New Guide to Help Companies Find Safer Alternatives to Halogenated Solvents
TURI's new Alternatives to
Halogenated Solvents Used in Surface Cleaning Guide is intended to help manufacturing facilities identify safer alternatives to halogenated solvents used in surface cleaning.

Hazards for some halogenated chemicals include damage to the central nervous system, reproductive and developmental toxicity, carcinogenicity and negative respiratory effects.

Use this guide to gain insight into safer options for your specific application, learn how to evaluate those alternatives and determine information needed from equipment vendors.

Links to case studies sprinkled throughout showcase safer alternative chemistries and equipment used, performance testing process and return on investment.
Planners Network Together Again
In April we held the first in-person training event in two years. The conference, which featured sessions on economic evaluation, federal regulatory actions, case examples and industry sector approaches to manage chemicals choices, was a big success. All conference materials are available online.

Thanks to everyone who attended including three planners in the photo above – Jody Deeley of Unistress Corp in Lee, Bill Judd of Industrial Compliance Group in Framingham and Lucy Servidio of Capaccio Environmental Engineering in Marlborough.
 
As a reminder, if you would like to receive a certificate of completion for attending this conference you must have completed surveys for each session. Contact Pam Eliason if you have not received the links to the surveys.
Resource Conservation Trainings
TURI hosted a series of web-based trainings in March and April for Planners interested in obtaining or maintaining their Resource Conservation (RC) planning credentials. After a day-long review of why and how RC planning can be used as an alternative to toxics use reduction planning every other planning cycle, we were joined by subject matter experts from:

  • Minnesota’s Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP)
  • Center for EcoTechnology
  • Zero Waste USA

Attendees learned more about industrial opportunities for water conservation, energy conservation and source reduction of the materials that contribute to solid waste.

TURI organizes trainings on RC planning as well as on the use of a TURA Environmental Management System (EMS) on alternating years. EMS training is only offered when requested.

If you or your facility are interested in exploring the possibility of using a TURA EMS in lieu of regular TUR planning, please contact Pam Eliason.
TURA Advisory Committee Meeting
The next TURA Advisory Committee virtual meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 4, 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. All meeting materials have been posted online, including a meeting agenda with a hyperlink to the Zoom meeting, a TURA program update, and a synthesis document summarizing the activities and feedback of the TURA Program Strengthening Ad Hoc Committee. View background documents for each TURA Program Strengthening Ad Hoc Committee meeting.

For more information, contact Tiffany Skogstrom.
Science Advisory Board Meeting
The next SAB virtual meeting is Thursday, May 26 at 9:30 a.m. The main topic of the meeting is Single-Walled Carbon Nano Tubes. Contact Heather Tenney for more information.
MassDEP Form S Reporting Webinar
MassDEP is hosting a virtual training on May 12, 9 a.m. to Noon, on Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) Form S filing.

Attendance will be tracked to ensure that planners receive a certificate of completion. There is no fee for attending this training.
 
This half-day workshop qualifies for 6 TUR planner credits.

If you have any questions, please contact Walter Hope.