Data Archives for TRI Basic Plus: Spans Calendar Years from 1987 to Current
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Basic Plus data files, a valuable resource for understanding the environmental impact of industrial activities. These files are available on the EPA's website and come in zipped folders, each containing multiple .txt files.
The TRI Basic Plus data files offer a wealth of information, including details about on-site and off-site waste management, chemical releases, transfers, recycling, energy recovery, and more. For instance, the files provide information about on-site waste management totals, one-time releases, and source reduction activities and methods. They also include details about on-site waste treatment, including methods and efficiency estimates.
Moreover, the files contain information about chemical activities and uses, as well as optional information on source reduction, recycling, and pollution control. Historical data on transfers of chemicals to Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) is also included, ranging from 1987 to 2010.
Each .txt file corresponds to a relational data table, enabling users to analyze releases, transfers, and waste management by facility, chemical, and year. The files are tab-delimited, making them easy to work with in various software applications.
The EPA's TRI Basic Plus files include details on the quantities of chemicals released, with quantities of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds reported in grams, while all other chemicals are reported in pounds. The files are based on the TRI Reporting Form R and Form A, and the .txt files within each .zip file are related to these forms.
As of July 9, 2025, the EPA page provides .zip files containing 10 tab-delimited .txt files. The exact file names and contents for the 2025 TRI Basic Plus dataset are yet to be released, but based on previous years, they may include files such as TRI_Facility.txt, TRI_Chemical.txt, TRI_Releases.txt, TRI_Waste_Managed.txt, and TRI_Offsite_Transfers.txt.
It is recommended to consult the accompanying documentation (readme files or TRI user guide) included in the .zip files for a complete understanding of the data contained within each file.
The EPA has been collecting TRI data since 1987, and the data contained in these files may differ from data used to construct the TRI National Analysis due to potential revisions made by facilities. This webpage contains the most recent versions of all TRI data files, making it a crucial resource for anyone interested in understanding the environmental impact of industrial activities.
- The TRI Basic Plus data files, provided by the EPA, include information about recycling and waste management in industrial activities.
- The files provide details about on-site waste management, such as recycling activities and methods, as well as off-site waste transfers.
- The EPA's TRI Basic Plus data files offer insights into the release and usage of chemicals, including details about chemicals that may contain toxics contributing to pollution.
- These data files can be used in environmental-science and finance studies due to their comprehensive data on industrial activities, including details about energy recovery, pollution control, and financial aspects involving chemical management.
