Environmental Stewardship

The members of the Maine Pulp & Paper Association (MPPA) are dedicated to protecting the environment for our employees, their families, and the public. After all, our employees live in the State and enjoy Maine’s environment as much as anyone! The members of the MPPA are committed to compliance with all environmental laws and regulations and pursue “beyond compliance” pollution prevention projects that are based on good science and provide significant environmental benefits. The following report summarizes environmental data through 2004 from MPPA companies: Domtar Industries Inc.; Fraser Papers Inc.; Georgia-Pacific Corporation; International Paper; Katahdin Paper Madison Paper Industries; Sappi Fine Paper North America; Wausau-Mosinee Paper Corporation.

Air Emissions

MPPA member mills continue to invest in new air pollution control technology, process improvement measures and energy efficiency projects to reduce air emissions. Criteria air pollutants (carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, sulfur oxides, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter) have decreased by over 30% from 1993 to 2004. This represents a decline in emissions per ton of product generated from 23 pounds per ton of production (market pulp/paper) to 16 pounds per ton. Hazardous air pollutant emissions have shown a similar trend declining by approximately 38% over the same time period. This emission rate now represents approximately 1 pound per ton of product generated.

Concerns over emissions of certain green-house gases such as carbon dioxide and methane are increasingly becoming an issue for Maine citizens. In 2003 the Maine Legislature approved a climate change law that establishes reduction goals for green-house gases and Maine has been participating with other northeast states in developing a regional cap-and-trade program to reduce green-house gases. As a result of energy efficiency improvements and increased use of “carbon-neutral” biomass fuels, Maine’s pulp and paper sector has reduced green-house gas emissions by 30% from 1990 levels, significantly exceeding the State’s year 2020 reduction goal of 10%.

Wastewater Discharges

Process improvements and new control technologies in mill treatment plants have resulted in significant decreases in discharges to Maine’s rivers. Biological oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS) contaminants in process wastewaters have declined by approximately 47% since 1993. Investments in ECF bleaching technology at MPPA member Kraft mills have virtually eliminated the formation of dioxins in bleach plant effluent and significantly decreased the amount of contaminants that affect wastewater color. The total amount of pollutants (BOD, TSS, Color, Toxics) discharged per ton of product generated has decreased by 35% between 1993 and 2004.

Waste Landfilled

Most MPPA member companies own and operate their own landfills, which are primarily used for disposal of manufacturing residues from wastewater treatment processes and fuel combustion residuals . While market conditions and regulatory activities can influence how solid waste from the mills is managed each year, member companies have continually reduced the amount of solid waste that is disposed in landfills. From 1993 –2004, the amount of solid waste disposed has been reduced by 26% . Much of the solid waste reduction progress is attributable to process changes that prevent the solid waste from being generated in the first place, finding ways to utilize wood waste to generate steam and electricity, and pulp production from recycled paper. The amount of solid waste that is beneficially reused has increased from 375 pounds per ton of production in 1993 to 417 pounds per ton in 2004.

Hazardous Waste

The production of high quality pulp and paper uses raw materials and generates wastes some of which are classified by the state and federal government as hazardous. The amount of hazardous waste generated each year can be highly variable; chemical or oil spills are unpredictable, and such accidental releases could impact generation rates in any given year. Hazardous waste generation rates peaked at a high of 1 million pounds in 1997 to a low of 155,000 pounds in 2001. The amount of hazardous waste generated per ton of production has remained approximately the same (0.03 pounds) over the last 3 years.