FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2012

Toronto: Torontonians and businesses now have crucial information that identifies where harmful substances are used and released across the city. On Monday, Toronto Public Health publicly released the first set of chemical reports on www.toronto.ca/chemtrac.

“The ChemTRAC program is the first of its kind in Canada,” said Heather Marshall, Toxics Campaigner for the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA). “We know more about Toronto’s chemical releases today than ever before and that is a major step forward for protecting our health, the environment and developing green businesses.”

The program has received support from health associations, community groups, environmental organizations, workers and businesses.

"Calstone has been a supporter of the ChemTRAC program and Toronto's toxic emissions reduction program from the very beginning" says Jim Ecclestone, President and Owner of Calstone, a furniture manufacturer in Scarborough. "Calstone congratulates the City of Toronto on the first year of their program and encourages other manufacturers to learn about the chemicals used in their production and work with ChemTRAC to reduce or eliminate them." 

In 2008, Toronto City Council passed a groundbreaking Environmental Reporting and Disclosure by-law, which requires businesses to report on the use or release of 25 toxic substances that pollute the air and harm human health. Led by Toronto Public Health, the ChemTRAC program provides businesses with the tools they need to report on and reduce chemical use. 

Marshall noted that the next step is making sure businesses, community members and the City of Toronto work together to develop pollution prevention plans. “This is a win-win-win program for everyone,” notes Marshall. “Reducing toxic substances in Toronto will protect our health, improve air quality, and help local businesses.”

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For more information contact:

Heather Marshall, Toxics Campaigner, 416-833-5583

To see all TEA media releases, go to Media Releases.