Environmental management during cartonboard manufacture
Environmental Management
The site at Petrie is bounded by Gympie Road, Dohles Rocks Road and the North Pine River, an area totalling 237 hectares which provides a natural buffer zone between the mill operations and the local community. Amcor Cartonboard is aware that Petrie's position in the shire also brings responsibilities and commitment to the community. In front of the building complex Petrie has erected a sports area, provided for mill employees, staff and the local community.Amcor is committed to managing all aspects of their operations in an environmentally responsible manner. To ensure environmental responsible behaviour, Amcor strives to achieve continual improvement of environmental performance in the company's activities, through economically viable best practice. All operations are conducted in compliance with relevant local environmental regulations, licences and legislation.
Environmental Management System
Petrie Mill operates in such a way to minimise its effect on the receiving environment. Petrie uses ISO14001, a widely recognised international standard, as a guide for providing the Mill with a systematic and documented methodology to address environmental issues.
Waste Reduction
At Petrie over 120,000 tonnes of waste paper and cardboard is recycled and converted into new cartonboard products annually. This reduces the amount of waste entering landfill and reduces the demand on forest harvesting for fibre production. As well as general waste reduction, Petrie Mill is committed to reducing its own impact of production on the receiving environment.The Mill continually investigates source reduction of waste, internal recycling and product modifications. For example, an internal quality team has implemented process changes that reduce the amount of waste coating entering the waste water system.
Water
The paper making process uses vast amounts of water. The water within the Mill is reused, regenerated and recycled throughout the Mill for optimum use. Each day up to four Mega Litres (ML) of fresh water enters the Mill and is combined with 17 ML that has already been recycled through the Mill's processes. Water remains on site for up to six weeks before finally passing through an extensive water treatment system prior to entering the North Pine River.The treatment system consists of a series of aeration and settling ponds and a constructed wetland where final polishing of the water occurs. The calm and shallow artificial wetlands trap any remaining sediment and help purify polluted water through sunlight and absorption of nutrients and other pollutants by aquatic plants.
Air
Coal burnt at the power house produces emissions to the atmosphere such as nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides and particulates. The Mill is committed to process changes that minimise the level of these emissions.