Getting Ready for Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Reporting Season

Every year, TRI reporting season arrives with a mix of urgency and opportunity. For EHS teams, it is not just an effort in paperwork - it is a chance to sharpen data practices, strengthen transparency, and demonstrate real stewardship. The key to a successful TRI report is starting early and building a system that makes the process smoother each time. 

📊 Start With Your Data — Early

The most time‑consuming part of TRI reporting is rarely the form itself. The time sink is in the data hunt. Many facilities use gigantic spreadsheets full of macros and complex equations to determine their TRI reporting requirements. Do these work? Yes. Are they cumbersome? Absolutely. 

Getting ahead can mean giving yourself time to improve your data crunching process. In the era of AI, there is an opportunity to make data compilation easier on you and your facility while also ensuring an extra level of oversight and care is given to reporting accurate release information. 

🧪 Revisit Your Chemical List & Old Assumptions

Take the time to review your chemical inventories, usage logs, and waste management records now. Confirm that thresholds are being tracked correctly and that any process changes from the past year are documented. A quick internal audit can save hours of scrambling later.

Facilities evolve, and so do chemical profiles. Double‑check that your list of TRI‑listed substances is current and that Safety Data Sheets reflect the latest formulations. Even small changes in concentration can shift reporting obligations, so this step is worth the extra attention. Take the time early to review your exemptions. Are they still accurate to your current operations?

🤝 Bring Operations Into the Loop

TRI reporting relies on data that is collected at an operational and purchasing level. Reporting is smoother when production, purchasing, and EHS are aligned. A short meeting to review expectations, timelines, and data needs can prevent last‑minute surprises. When everyone understands the “why” behind TRI, the “how” becomes much easier. 

🔍 Look for Opportunities, Not Just Obligations

TRI data often reveals patterns — waste streams that could be minimized, processes that could be optimized, or chemicals that could be substituted. Treating the reporting season as a strategic review rather than a compliance burden can unlock real improvements.

🗓️ Build Your Timeline Now

Set internal deadlines well ahead of the July 1 submission date. Map out who owns each piece of the process, from data collection to QA checks to final certification. A clear timeline keeps the season predictable and reduces stress for everyone involved.