EPA says Minnesota businesses best at reducing pollutants

A new Environmental Protection Agency report says Minnesota businesses are the best in the United States at reducing or eliminating some dangerous pollutants.

According to the report, Minnesota businesses implemented measures that resulted in a reduction of nearly 1 million pounds in the quantity of toxic pollutants generated in 2012 and 2013.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner John Linc Stine says the state's companies are leaders in driving down environmental impacts and driving up the efficiency of their operations.

For example, a Minneapolis electroplating facility reduced its release of solvents by 50 percent by changing to a water-based cleaning system for some processes.

The EPA report looked at data reported by manufacturers and other industrial facilities across the country through the EPA's Toxic Release Inventory program.

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