Pulp and paper dyes: release guidelines overview

The guidelines for the reduction of dyes released from pulp and paper mills have been in effect since November 30, 2013 and were amended in 2024 to include additional triarylmethane dyes.

Objective

The release guidelines recommend best practices and standards to reduce the release of dyes in the final effluent from pulp and paper mills.

Target audience

The release guidelines apply to pulp and paper mills using at least one of the dyes listed in Appendix 1 of the release guidelines.

Adopting the release guidelines

If the release guidelines apply to your mill, you are encouraged to:

• meet the standards outlined in Appendix 1 of the release guidelines
• prepare and implement a containment plan to control and prevent the release of dyes in the mill’s final effluent
• inform the Minister of the environment of your intention to implement the release guidelines by submitting the declaration of the operator
• evaluate and keep record of your conformity with the release guidelines and submit annual reports containing the monitoring results if required

Reporting

If the release guidelines apply to your mill, you are encouraged to:

• submit the declaration of the operator no later than 6 months after the final publication of the 2024 amended Guidelines or six months after the initial dye use for Malachite Green, Basic Violet 3, Basic Violet 4 and Basic Blue 7; and/or
• submit the declaration of the operator six months after the initial dye use for MAPBAP acetate
• submit subsequent annual reports by November 1 every year for the previous calendar year (January 1 to December 31) only if the
  • standards outlined in the release guidelines are not met; and/or
  • dyes that apply to the release guidelines were released incidentally  into the environment or to an effluent treatment system as a result of the storage, handling or disposal of dye for that calendar year
• notify, in writing, if you permanently cease to use any of the dyes listed in appendix 1 of the release guidelines

You should send your declaration of the operator, annual reports and any other communications by email to guidelines-dyes-pp.directives-colorants-pp@ec.gc.ca.

Read the release guidelines

Guidelines for reduction of dyes released from pulp and paper mills

Performance results to date

As of 2016, there were 3 pulp and paper mills that use dyes containing methylium, [4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]bis[4-(ethylamino)-3-methylphenyl]-, acetate (MAPBAP) and all of these mills are meeting the objective of the release guidelines; there are now 2 mills since one has closed.

Related information

• Code of practice for the management of air emissions from pulp and paper facilities
• Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations
• Chemicals Management Plan

Contact us

Forest Products and Fisheries Act Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada
351 St-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau QC  K1A 0H3

Email: guidelines-dyes-pp.directives-colorants-pp@ec.gc.ca