On site waste reduction

The process of washing wood chips generates a large amount of waste water, and the cleaner this is before it leaves NPIL for the Bells Island regional sewage treatment plant, the less we pay.

A new Swedish-designed unit mixes measured doses of long chain polymers into the wastewater, to gather up and coagulate particles in the water for removal. The new system is proving very effective with better water clarity and a significant reduction in the solids going to the regional treatment plant.

The wood fibre, resin, starches and sugars from the chip wash plus any sawdust and sand are gathered up by the polymer and de-watered, with the resulting material able to be burnt in the furnace.

Environmental engineer Phil Wilson and summer engineering student Kit Clinton-Baker with the Swedish Tomal mixing unit.