ChemTRAC

The ChemTRAC program is an annual environmental reporting program that requires Toronto businesses to report their use and release of 25 targeted chemical compounds if they meet certain reporting criteria.

ChemTRAC is similar to Environment Canada’s National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI), except the reporting thresholds are significantly lower, as low as 1% of the NPRI thresholds in most cases.

The rationale behind this is to elicit reporting from small to medium sized organizations that currently do not satisfy the NPRI reporting thresholds. It is estimated that between 5,000 and 7,000 Toronto business will have to report their uses and releases annually.

The ChemTRAC reporting by-law comes into effect January 2010, with the first reports due June 30, 2011. The first group of companies phased-in includes:

• chemical manufacturers
• food and beverage manufacturers
• power generators
• printing and publishing operations
• water and wastewater treatment facilities
• wood industries (including sawmills and wood preservation; veneer, plywood, and engineered wood product manufacturing; furniture manufacturing; and manufacturing of other wood products such as pallets and doors)

All other sectors will be phased-in by January 2012 unless you are specifically exempt. Annual ChemTRAC reporting data will be made public following a review by Toronto Public Health.  (See ChemTRAC FAQs "When do I have to start reporting?")

Pinchin is in a unique position to help Toronto businesses determine whether they are required to report to the program, and to assist in the quantification of chemical uses and releases.

Pinchin was awarded a contract with the City of Toronto to develop a series of web-based calculation tools for a variety of industrial processes. Coupled with our vast experience reporting to the Federal and Provincial governments on similar initiatives, these tools make Pinchin well-suited to work with you to assess your reporting requirements to the new ChemTRAC program.

Further Information

To receive updates on ChemTRAC, or for more information on how Pinchin can help you meet your compliance requirements, please e-mail chemTRAC@pinchin.com or call 905-363-1356.

You may also wish to review our ChemTRAC FAQ page.