Guidelines for reduction of dyes released from pulp and paper mills 2013: introduction

• Foreword

1. Definitions
2. Scope
3. Performance Guidelines
4. Declaration of the operator
5. Monitoring
6. Report
7. Record Keeping

Foreword

The Minister of the Environment issued the Guidelines for the Reduction of Dyes Released from Pulp and Paper Mills under subsection 54 (1) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 to limit dye quantities released in the final effluent.

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.

1. Definitions

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]-acetate, Chemical Abstracts Service ¹ (CAS) Registry Number 72102-55-7. ( MAPBAP acétate)

“Mill”

means a plant that produces pulp, paper, paperboard, hardboard, insulating or building board. ( fabrique)

“Operator”

means a person who operates, has control or custody of or is in charge of a mill. ( exploitant)

 “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. ( produit de papier)

“Primary treatment”

means the settlement tanks that partly remove solid and organic material from pulp and paper mill wastewater and produce outputs in the form of primary sludge and scum. ( traitement primaire)

“Pulp”

means processed cellulose fibres that are derived from wood, other plant material or recycled paper products. ( pâte)

“Retention”

means the percentage (%) by mass of the MAPBAP acetate bonded to pulp or paper products. ( rétention)

“Secondary containment”

means containment that prevents liquids that leak from a storage tank system from reaching outside the containment area and includes double-walled tanks, piping, liners or impermeable barriers. ( confinement secondaire)

2. Scope

These Guidelines apply to a mill that uses at least one of the dyes listed in Appendix 1. The Guidelines set out standards and good practices to observe in order to limit dye quantities released in the final effluent.

The standards and good practices set out in these Guidelines may be observed using currently available knowledge, methods and technologies from the supplier of these substances as well as from the pulp and paper industry.

3. Performance Guidelines

• 3.1. The retention of dyes used in the pulp and paper process that are subject to these Guidelines should respect the standards set out in Appendix 1.
• 3.2. The removal of solids in the primary wastewater treatment system, which allows for dye removal by adsorption, should respect the standards set out in Appendix 1.
• 3.3. A containment plan should be in place to prevent the release of dyes into the environment or an effluent treatment system during the storage (for example, fixed supply tank, tote, drum or any other container), handling and disposal of dye.
  • 3.3.1. A secondary containment should be configured with a 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;
  • 3.3.2. A method for the collection or recirculation of dye should be in place before the purge of dye from equipment, piping or tank containing dyes in order to prevent the release of dye into water.

4. Declaration of the operator

The operator of a mill that is subject to these Guidelines should inform in writing the Minister of the Environment of the intention to implement the Guidelines no later than six months after the final publication of the Guidelines or six months after the initial dye use. The Minister of the Environment should also be notified, in writing, if the operator permanently ceases to use the dye².

5. Monitoring

The operator of a mill subject to these Guidelines should measure annually whether activities are carried out in conformity with the standards specified in Appendix 1 and should record the quantity of the dye released into the environment or to an effluent treatment system during its storage, handling or disposal.

6. Report

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 civic address of the mill.
• The name, title, telephone and email address of the operator.
• The quantity of dyes subject to these Guidelines 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 that proposed in Appendix 3.
• The quantity of dyes subject to these Guidelines released to the environment or to an effluent treatment system as a result of its storage, handling or disposal during the previous calendar year.

The operator should provide the first report to the Minister of the Environment three years after the final publication of these Guidelines. Subsequently, an annual report would only be sent if the standards 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 an effluent treatment system as a result of the storage, handling or disposal of dye for that calendar year³.

7. Record Keeping

The operator of a mill that is subject to these Guidelines should keep a record of all relevant information and documents including test data for a period of at least five years beginning on the date of their creation. The record should be available to the Minister of the Environment on request.

¹ CAS Registry Number is a Registered Trademark of the American Chemical Society.

² See Appendix 4: Operator Declaration Form on the Implementation of the Guidelines for the Reduction of Dyes Released from Pulp and Paper Mills.

³ See Appendix 5: Conformity Evaluation Form of the Guidelines for the Reduction of Dyes Released from Pulp and Paper Mills.