Rhode Island reduces toxic waste pollution

BOSTON — The Environmental Protection Agency has announced that Rhode Island
reduced its toxic waste emissions by 40 percent between 1998 and 1999. The agency
attributed the reduction principally to the departure of the state’s biggest polluter
at that time, Quebecor Printing. According to the EPA, the total of chemical released
into the air in Rhode Island in 1999 was about 1.4 million pounds, compared with
2.3 million pounds in 1998. The EPA listed Rexam DSI of Johnson as the state’s
biggest polluter in 1998-1999. Rexam makes covering products for books and packages.