U.S. Has Spent Billions To Cut Pollution

Abstract

Chemical manufacturers spend more than any other industrial sector to purchase and operate pollution abatement equipment, according to a recent survey by the U.S. Census Bureau. The Pollution Abatement Costs & Expenditures (PACE) survey estimates that in 1999 U.S. chemical companies spent about $3.8 billion to operate and buy new pollution abatement equipment. That breaks down to $2.81 billion to operate pollution-control equipment and $991 million in capital spending. Looking at all U.S. companies, $11.86 billion was spent to operate pollution-abatement equipment and $5.81 billion for capital expenditures for new equipment. The survey also examined power generation and mining, but manufacturing accounted for most pollution-control spending. Despite its size, pollution-abatement spending amounted to just 0.37% of the value of 1999 manufacturing shipments. The survey also examined pollution-prevention spending and found chemical companies again led in spending, allocating $368 million. In all, U.S. compani...