BOSTON – Mass. Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan last week announced that companies in the state reduced their use of toxic materials by 75 million pounds in 2009.

The reduction represented an 8 percent, year-to-year reduction in chemical use and a 9 percent reduction in resulting waste.

Sullivan reported the findings of the 2011 fiscal-year report, which contains the most recent company-reported data, from 2009. The reduction marks the 19th consecutive year in which companies have reduced toxics use.

The results included energy-reduction plans at 23 facilities saving 50 million kilowatt hours annually – enough energy to power nearly 7,000 Massachusetts homes for a year. According to a statement, eight facilities are planning water- conservation measures that will save 38 million gallons of water annually. Five facilities will reduce solid waste by 860,000 pounds.

There are approximately 500 Massachusetts companies that report information regarding toxic chemical use, natural resource management and energy-efficiency data to the Department of Environmental Protection. •