ScholarWorks at University of Montana

Trends in Process Wastewater Parameters Fifteen Years of Improvements at the Frenchtown Mill

The Missoula Mill of the Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation has been actively pursuing improvements in the pulping and papermaking process for many years. Particularly over the last fifteen years, the mill has made great strides in reducing contaminant loading of the process wastewaters. During this fifteen year period, many small individual improvements have added up to an impressive reduction in Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Color, Nutrients (Nitrogen & Phosphorus). In the future, the Missoula Mill anticipates further reductions in these parameters as the mill pursues compliance with new regulations for the Pulp and Paper Industry, commonly known as the “Cluster Rules”. This presentation demonstrates the successes that the Missoula Mill has achieved in its ongoing efforts to reduce pollution. Many people have been involved in the process that has led to these achievements.