INFORM’s Community Right-to-Know-More Resources

INFORM has been researching the benefits of expanded community right-to-know initiatives for more than a decade. Below are some of our reports and articles on this subject.

Expanding the Public’s Right to Know: Materials Accounting Data as a Tool for Promoting Environmental Justice and Pollution Prevention. Steven Anderson, Alicia Culver, Mark Dorfman, and Amy Hughes (2000, 40 pp., $20). This "how-to" guide provides the basics on how New Jersey's materials accounting database can be used to learn about plant practices so environmental, worker, public health, and consumer groups can engage in discussions with plant personnel as well-informed and capable advocates. Also compares New Jersey's program with the US EPA's less comprehensive national Toxics Release Inventory and argues for its adoption by other states or nationwide. This publication is available here.

“The Right to Know More: New Research Shows the Benefits of Expanded Toxic Chemical Reporting,” INFORM Reports, Spring 2001, available at http://www.informinc.org/IRspr01.pdf.

Tracking Toxic Chemicals: The Value of Materials Accounting Data. Mark H. Dorfman and Marian Wise (1997, 80 pp., $30). This report explores why New Jersey's materials accounting data is a valuable means of collecting information on toxic chemicals and would greatly improve the Toxics Release Inventory, the federal database of toxic chemicals. The report shows how the materials accounting data provide a new way of measuring pollution prevention progress. Read an executive summary of this report.

Preventing Industrial Toxic Hazards: A Guide for Communities. Marian Wise and Lauren Kenworthy (1993, 208 pp., $25, ISBN 0-918-780-60-8). This guide leads community groups step-by-step through a process for encouraging local plants to reduce their use of toxic chemicals and their creation of toxic waste. By researching the plants and developing a constructive dialogue with plant managers, community leaders can help businesses become better, cleaner neighbors.