Pollution prevention advances in pulp and paper processing

Data collected from a large number of pulp and paper mills across the US. s how, that although there has been a significant increase in pulp production during the last 20-25 years, discharges to the environment have gone down. Over this period total reduced sulfur (TRS) emissions have been reduced by 85%, SO2 emissions have gone down by over 40%, effluent flow, has decrease d by over 30%. and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended soli ds (TSS) have decreased by 75% and 45%, respectively. Paper recovery has in creased from 20% to 50%. The recently, promulgated Cluster Rule, which link s, air and water standards, will further reduce environmental releases of h azardous pollutants and chlorinated organics. Neu, and emerging technologie s, such cis enzyme bleaching, black liquor gasification, cogeneration, prod uction of ethanol from wastewater treatment plant, sludges, and beneficial use-including land application-of solids residuals are expected to further reduce emissions.