Sappi addresses issues

The meeting was held in the training centre of Sappi Enstra Mill.

The purpose of the meeting is to update stakeholders on environmental issues at the mill and to engage stakeholders on any input they may have.

The committee focuses on waste and waste areas.

The many functions of the committee include:

•  monitoring the management of the landfill site.
•  Reviewing audit results.
•  Conducting site visits.
• Conducting workshops for reporting back to the community.
• Delegating investigations.
•  Receiving information on issues such as environmental impacts.

Among the topics discussed by committee chairman, Dave Smith, were waste regarding the landfill site, the lime dams site and the permitting of satellite waste sites.

Air quality was also discussed.

According to Smith, the air emissions licence has been withdrawn and they no longer operate controlled emitters.

Smaller boiler regulations have been promulgated and, according to Smith, limits have been set.

In connection with water wastage, Sappi is not compliant with some of the conditions and they have been requested to submit amendment documents.

Results of an audit done on water quality show that the water quality was erratic due to data errors.

There has also been an improvement in the ground water quality around the landfill.

The results of the lime dams downstream have deteriorated and Smith says that the solution is to remove the source of the pollution, which is being done.

In regard to the landfill, there has been a reduction of waste to the landfill site.

Waste can be removed from the site and fibre volumes have been changed from daily figures to monthly figures as the results were too erratic.

The water quality monitoring has declined due to a borehole being damaged between January and July of last year.

Findings from an audit that was conducted showed that re-training on the operation plan needs to be conducted, and sloping and capping of side slopes was not completed.

According to Smith, these issues will be rectified.

Smith stressed that the reporting being done is based on the new licence conditions.

He also said that Sappi received a deadline for when the lime dams would be removed and that should be in December of this year.