Funding Cut for Toxics Reduction

Amid a fiscal meltdown, Massachusetts has eliminated funding for the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Established in 1989, TURI provides research and training as well as technical, laboratory, and funding programs and services for reducing the use of toxic chemicals in manufacturing processes.

The institute’s CleanerSolutions Database (see EBN Nov. 2006) and support for the development of lead-free electrical wire and cable are among its many accomplishments. In conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Office of Technical Assistance, TURI has managed to cut the use of toxics in regional manufacturing by 41% over its brief history, helping businesses to reduce costs and better compete in a global market.

The university, which has admitted to a lack of financial resources, is expected to appropriate funding for TURI, whose fiscal year ended on June 30. There is a letter-writing campaign to reinstate TURI's funding; more details can be found on BuildingGreen’s blog.