activities. 

Businesses can find more information through links on the web site at: 

http://www.epa.gov/smallbusiness/. 

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Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Compliance Activities and Initiatives 

VIII.C. Trade Association-/Industry-Sponsored Activities 

To determine the activities the sector is to improve undertaking its environmental 

performance, EPA contacted major trade associations and corporations. There are a significant 

number of activities occurring in the RMPP. The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) has 

projects completed or underway that are looking at issues such as stormwater, emissions factors, 

scrap tires, and leaching potentials of rubber products. The SPI has started an incentive program 

called OCS to help plastics products manufacturers comply with the EPA-regulated problem of 

plastic resin pellet loss. 

VIII.C.1. Environmental Programs 

Stormwater 

EPA has identified stormwater runoff as one of the leading causes of the 

deterioration of water quality in rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, and estuaries. As a result, EPA 

promulgated regulations on November 16, 1990 that required permit applications for stormwater 

discharges from selected municipal and industrial point sources. In 1990, the RMA sponsored a 

group stormwater application project that involved over 275 individual facilities. Stormwater 

sampling indicated that the rubber products manufacturing facilities have minimal stormwater 

pollution concerns. The draft NPDES permits published in the Federal Register on November 

19, 1993 for the rubber industry reflected this "minimal concern" by proposing the following 

provisions: 

C No specific numerical effluent limitations are needed; 

C Best management practices (BMP) are effective at reducing pollutants; 

and 

C Quarterly visual observation of stormwater discharges will help minimize 

pollution. 

Many states are not waiting for EPA to finalize the permitting requirements and 

have requested that plants obtain local permits with reporting and chemical analysis provisions. 

Within the miscellaneous plastics products industry, SPI started the incentive 

program OCS to promote efforts to reduce plastic resin pellet loss. SPI implements the program 

informally, by requiring all participating facilities to encourage spill minimization, prompt and 

thorough cleanup of spills, and proper pellet disposal. The participating manufacturers sign a 

pledge that says they will try to prevent pellet loss. 

Air Emissions 

In 1994 and 1995, RMA conducted an extensive air emission sampling project on 

the various manufacturing processes in the rubber industry. The purpose of this project was to 

develop accurate air emission factors for the rubber products manufacturing industry. Today, 

up-to-date emission factors are available for this industry. Six processes common to both tire 

and general rubber products plants (mixing, milling, extruding, calendering, vulcanizing, and 

Sector Notebook Project 134 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Compliance Activities and Initiatives 

grinding) were the subjects of this project. Twenty-six rubber compounds/mixtures were studied 

in this project. For each manufacturing process and compound, emission rates were developed 

as pounds of pollutant emitted per pound of rubber (or product) processed, except for grinding, 

which is expressed in terms of pounds of pollutant per pound of rubber ground off. 

The RMA initiative resulted in draft emission factors for several rubber 

processing operations included in the 5th Edition, Volume 1 of the AP-42. Section 4.12 is 

dedicated to emission factors for the manufacture of rubber products. Many of the processes 

include: 

C Calendering;

C Extrusion; 

C Grinding;

C Internal mixing;

C Mixing;

C Autoclave curing;

C Hot air curing; and

C Platen press curing.

Emissions factors are included for this project. This is breaking new ground as 

this type of testing has never been done on such a scale for the tire and rubber industry. This is 

the first time that EPA's air program in Research Triangle Park has utilized data from an outside 

organization like the RMA to compile emissions factor for an industry. 

Scrap Tire Disposal 

Scrap tire disposal is another issue being addressed by the RMA. The RMA is 

working to find uses for scrap tires that are both economically and environmentally sound. The 

three main themes held by the RMA are reuse, recycle, or recovery. To date, improvements in 

finding uses for scrap tires have been strong. In 2001, approximately 78 percent of the 281 

million scrap tires introduced that year were used in some way. This represents a 50-percent 

increase in the use of scrap tires used in 1994 and a seven-fold increase in scrap tire usage since 

1990. 

Using scrap tires as a fuel source is the leading method of utilizing of scrap tires. 

As of 1999, approximately 40 percent of scrap tires were used in this manner. An average tire 

releases 12,00 to 15,000 Btu/lb of energy. One 20-pound tire is equivalent to about 25 pounds of 

coal; shredded tire chips are added to coal as a fuel supplement. Whole tires are used at times as 

fuel in cement kilns. 

Approximately 9 percent of scrap tires are used in civil engineering projects 

while 7 percent are recycled as other rubber products. Recycled ground rubber is incorporated 

into new tires, although the recycled content is limited so that tire performance is not 

compromised. In 2003, approximately 9 percent of the 290 million scrap tires were sent to 

landfills for disposal. Most landfills will not accept whole tires so scrap tires are usually chipped 

before being deposited in a landfill. 

Sector Notebook Project 135 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Compliance Activities and Initiatives 

RMA has concluded that leachate issues from scrap rubber do not pose a concern. 

In 1989, the RMA conducted an assessment using EPA's proposed TCLP, to determine what 

levels of chemicals, if any, are leached from representative RMA products. The results of the 

TCLP analysis showed that none of the products tested, cured or uncured, exceeded proposed 

TCLP regulatory levels. The RMA also compared the effect of a modification to the TCLP 

proposed by EPA in 1989 that would eliminate grinding prior to leaching, in effect making 

TCLP tests of rubber products more representative of disposal practices. The results from tests 

of ground and unground samples were comparable. 

VIII.C.2. Summary of Trade Associations 

Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) 

1400 K Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20005

Phone: (202) 682-4800

Fax: (202) 682-4854

Members: Approximately 100 

Staff: 25 

Budget: 

Contact: Tracey J. Norberg 

RMA is the national trade association representing the tire and rubber 

manufacturing industry. Its members include all 7 major tire manufacturers and approximately 

100 companies that manufacture other rubber products, including hoses, belts, seals, gaskets, 

anti-vibration equipment, and other molded rubber products for industrial and automotive 

applications. RMA represents its members on policy and technical issues, develops industry 

standards, compiles industry statistics, and provides educational opportunities for its members. 

RMA members are active in a variety of committees, which address environmental, safety and 

health, government affairs, communications, technical and standards, and statistical issues. The 

web site is located at: http://www.rma.org/. 

Tire Industry Association (TIA) 

1532 Pointer Ridge Place

Suite E

Bowie, MD 20716-1883

Phone: (800) 876-8372

Fax: (301) 430-7283

Members: 4,500 

Staff: 18 

Budget: 

Contact: Colleen Wood 

TIA is an international association representing all segments of the tire industry, 

including those that manufacture, repair, recycle, sell, service, or use new or retreaded tires, and 

also those suppliers or individuals who furnish equipment, material or services to the industry. 

TIA was formed by the July 2002 merger of the International Tire & Rubber Association (ITRA) 

and the Tire Association of North America (TANA). 

The TIA produces two publications, Today’s Tire Industry and CTS Today. 

These are published six times annually. The web site is located at: 

http://www.tireindustry.org/about.asp. 

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Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Compliance Activities and Initiatives 

Tire and Rim Association (TRA) 

175 Montrose Avenue, West 

Copley, OH 44321 

Phone: (216) 666-8121 

Fax: (216) 666-8340 

Members: 40 

Staff: 3 

Budget: 

Contact: J.F. Pacuit 

Founded in 1903, TRA includes manufacturers of tires, rims, wheels, and related 

parts. TRA establishes standards (primarily dimensional) for the interchanging of tires, rim 

contours, tubes, valves, and flaps for passenger cars, motorcycles, trucks, buses, airplanes, and 

for earth-moving, road-building, agricultural, and industrial vehicles. TRA includes a Standards 

and Technical Advisory Committee. Subcommittees include Agricultural Tire and Rim, Aircraft 

Tire and Rim, Cycle Tire and Rim, Industrial Tire and Rim, Off-the-Road Tire and Rim, 

Passenger Car Tire and Rim, Truck-Bus Tire and Rim, and Tube and Valve. TRA also publishes 

Engineering Design Information for Aircraft Tires and Rims (periodic), Engineering Design 

Information for Ground Vehicles Tires and Rims (quarterly), Tire and Rim Association-Aircraft 

Year Book, and Tire and Rim Association Year Book. The web site is located at: 

http://www.us-tra.org/traMain.htm. 

National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association (NTDRA) 

6333 Long Street, Suite 340 

Shawnee, KS 66216 

Phone: (913) 268-6273 

Fax: (913) 268-6388 

Members: 5,000 

Staff: 30 

Budget: 

Contact: Don Wilson 

Founded in 1920, NTDRA represents independent tire dealers and retreaders. It 

includes 25 state and 80 local groups. NTDRA publishes Master Retreader (bimonthly), 

National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association-Hotline (bimonthly), National Tire Dealers 

and Retreaders Association-Who's Who Membership Directory (annual), NTDRA Dealer News 

(monthly), and NTDRA Membergram (monthly). The web site is located at: 

The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) 

1801 K Street, N.W., Suite 600K 

Washington, D.C. 20006 

Phone: (202) 974-5200 

Fax: (202) 296-7005 

Members: 1,000 

Staff: 57 

Budget: 

Contact: Bonnie Limbach 

Founded in 1937, SPI represents manufacturers and processors of molded, 

extruded, fabricated, laminated, calendered, and reinforced plastic; manufacturers of raw 

materials, machinery, tools, dies, and molds; and testing laboratories. SPI supports research, 

proposes standards for plastics products, compiles statistics, organizes competitions, and bestows 

awards. SPI also publishes Financial and Operating Ratios (annual); SPI Link (weekly); The 

Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. - Labor Survey (annual); and an Annual Report to members. 

The web site is located at: http://www.plasticsindustry.org. 

Sector Notebook Project 137 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Compliance Activities and Initiatives 

Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE) 

14 Fairfield Drive Members: 37,000 

P.O. Box 403

Brookfield, CT 06804-0403

Phone: (203) 775-0471

Fax: (203) 775-8490

Staff: 31 

Budget: $5,000,000 

Contact: Gail Bristol 

Founded in 1942, SPE is a professional society of scientists, engineers, educators, 

students, and others interested in the design, development, production, and utilization of plastic 

materials, products, and equipment. The SPE awards graduate and undergraduate scholarships 

ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. SPE awards a plaque, gold medal, and $5,000 in recognition of 

fundamental contributions to the technology of polymer science and engineering, plus seven 

other awards of $2,500 each for achievements in engineering and technology, education, 

business management, research, production of unique plastics products for consumer and 

industrial use, and contribution to mankind in the field of plastic. SPE also conducts seminars. 

Committees within SPE include Award, Credentials, Education, Education Seminar, 

International Relations, Management Involvement, New Technology, Plastic Education 

Foundation, Public Interest, Technical Programs, and Technical Volumes. Divisions include 

Advanced Polymer Composites, Automotive, Blow Molding, Color and Appearance, 

Decorating, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering Properties and Structure, Extrusion, 

Injection Molding, Marketing, Medical Plastic, Mold Making and Mold Design, Plastic 

Analysis, Plastic Recycling, Polymodifers and Additives, Thermoforming, Thermoplastic 

Materials and Foams, Thermosetting Molding, and Vinyl Plastic. SPE also publishes the 

Journal of Vinyl Technology (quarterly), Plastic Engineering (monthly), Polymer Composites 

(bimonthly), Polymer Engineering and Science (semimonthly), and Preprint Volumes and the 

Plastic Engineering Series (books). The web site is located at: http://www.4spe.org/. 

Association of Rotational Molders (ARM) International 

2000 Spring Road, Members: 435 

Suite 511 Staff: 3 

Oak Brook, IL 60523 Budget: $500,000 

Phone: (630) 571-0611 Contact: Charles D. Fredrick 

Fax: (630) 571-0616 

Founded in 1976, ARM represents plastic processors who use the rotational 

molding process, their suppliers, and overseas molders. ARM's purposes are to increase 

awareness of roto-molding, exchange technical information, provide education, and standardize 

production guidelines. ARM conducts research seminars, educational video, and slide programs, 

maintains a private library, sponsors a product contest, and bestows awards. ARM also offers a 

membership database. ARM publishes the ARM Roster (annual) and the Roto-Molder Review 

(4-6/year). The web site is located at: http://www.rotomolding.org/. 

Sector Notebook Project 138 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Compliance Activities and Initiatives 

International Association of Plastic Distributors (IAPD) 

4707 College Blvd., Suite 105 

Leawood, KS 66211-1667 

Phone: (913) 345-1005 

Fax: (913) 345-1006 

Members: 450 

Staff: 6 

Budget: $825,000 

Contact: Carol K. Wagner 

Founded in 1956, IAPD represents distributors of plastic materials, firms that 

both manufacture and distribute these materials, and manufacturers who sell their products 

through plastic distributors. The objective of IAPD is to promote proper and efficient distributor 

involvement in the plastic industry. IAPD maintains liaison with associated organizations, 

operates a library, bestows awards, and compiles statistics. Publications include the Membership 

Directory (annual), the IAPD Magazine (monthly), and computerized data processing manuals, 

charts, and other materials. The web site is located at: http://www.iapd.org/. 

Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association (PPFA) 

Building C, Suite 20 

800 Roosevelt Road 

Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 

Phone: (708) 858-6540 

Fax: (630) 790-3095 

Members: 73 

Staff: 4 

Budget: 

Contact: Richard W. Church 

Founded in 1978, PPFA represents raw material suppliers, processors, machinery 

suppliers, consultants, and testing labs for plastic pipe and fittings. PPFA's objectives are to 

provide a forum for exchange of information and ideas; to see that existing code approvals for 

use of plastic pipe and fittings are retained; to obtain additional code approvals and develop new 

markets for products; to provide leadership and continuity for the industry; and to seek liaison 

and involvement with other organizations within the industry. The web site is located at: 

http://www.ppfahome.org/. 

Sector Notebook Project 139 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Contacts/Bibliography 

IX. CONTACTS/ACKNOWLEDGMENTS/RESOURCE MATERIALS/ 

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

General Profile 

Industry and Trade Summary - Pneumatic Tires and Tubes, U.S. International Trade 

Commission, Washington, D.C., February 1994. 

Natural Rubber, Senior Policy Paper, Theodore J. Goering, The World Bank, Washington, D.C., 

1982. 

Tire Business - 2001 Annual Report, Tire Business, Akron, OH. http://www.tirebusiness.com 

Tire Shipments Lose Momentum in 2001, Rubber Manufacturers Association, March 2002. 

http://www.rma.org 

Tread Rubber Shipments Will Improve in 2nd Half of 2003, Rubber Manufacturers Association, 

August 2003. http://www.rma.org 

2002, 2003, and 2004 Growth in Tire Shipments (annotated), Rubber Manufacturers 

Association, 2004. http://www.rma.org 

U..S. Industrial Outlook 1994, Department of Commerce.

Industrial Rubber Products, Freedonia Group, July 2002. http://www.mindbranch.com

Plastics End-Market Snapshots, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., 2001. 

http://www.plasticsdatasource.org 

Global Business Trends, Partners, Hot Products, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., 2001. 

http://www.plasticsdatasource.org 

1997 Economic Census, Bureau of the Census, 1997. 

http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/econ97.html 

Process Descriptions 

The Chemical Process Industries, First ed., R. Norris Shreve, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 

Inc., New York, NY, 1945. 

EPA Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313 Reporting 

Guidance for Rubber and Plastics Manufacturing, U.S. EPA, May 2000. 

Assessment of Industrial Hazardous Waste Practices - Rubber and Plastic Industry, Foster D. 

Snell for the U.S. EPA, Cleveland, OH, 1975. 

“Foam Processing,” Modern Plastic, October 1991. 

Sector Notebook Project 140 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Contacts/Bibliography 

The Identification of Effluents from Rubber Vulcanization, Stephen M. Rappaport, University of 

North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Presented at the Conference on Environmental Aspects of 

Chemical Use in Rubber Processing, Akron, OH, 1975. 

McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology, 6th Edition, McGraw-Hill Book 

Company, New York, NY, 1992. 

“Tire Materials and Construction,” Kevin Jost, Automotive Engineering, October 1992. 

Regulatory Profile 

Federal Register: Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources; Rubber Tire 

Manufacturing Industry; Final Rule. 52 FR 34868, September 15, 1987. 

Federal Register: Plastic Molding and Forming Point Source Category Effluent Limitations 

Guidelines; Pretreatment Standards and New Source Performance Standards; Final 

Regulation. 49 FR 49026, December 17, 1984. 

Federal Register: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Rubber Tire 

Manufacturing; Final Rule. 67 FR 45588, July 9, 2002. 

The Society of the Plastic Industry Issues, Volume V, No. 1-8, The Society of the Plastics 

Industry, Inc., Washington, D.C., 1994. 

EPA’s Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS). 

http://www.epa.gov/idea/otis/icis_ns.html 

EPA’s Air Toxics Web Site, National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants 

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/mactfnlalph.html 

Pollution Prevention 

Environmental Fact Sheet - Plastic: The Facts About Production, Use, and Disposal, U.S. EPA, 

Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, February 1990. 

Environmental Fact Sheet - Plastic: The Facts on Source Reduction, U.S. EPA, Office of Solid 

Waste and Emergency Response, February 1990. 

Environmental Fact Sheet - The Facts on Degradable Plastic, U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste 

and Emergency Response, February 1990. 

Environmental Fact Sheet - The Facts on Recycling Plastic, U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste 

and Emergency Response, February 1990. 

Operation Clean Sweep, Only You Can Stop Resin Pellet Loss!, The Society of the Plastics 

Industry, Inc., Washington, D.C. 

Sector Notebook Project 141 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Contacts/Bibliography 

Recent Experience in Encouraging the Use of Pollution Prevention in Enforcement Settlements, 

Monica M Becker and Nicholas A Ashford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 

Center for Technology, Policy, and Industrial Development, Cambridge, MA, May 1992. 

Scrap Tires: Alternative and Markets in the United States, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, 

Akron, OH. 

Scrap Tires for Fuel, an Energy Alternative, A.L. Eastman, Goodyear Tire and Rubber 

Company. Presented at the Akron Rubber Fall Technical Symposium, October 1991. 

Scrap Tires - Understanding the Challenge, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Akron, OH, 

1990. 

A Study of the Use of Recycled Paving Material, Report to Congress, U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Federal Highway Administration and U.S. EPA, June 1993. (FHWARD-93-147; EPA 530/R-93/013). 

Summary of Markets for Scrap Tires, U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency 

Response, October 1991. 

Title III Section 313, Release Reporting Guidance, Estimating Chemical Releases From Rubber 

Production and Compounding, U.S. EPA, Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, 

March 1992. (EPA 560/4-88/004q) 

U.S. Scrap Tire Markets 2001, Rubber Manufacturers Association, December 2002. 

http://www.rma.org/scrap_tires/scrap_tire_markets/ 

Waste Minimization Strategies for the Fabricated Rubber Products Industry, Christopher 

Bozzini, Thomas O'Regan, Patrick Sheehan, and Catherine Walsh, Prepared for the U.S. 

EPA, August 1992. 

1999 National Emissions Inventory, U.S. EPA, December 2003. 

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/net/index.html 

2001 Toxic Release Inventory Data, U.S. EPA, June 2003. http://www.epa.gov/tri 

Books, Reports, and Documents 

Noyes Data Corporation, “Alternative Formulations and Packaging to Reduce Use of 

Chlorofluorocarbons,” 1990, ISBN0-8155-1257-0. 

Research Triangle Institute, “Alternatives for Measuring Hazardous Waste Reduction,” 1991, 

PB91-208595. 

Noyes Data Corporation, “Aqueous Cleaning as an Alternative to CFC and Chlorinated SolventBased Cleaning,” 1991, ISBN0-8155-1285-6. 

Sector Notebook Project 142 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Contacts/Bibliography 

EPA, “Background Document on Clean Products Research and Implementation,” 1990, 

EPA/600/S2-90/048. 

EPA, “Case Studies from the Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse: Solvent 

Recovery,” 1989, ISM-4 (PPIC). 

Government Institutes, “Case Studies in Waste Minimization,” 1991, ISBN0-86587-267-8. 

United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), “Cleaner Production Newsletter,” Industry 

and Environmental Office, ICPIC-1 (PPIC). 

EPA, “Degreaser System Pollution Prevention Evaluation,” 1990, EPA/600/S2-90/052. 

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, “Guidelines for Waste Reduction and Recycling: 

Solvents,” 1989, ISM-13 (PPIC). 

EPA, “Guides to Pollution Prevention: Research and Educational Institutions,” 1990, ISM-19 

(PPIC). 

EPA, “Guides to Pollution Prevention: The Fiberglass-Reinforced and Composite Plastics 

Industry,” ISM-19 (PPIC). 

McGraw-Hill, Inc., “Hazardous Waste Minimization,” 1990, ISBN0-07-022043-3. 

Lewis Publishers, “Hazardous Waste Minimization Handbook,” 1989, ISBN0-87371-176-9. 

ASTM, “Hazardous and Industrial Solid Waste Minimization Practices,” 1989, ISBN0-8031-

1269-6. 

EPA, “Industrial Pollution Prevention for the 1990s,” 1991, EPA/600/S8-91/052. 

EPA, “Pollution Prevention Benefits Manual: Volume 1 (Draft),” 1989, WAM-1 (PPIC). 

EPA, “Pollution Prevention Information Exchange System (PIES) User Guide,” Version 1.1, 

1989, EPA/600/9-89/086, free. 

CMA, “Pollution Prevention Resource Manual,” 1991, $75.00 (non-members), $50.00 

(members, Order no. 018031). 

EPA, “Prevention Reference Manual: Control Technologies. Volume 2: Post-Release Mitigation 

Measures for Controlling Accidental Releases of Air Toxics,” 1987, EPA/600/S8-

87/039b. 

EPA, “Prevention Reference Manual: Control Technologies. Volume 1: Prevention and 

Protection Technologies for Controlling Accidental Releases of Air Toxics,” 1987, 

EPA/600/S8-87/039a. 

Sector Notebook Project 143 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Contacts/Bibliography 

EPA, “Prevention Reference Manual: Overviews on Preventing and Controlling Accidental 

Releases of Selected Toxic Chemicals,” 1988, EPA/600/S8-88/074. 

EPA, “Prevention Reference Manual: User's Guide, Overview for Controlling Accidental 

Releases of Air Toxics,” 1987, EPA/600/S8-87/028. 

EPA, “Proceedings of the International Workshop on Research in Pesticide Treatment/Disposal/ 

Waste Minimization,” 1991, EPA/600-S9-91/047. 

Alaska Health Project, “Profiting from Waste Reduction in Your Small Business,” 1988, free, 

QAM-2 (PPIC). 

National Academy Press, “Reducing Hazardous Waste Generation: An Evaluation and a Call for 

Action,” 1985, $9.95, ISBN 0-309-03498-1. 

Noyes, Data Corporation, “Solvent Waste Reduction,” 1990, $45, ISBN 0-8155-1254-6. 

EPA, “Solvent Waste Reduction Alternatives,” 1989, EPA/625/4-89/021. 

EPA, “Source Characterization and Control Technology Assessment of Methylene Chloride 

Emissions from Eastman Kodak Company,” Rochester, NY, 1989, EPA/600-S2-043. 

Government Institutes, “The Greening of American Business: Making Bottom-Line Sense of 

Environmental Responsibility,” 1992, $24.95, ISBN: 0-86587-295-3. 

Van Nostrand Reinhold, “The Recycler's Manual for Business, Government, and the 

Environmental Community,” 1992, $64.95, ISBN 0-442-01190-3. 

National Academy Press, “Tracking Toxic Substances at Industrial Facilities: Engineering Mass 

Balance Versus Materials Accounting,” 1990, ISBN 0-0309-04086-8. 

EPA, “Waste Exchange Information Package,” 1991, free, GEN-13 (PPIC). 

EPA, “Waste Minimization: Environmental Quality with Economic Benefits,” 1990, free, 

EPA/530-SW-87-026 (also GEN-14 (PPIC)). 

Government Institutes, “Waste Minimization Manual,” 1987, $57.00, ISBN: 0-86587-731-9. 

EPA, “Waste Minimization Opportunity Assessment Manual,” 1988, EPA/625/7-88/003. 

CMA, “Waste Minimization Workshop Handbook,” 1987, $250.00 (non-members); $100.00 

(members), Order no. 018016. 

API, “Waste Minimization in the Petroleum Industry: A Compendium of Practices,” 1991, 

$35.00, Order no. 849-30200. 

Lewis Publishers, “Waste Minimization: Implementing an Effective Program,” due 1992, 

$59.00, ISBN 0-87371-521-7. 

Sector Notebook Project 144 February 2005 
Rubber and Miscellaneous Plastics Products Contacts/Bibliography 

Noyes Data Corporation, “Waste Oil: Reclaiming Technology, Utilization, and Disposal,” 1989, 

$39.00, ISBN 0-8155-1193-0. 

California Department of Health Service, “Waste Reduction Fact Sheet: Pesticide Formulating 

Industry,” free, FCAD-7 (PPIC). 

Executive Enterprises, “Waste Reduction: Policy and Practice,” $39.95, ISBN 1-55840-272-1. 

Contacts 

Contacts Organization Telephone 

Becky MacDicken International Tire Association (301) 430-7280 

Lynne Harris The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (202) 974-5200 

Bob Larch Ohio EPA, Solid Waste (614) 644-2734 

Hope Pillsbury EPA, OSW, Solid Waste (703) 308-7258 

Roger M. Ferris Society of Plastics Engineers (203) 775-0471 

J.F. Pacuit Tire and Rim Association (330) 666-8121 

Tracey Norberg Rubber Manufacturers Association (202) 682-4800 

Tony Wayne EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and 

Standards 

(919) 541-5439 

Dave Salman EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and 

Standards 

(919) 541-0859 

Sector Notebook Project 145 February 2005 
February 2005 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance 

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (MC 2224-A) 

Washington, D.C. 20460 

EPA/310-R-05-003 

www.epa.gov/compliance/sectornotebooks.html