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NLIS 4
July 7, 2000
(Forest Resources and Agrifoods)


Contract awarded to study de-inking process

George Baker, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and Kevin Aylward, Minister of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, today announced a consultant has been retained to study the feasibility of establishing a multi-million dollar de-inking facility in Newfoundland and Labrador.

SNC-Lavalin, in partnership with the BAE-Newplan Group, has been awarded the contract to complete a study to determine the potential of establishing such an industry in the province. The study, valued at $99,000, is being funded under the Canada-Newfoundland Agreement on Economic Renewal. The federal government will contribute $95,000 towards the initiative, with the province providing the remaining funding. It is expected the study will take about three months to complete.

De-inking is the process of removing printing ink from recovered paper and turning this fibre into pulp. The de-inked pulp may then be used in conjunction with virgin wood pulp as part of the paper making process.

"This study will determine the potential for establishing this industry in Newfoundland and Labrador, and gauge the economic and geographic advantages that exist in the province when it comes to the recycling of newsprint," said Minister Baker. "The positive potential of such a project is certainly worth looking at, in terms of environmental benefits and the creation of several new jobs."

Provincial Forest Resources and Agrifoods minister, Kevin Aylward, also feels the potential establishment of a de-inking facility would be a positive development for the province. "The establishment of a de-inking operation would be in accordance with government�s approach toward sustainable forest management," said Aylward. "A de-inking facility would reduce the demand on fibre source and reduce waste in landfills. In addition, by-products from the de-inking process can be used as soil conditioner or as fuel in the generation of electricity. As well, it could increase markets for the province�s paper mills as it provides access to markets which require recycle content in paper they purchase."

The consultant was chosen from a group of 11 proponents who made submissions in response to a call for proposals issued recently. The final choice of a consultant was made after an open and competitive process which saw officials of the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, the Department of Development and Rural Renewal, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, evaluate all proposals independently, and then arrive at a consensus based on the merits of the information presented.

Media contact:

Cynthia Layden-Barron
Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods
(709) 729-6183
Fax: (709) 729-2076

Doug Burgess,
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(709) 772-2935
Fax: (709) 772-5083

2000 07 07             11: 45 a.m.


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