KEY ISSUES: SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT
Air emissions and waste
Dioxins and furans
The Australian Government established the National Dioxins Program in 2001 to improve knowledge about dioxins in Australia. The term ‘dioxins’ describes a group of toxic organic chemicals that remain in the environment for a long time.
These compounds can accumulate in the body fat of animals and humans and tend to remain unchanged for long periods. Several hundred of these compounds exist and are members of three closely related families: the polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), the polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs or furans) and certain co-planar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
The National Dioxins Program (NDP) has focused on the 29 most toxic of these compounds, which are recognised internationally as being harmful to humans and animals. Using the findings of the National Dioxin Program studies on emissions from bushfires and motor vehicles, as well as publicly available data on emissions from industries, a new inventory was prepared in 2002. This included dioxin emissions to air, water and land, based on guidelines developed by the United Nations Environment Program. The paper and pulp sector make up a very small percentage of overall emissions.
Uncontrolled combustion, which includes bushfires, waste burning and accidental fires, is estimated to contribute nearly 65 per cent of total emissions to air and more than 80 per cent of total emissions to land, with most being emitted from grass fires. Disposal and landfilling is estimated to be the largest source of dioxin emissions to water, contributing more than 75 per cent of total emissions. The results of the inventory are presented in Figure 6. Pulp and paper sector emissions are within the Production of chemicals and consumer goods category.
NOx discharge
The oxides of nitrogen (NO2, NO, N2O) are formed by direct combination of oxygen and nitrogen in processes such as the operation of internal combustion engines and thermal power generating plants. In the lower atmosphere, oxides of nitrogen play a major role in photochemical smog in a complex set of reactions that lead to the formation of a variety of nitrated organic compounds (from volatile organic matter) and excessive levels of ozone. NOx discharge from the paper industry in 2003–04 equates to 1.02 kg per tonne of production.
Solid waste
The papermaking process generates some solid waste products, including sludge, reject fibres, ash, bark, salt cake, slag and grits. The industry is making significant efforts to minimise the amount of waste material generated and to identify beneficial uses as an alternative to disposal. A substantial amount of this material is suitable for biomass fuel, composting to produce soil conditioning products for agriculture, landscaping and gardens. Bark is widely used as a boiler fuel.
In 2003–04 the paper industry generated some 752,000 tonnes of waste or 240 kg per tonne of production. Of this, nearly half, or 343,000 tonnes, was reused, recycled or reprocessed.
Approximately 408,000 tonnes were disposed of to landfill. It is notable that the volume of waste disposed of to landfill is significantly less than the volume of paper which is recovered from the waste stream by the paper industry (2.1 million tonnes).
Further opportunities exist to reduce waste to landfill through increasing recycling rates. For instance, the recycling content in printing and writing papers in Australia is low at present. A cooperative effort of government and industry could overcome market barriers to the production of high quality recycled office paper in Australia in larger quantities. There is also significant potential to increase the amount of timber products recycled in Australia.
A research report released in 2006 has disclosed that several states are planning to place greater responsibilities on manufacturers to reduce landfill waste. The report by Ensis, CSIRO Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology and CSIRO Minerals was commissioned by the Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation. It concludes that mulch and landscaping material, wood composite panel manufacture and energy and heat production are currently the most viable options for end-of life disposal and recycling of timber products and wood waste. Heat and energy production is currently one of the most under-utilised markets for wood waste in Australia.
Supporting strategies
A3P's Sustainability Action Plan commits members to:
- Continuous reduction in dioxin emissions from pulp and paper manufacturing.
- Dioxin emissions to be within the capacity of the receiving environment and small in comparison
to total dioxin levels. - 20 per cent reduction in emissions of NOx per tonne of production by 2015 (from 2006 levels).
- 30 per cent reduction in waste generated per tonne of product by 2015 (from 2006 levels).
- Paper recycling recovery rate of 60 per cent by 2015.
Timber Information
Free technical information on the source, selection, properties and other atributes of plantation timber based products available for use in building and construction applications.