Guidelines for the reduction of dyes released from pulp and paper mills

 

Environment Canada

July 2012

 

Foreword

1.   In developing the annexed Guidelines, representatives of the federal and provincial governments, environmental non-government organizations and industry were consulted regarding control strategies for reducing the levels of MAPBAP acetate released from pulp and paper mills.

2.   The Minister of the Environment recommends that the appropriate regulatory agency adopt the annexed Guidelines as baseline standards for the levels of dyes released from pulp and paper mills. However, local conditions, such as density of industrial development, topography and other environmental considerations, may necessitate the adoption of more stringent requirements than those suggested in these Guidelines. Ongoing advances in reduction strategies and in technology should also be taken into account.

Definitions

3.   The following definitions apply in these Guidelines:

“MAPBAP acetate”:
means a cationic dye (basic) with the chemical name Methylium, [4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]bis[4-(ethylamino)-3-methylphenyl]- (MAPBAP acetate), Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number 72102-55-7.

“Mill”:
means a plant that produces pulp, paper, paperboard, hardboard, insulating or building board [1].

“Operator”:
means a person who operates, has control or custody of or is in charge of a mill [2].

“Paper product”:
means paper, coated paper, paperboard, hardboard, boxboard, linerboard, insulating board, building board, corrugating medium, tissue, moulded cellulose product and any other product directly derived from pulp [2].

“Primary treatment”:
means the settlement tanks that partly remove solid and organic material from a pulp and paper mill wastewater and produce outputs in the form of primary sludge and scum.

“Pulp”:
means processed cellulose fibres that are derived from wood, other plant material or recycled paper products [2]

 “Retention”:
means the percentage (%) by mass of the MAPBAP acetate bonded to pulp or paper products.

Scope

4.   These Guidelines apply to the operator of a pulp and paper mill that uses one or more of the dyes listed in Appendix 1. They lay out certain limits that should not be exceeded and good practices to observe in order to limit dye quantities released in the final effluent.

5.   The limits and good practices presented in these Guidelines may be respected using existing industry methods and technologies.

Performance guidelines

6.   The retention of dyes used in the pulp and paper process and that are subject to these Guidelines should respect the limits specified in Appendix 1.

7.   The removal of solids in the primary wastewater treatment, which allows for dye removal by adsorption, should respect the limits specified in Appendix 1.

8.   A containment plan should be in place to prevent the release of dyes into the environment or the sewer system during dye storage (for example, fixed supply tank, tote, drum or any other container), handling and disposal.

8.1.  A secondary containment[3] should be configured with capacity equal to or greater than:

  • 110% of the capacity of the tank if there is only one tank; or
  • 100% of the capacity of the largest tank plus 10% of the aggregate capacity of all other tanks.


8.2.  During the purge of dye from the equipment, piping or tank containing dyes, operational measures for its collection or recirculation should be in place to prevent dye releases to water.

Declaration

9.  The operator of a mill that is subject to these Guidelines should indicate in writing to the Minister of the Environment (no later than six months after final publication of the Guidelines or six months after starting to use a dye) its intention to implement the Guidelines. The Minister of the Environment should be notified in writing if the mill permanently ceases to use the dye.

Monitoring

10.  The operator of a mill that is subject to these Guidelines should, at least once a year, verify that activities are carried out in compliance with the limits specified in Appendix 1 and record the quantity of the dye released to the environment or to a sewer system during its storage, handling or disposal.

Report

11.  The operator of a mill that is subject to the Guidelines should provide a report to the Minister of the Environment that includes the following:

  • The name and address of the mill.
  • The technical contact person, telephone and fax numbers, and email address.
  • The quantity of the dye subject to these Guidelines purchased or used during the previous calendar year.
  • Results of the tests referred to in the Monitoring section, the date of testing, and the method for determining dye retention, if different from those proposed in Appendix 3.
  • The quantity of the dye subject to these Guidelines released to the environment or to a sewer system as a result of its storage, handling or disposal.

The operator should provide the first report to the Minister of the Environment three years after the final publication of these Guidelines. An annual report would subsequently only be sent if the limits of Appendix 1 were not respected or if at least one of the dyes subject to these Guidelines were released to the environment or to a sewer system as a result of storage, handling or disposal.

Record keeping

12.  The operator of a mill that is subject to these Guidelines should retain all relevant records for at least five years beginning on the date of their creation and make them available to the Minister of the Environment upon request.

[1] Pulp and Paper Mill Defoamer and Wood Chip Regulations

[2] Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations

[3] Guidelines for Secondary Containment for Above Ground Storage Tanks, Industrial Waste and Wastewater Branch, Alberta Environmental Protection, May 16, 1997

Page details

Date modified: