EPA TRI Facility · Food

Sanderson Farms Inc

Kinston, NC · Parent: Sanderson Farms LLC

Total releases
580.4K lbs
Chemicals reported
4
Latest report
2023
Primary pathway
Land Disposal
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Sanderson Farms Inc has reported 580.4K lbs of toxic releases across 4 chemicals to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, based on annual facility disclosures from 2019 through 2023. The facility operates in the Food sector. The primary release pathway is land disposal, accounting for 94% of total releases. All release data shown below is self-reported to the EPA under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313.

#1,778 of 25,902 TRI facilities nationwide by total reported releases - among the top 6.9% of reporting sites by volume. Ranking reflects reported pounds, not toxicity or health risk.

Sanderson Farms Inc files annual Form R disclosures to the EPA Toxics Release Inventory under EPCRA Section 313, classified under NAICS 311615 (Food). Across 5 years of records spanning 2019–2023, the site has disclosed 580.4K lbs in cumulative toxic releases across 4 distinct chemicals.

The dominant release pathway is land disposal at 544.6K lbs (93.8% of total volume), followed by air releases at 6.2%. Between 2019 and 2023, reported totals increased by 129% - from 52.7K lbs to 120.7K lbs. The facility is operated under parent company Sanderson Farms LLC.

TRI Form R values are self-reported estimates, not measured stack emissions, and treat every pound of reported chemical equally regardless of toxicity. Inclusion in the TRI database does not establish a health risk to nearby residents; it documents the annual reporting record that Sanderson Farms Inc has filed with the EPA under federal community right-to-know requirements.

Quick Facts

Industry
Food
NAICS Code
311615
Total Releases
580.4K lbs
Chemicals Reported
4
Latest Report Year
2023

Compare this facility

See how Sanderson Farms Inc stacks up against nearby facilities and the typical reporter.

Total reported releases
Sanderson Farms Inc
580.4K lbs
Befesa Zinc Metal LLC
43.1M lbs

99% less than the comparison

Chemicals reported
Sanderson Farms Inc
4
Befesa Zinc Metal LLC
4

About the same as the comparison

Comparison reflects reported pounds and chemical counts, not toxicity or health risk. Averages cover facilities reporting any release.

How does this facility release toxic chemicals?

How Sanderson Farms Inc releases toxic chemicals into the environment. Total: 580.4K lbs.

Land Disposal 544.6K lbs (93.8%)
Air Releases 35.8K lbs (6.2%)
View 5-Year Emissions Trend →

Emissions Trend Summary

From 2019 to 2023, total releases increased by 129% (52.7K lbs to 120.7K lbs).

Reported total releases by year

Sanderson Farms Inc - annual TRI totals

million lbs

What this shows Year-over-year reported totals. TRI figures are self-reported estimates and can swing with production levels, waste-rock handling and reporting changes, not only with emissions controls.

Source EPA Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)
Year Total Chemicals
2019 52.7K lbs 4
2020 126.3K lbs 4
2021 137.6K lbs 4
2022 143.2K lbs 4
2023 120.7K lbs 4

Chemical Releases

Aggregated across all reporting years (2019–2023). Sorted by total release volume.

Chemical Total Flags
Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution) 533.9K lbs -
Ammonia 41.7K lbs -
Hydrogen sulfide 4.8K lbs -
Peracetic acid 0 lbs -

Location

Coordinates
35.2609, -77.6700
ZIP Code
28504
EPA Facility ID
2850WSNDRS4985H

About TRI Data

Data as of 2023 reporting year. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxic Release Inventory.

Data comes from the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program. Facilities that manufacture, process, or otherwise use listed toxic chemicals above threshold amounts are required to report annually to the EPA.

Release quantities are self-reported by the facility and may represent estimates rather than exact measurements. "Total releases" includes releases to air, water, land, and off-site transfers for disposal. Quantities shown here are aggregated across all available reporting years.

PlainEnviro presents this data without advocacy framing. The presence of a facility in the TRI database does not by itself indicate a health risk. For site-specific health questions, consult your local environmental or health agency.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chemicals does Sanderson Farms Inc release?
Sanderson Farms Inc has reported releases of 4 chemicals to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, totaling 580.4K lbs.
What industry is Sanderson Farms Inc in?
Sanderson Farms Inc is classified under the "Food" industry (NAICS code 311615), located in Kinston, NC.
How long has Sanderson Farms Inc reported to the TRI?
Sanderson Farms Inc has EPA Toxic Release Inventory data spanning 5 years, from 2019 to 2023.
How does Sanderson Farms Inc release toxic chemicals?
The primary release pathway for Sanderson Farms Inc is land disposal, accounting for 93.8% of total releases (544.6K lbs). Secondary pathway: air releases (6.2%).
Are emissions from Sanderson Farms Inc increasing or decreasing?
From 2019 to 2023, total releases increased by 129%, from 52.7K lbs to 120.7K lbs.
Is Sanderson Farms Inc a health risk?
The presence of a facility in the TRI database does not by itself indicate a health risk. Release quantities are self-reported estimates. For site-specific health questions, consult your local environmental or health agency.

What to do with this facility's data

Use this facility profile as a starting point, then check how it compares.

  • See whether releases reported by Sanderson Farms Inc are rising or falling over time. View trends
  • This facility ranks #1,778 of 25,902 TRI facilities nationwide by total reported releases - among the top 6.9% of reporting sites by volume. Ranking reflects reported pounds, not toxicity or health risk. See the full rankings
  • Check North Carolina's statewide profile for the full picture: total facilities, water systems, and Superfund sites. View North Carolina profile

TRI release totals are self-reported estimates submitted to the EPA, not independently measured stack emissions; a high rank reflects reported volume, not necessarily local health risk.

Related

Sources & how this page was built

Every figure on this page traces to public, federal-government data on Sanderson Farms Inc. The records below are the primary sources; our methodology explains how they are joined, computed, and verified.

Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro Editorial. TRI release totals are self-reported estimates, not measured stack emissions.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Toxics Release Inventory has required annual industrial disclosure since its creation under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act in October 1986, and this facility's record is drawn from PlainEnviro's database of more than 25,000 EPA-tracked facilities through the 2023 reporting year; see our methodology for full source citations and refresh cadence.