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Eight Years of Progress Three key concepts characterize the Pollution Prevention Partnership. First, it is a voluntary program involving 25 paper companies. Second, it is a cooperative program between the companies and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. And third, it is beyond compliance with state and federal regulations. The purpose of P3 is to reduce or eliminate potentially unwanted byproducts of the paper industry's manufacturing processes. The program is all encompassing as it includes air emissions, wastewater discharges, solid and hazardous wastes. It also includes a unique feature - voluntary reduction goals for seven "target" substances. The substances - agreed to by the DNR and the paper industry - are chlorine, chloroform, formaldehyde, hydrogen sulfide, methanol, phosphorus and xylene. Latest data compiled under P3 reveals an impressive record of accomplishment and continuous environmental improvement. Let's look first at data covering all process-related releases during the period 1992 through 2000... In baseline year 1992, the paper industry's combined process-related air emissions and wastewater discharges totaled 102,075,403 pounds. In 2000, releases totaled 41,975,896 pounds - a drop of 60,099,507 pounds - or 59 percent in just eight years. During that same period, production increased almost 1,099,000 tons, or almost 13 percent. Calculated on a per ton of production basis, the paper industry's process-related releases to the environment declined from 11.67 pounds per ton of production in 1992 to 4.27 pounds in 2000. This is a decrease of 7.4 pounds or 63.4 percent. Let's look next at the target substances... Goals for four substances - chlorine, chloroform, formaldehyde and hydrogen sulfide - have been met. Significant reductions were also posted for methanol and xylene. Here are the numbers for each target substance....
Phosphorus releases increased slightly, 4,809 pounds. It is important to note that this substance is a necessary ingredient that must be added for the efficient operation of wastewater treatment plants. Also, during the past several years, all of the major dischargers of phosphorus conducted minimization studies to enhance performance while maintaining efficient wastewater treatment. Significant reductions in the amount of waste that is landfilled have also been realized. The amount of waste material, i.e. bio-solids, ash, wood waste that is landfilled declined from 1,915,785 tons in 1992 to 921,994 tons in 2000, a 52 percent improvement. The WPC EMS, The Next Generation Demonstrating their commitment to continuous environmental improvement, state papermakers rolled out another innovative program three years ago, the Wisconsin Paper Council Environmental Management System (WPC EMS). Early in 1999, the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Paper Council unanimously adopted a framework for the WPC EMS. Since then, a task force has developed a Guidance Manual and conducted an implementation workshop. Like P3, the WPC EMS is a voluntary program...it is beyond compliance. The goal is to have all paper companies implement the program within three years, or the summer of 2002. The WPC EMS is based on and designed to meet the intent of the international standard, ISO 14001. It represents the next generation in environmental stewardship by Wisconsin papermakers and it is a natural extension of P3. The WPC EMS is a "management system," a disciplined approach, a structured framework to achieve environmental goals and objectives. It is tailored to meet the diverse needs of the state's pulp and paper industry. The WPC EMS starts with a strong commitment by top management to environmental responsibility. It includes clearly defined, measurable policies, goals and objectives. It establishes procedures, responsibilities and controls to ensure that the goals and objectives become reality. The WPC EMS also calls for documentation of these efforts. In addition, the WPC EMS requires planned, periodic audits to ensure that the system is functioning properly. It requires top management review and appropriate corrective actions, if necessary. The WPC EMS is a company-wide program involving all employees at all levels of the operation. Employee training and effective communication are essential. In essence, the WPC EMS requires a facility to analyze its entire operations to determine which aspects could adversely impact the environment, to prioritize these concerns, and to set goals to eliminate or minimize the impact, where appropriate. The WPC EMS is a continuous process. Some companies will use the WPC EMS as a prelude to ISO 14001 certification. Some companies will use it to meet the intent of ISO 14001; and other companies will use it as a tool to enhance an existing management system. The paper industry believes there are numerous benefits to be derived from the WPC EMS including improved pollution prevention, waste reduction, environmental and financial performance, and an enhanced industry image. Papermakers believe the WPC EMS, just like P3, is the right thing to do, and now is the time to do it. The Pollution Prevention Partnership, the Green Guarantee, and now the WPC EMS...all three programs are voluntary, beyond compliance and a commitment to continuous environmental improvement. All three programs are proof that voluntary, cooperative programs can and do work...proof that a sound economy and a clean environment can and do go hand-in-hand. All three programs represent a new and better way to do business. It's the next generation in environmental management. Click on a link below to explore more about the Pollution Prevention Partnership (P3)!
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