ByMichael A. VerespejAt A Glance
- A 71% reduction in solid waste from 1993 levels.
- Documented savings of $8.1 million from improvements that teams and individuals made from 1992 through 1995.
- Energy costs lowest in the mill's history, even though the mill's production is 362% higher than when it opened.
- More than 70% of recycled-fiber rejects recovered and burned as boiler fuel at a cost avoidance of $234,000.
- New washing system for slaker grits recovers 75% of the chemicals, saving $1.07 million a year.
- Some 86% of boiler ash converted for use as a construction material, saving $1.28 million a year.
- On-time delivery up from 62% in 1991 to 91.2% in 1995.
- A 71% reduction in solid waste just from 1993 levels.
- Documented savings of $8.1 million from improvements made by teams and individuals from 1992 through 1995. The mill energy team saved $721,000; the scrap-reduction team, $530,000; the water-conservation team, $562,000; the paper-machine-area team, $560,000; and the recycle-fiber-quality team, $378,000.
- Energy costs that are the lowest in the mill's history, even though production is 362% higher than when it opened; the mill also generates 55% of its own energy needs and provides half of its lumber needs from the 200,000 million trees it manages on nearly a half-million acres.
- More than 70% of recycled-fiber rejects are now recovered and burned as boiler fuel at a cost avoidance of $234,000.
- A new washing system for slaker grits recovers 75% of the chemicals used, for a cost avoidance of $1.07 million.
- Some 86% of boiler ash is converted for use as a construction material, eliminating annual landfill costs of $1.28 million.
- Scrap wood, such as pallets, is now used as boiler fuel, avoiding disposal costs of $3,000 annually.
- More than 90% of office waste paper is processed at the Counce mill recycling plant at an annual savings of $63,000.
- All aluminum cans -- about 100 tons each year -- are recycled and sold, with the proceeds turned over to area hospital burn units.