Management of toxic substances: pulp and paper sector

The pulp and paper sector produces a wide range of pulp and paper products by using residual logs and wood chips from sawmills and recycled paper products as their fibre source. The pulp is used on-site and/or shipped off-site to produce paper products such as printing paper, paper boxes or tissue paper.
The pulp and paper manufacturing process uses water, heat and chemicals to break down cellulose from wood fibre transforming it into the different paper products. 
The majority of pulp and paper mills produce heat on-site by using oil, natural gas, wood wastes from the wood yard and other byproducts from the manufacturing process. Some pulp and paper mills utilize wood wastes to generate electricity for on-site use or to feed it back to the electricity grid.    
Wastewater generated from the manufacturing process is treated on or off site by primary, secondary and sometimes tertiary treatment before the effluent is discharged. 

Risk Management Instruments

The pulp and paper industry is subject to the following risk management instruments that has been developed and implemented by Environment Canada

• Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations (PPER)
• Pulp and Paper Mill Defoamer and Wood Chip Regulations
• Pulp and Paper Mill Effluent Chlorinated Dioxins and Furans Regulations
• Environmental Performance Agreement Respecting Bisphenol A in Paper Recycling Mill Effluents
• Guidelines for the Reduction of Dyes Released from Pulp and Paper Mills
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Program
• National Pollutant Release Inventory

Related Links

• Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
• Fisheries Act
• Ozone-Depleting Substances Regulations
• Export and Import of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations
• Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012
• New Substances Notification Regulations
• Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012
• Nonylphenol and Ethoxylates Pollution Prevention Plan (Notice Completed)
• PCB Regulations
• Environmental Emergency Regulations
• Deposit Out of the Normal Course of Events Notification Regulations

Contact

Forest Products and Fisheries Act Division
Environment Canada
Place Vincent Massey
351 St. Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau (Quebec) K1A 0H3
Fax:  819-420-7384
Email : FPFA-PFLP@ec.gc.ca