The pulp and paper industry includes the manufacturing of paper pulp, printing and writing paper, household paper, industrial paper, and cardboard boxes and container boxes. 

Pulp and paper manufacturing release emissions to air from a variety of sources, including combustion sources, kilns, wastewater ponds and furnaces, as well as emissions from process equipment such as evaporators and condensers. Emissions occur at both ground level and at various heights above the site.

Mills generate a range of emissions during the pulping and bleaching processes, and in power generation. Common emissions to air would include particulate matter, sulfur oxides, volatile organic compounds, and oxides of nitrogen. Reportable substances at a mill would vary depending on the actual manufacturing process used but some odorous compounds associated with the kraft milling process such as reduced sulphur compounds have extremely low odour thresholds. 

We have extensive experience in the plup and paper sector. A key project undertaken was to assess the air quality impact of the proposed Gunns paper mill at Bell Bay, Tasmania. This large-scale project formed the basis of an expert witness statement for Gunns. 

For Gunns, extensive dispersion modelling was performed on emissions of various pollutants including nitrogen, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter. 

The project addressed the following key issues:

• Existing air quality and relevant meteorological conditions
• Capacity of the airshed to assimilate emissions from the mill without breaching air quality standards
• Predicted ground level concentrations of emissions from the mill. 

Modelling the dispersion of emissions from the proposed mill was performed using The Air Pollution Model (TAPM), covering a 12-month period of ambient monitoring data. 

In another key project, we installed our proprietary air quality management system, plumeXpert to improve the capability of site operators to monitor emissions, address complaints and model air quality.