LOWELL, Mass. — The Toxics Use Reduction Institute has been helping Massachusetts companies reduce and eliminate toxins for 20 years, but has now lost its funding from the state.

The Institute is part of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, but the University also does not have the ability to fully fund it. Last month the state legislature's budget conference committee cut out budget items that would have given the Institute $1.2-$1.4 million, according to the Boston Globe.

The Institute was created from the state's Toxics Use Reduction Act of 1989, and helps companies identify toxins they are using and lower their use. It also provides research and testing services, last year bringing in $3.3 million in revenue from fees from assisting 550 facilities.

One of the companies that have been helped by the Institute is Lightolier, a lighting subsidiary of Philips Electronics, which, through the assistance of the Institute, reduced its use of volatile organic compounds from 130 tons to 4 tons.

^{Laboratory - CC license by Casey J.}