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February 29, 2000
(Foreset Resources and Agrifoods)


De-inking/recycling waste paper

Kevin Aylward, provincial Minister of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, is pleased to announce a call for proposals to study the feasibility of establishing a waste paper de-inking plant in the province. The study, funded under the Canada/Newfoundland Agreement on Economic Renewal, will look at all aspects of de-inking from waste paper sourcing and transportation to manufacturing and marketing.

Mr. Aylward said: "The technology employed in de-inking has proven successful in many parts of the world. In Canada alone, there are four stand alone plants producing pulp for sale on the open market as well as a number of others with production dedicated to a specific paper mill. This flexibility to produce a product roughly equivalent to hardwood kraft pulp and to sell either on the open market or into our local industry is a very positive feature.

"The province�s interest in such a facility is two-fold. One obvious attraction is the environmental aspect of recycling waste paper, but collected local waste paper would only form a fraction of the feedstock for such a facility. Secondly, potential development will assist in reducing the demand on virgin forest fibre which is currently outstripping the sustainable supply on the island portion of the province."

Corner Brook Pulp and Paper currently uses small amounts of recycled paper, however, the type of waste paper and amounts are severely restricted because of the lack of de-inking. A de-inking facility would allow for the use of a much broader range of waste papers including difficult recycling papers such as the clay filled and coloured magazine grades.

"This means a much expanded base from which to draw supplies of waste paper. Much of the potential supply is located throughout the world," said the minister. "Since this province has ocean going trade in newsprint with nearly 50 countries, there would appear to be some opportunity for development of efficiencies in transportation."

Aside from the environmentally positive aspect of recycling waste paper, the process itself has relatively little environmental impact. This results from the fact that many of the dyes and inks used in the modern printing industry are based from non-toxic vegetable based sources.

Once the proposals are received a committee will review them based on a number of criteria including company expertise and experience as well as proposed study costs.

Media contact: Cynthia Layden-Barron, (709) 729-6183, Robert Bates, (709) 729-6183, Forest Resources and Agrifoods, or Ellen Alcock, Economic Renewal Agreement, (709) 772-5116.

2000 03 01                                                 12:20 p.m.


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