HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 17/9
This Recommendation supersedes HELCOM Recommendation 11/3
Adopted 13 March 1996 having regard to Article 13, Paragraph b) of the Helsinki ConventionREDUCTION OF DISCHARGES FROM THE SULPHITE PULP INDUSTRY
THE COMMISSION,
RECALLING that according to Article 6 of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea, 1974 (Helsinki Convention) the Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to control and strictly limit pollution by noxious substances, and nutrients,
RECALLING ALSO that Annex II of the Helsinki Convention defines lignin substances contained in industrial waste waters as noxious substances to be controlled to minimize land-based pollution of the marine environment,
HAVING REGARD to the Ministerial Declaration of 1988 and to the Baltic Sea Declaration of 1990, calling, inter alia, for a substantive reduction of the load of pollutants most harmful to the ecosystem of the Baltic Sea,
RECOGNIZING that the sulphite pulp mills are responsible for an important part of the discharges from the pulp and paper industry into the Baltic Sea,
RECOGNIZING the importance of limiting discharges into the Baltic Sea from production of sulphite pulp by application of best available technology as defined in HELCOM Recommendation 12/3,
BEING AWARE that what is "best available technology" for a particular process will change with time in the light of technological advances, economic and social factors, as well as changes in scientific knowledge and understanding,
DESIRING to limit discharges from the sulphite pulp industry,
DESIRING ALSO more information about the discharges from the sulphite pulp industry,
RECOGNIZING the importance of reducing discharges from sulphite pulp mills by developing
a) process water systems with a high degree of recirculation;
b) more efficient treatment techniques of waste water, including sludge minimization and treatment,
RECOMMENDS that the Governments of the Contracting Parties take measures according to BAT (see Attachment 1) to reduce discharges from the sulphite pulp industry,
so that the following annual average discharge limit values*) in kg per tonne of Air Dry Pulp (kg/t ADP) produced are not exceeded from 1 January 2000 (for countries in transition from 1 January 2005) for any mill which has started to operate before 1 January 1997,
COD AOX Tot-P Tot-N
Bleached Pulp 70 0.5 0.08 0.7
Unbleached Pulp 45 - 0.06 0.6
and also so that the following annual average discharge limit values in kg per tonne of Air Dry Pulp (kg/t ADP) produced are not exceeded by any mill starting to operate or considerably increasing its capacity (by more than 50%) after 1 January 1997,
COD AOX Tot-P Tot-N
Bleached Pulp 35 0.1 0.04 0.4
Unbleached Pulp 20 - 0.03 0.3
RECOMMENDS ALSO that molecular chlorine is not used in the bleaching of sulphite pulp after 1 January 1997,
RECOMMENDS FURTHER that, as a first step, limit values regarding nitrogen should apply to sulphite pulp mills located at the coast,
RECOMMENDS FURTHER that the Contracting Parties should report to the Commission every three years starting in 2000,
DECIDES that according to the development of BAT and the use of non-biodegradable chelating agents, this Recommendation should be reconsidered in 1998.
Footnote:
*) For methods of effluent analysis, see Attachment 2
Attachment 1
BEST AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE SULPHITE PULP INDUSTRY, 1995
The Contracting Parties have stressed the importance of limiting discharges into the Baltic Sea from production of sulphite pulp by application of Best Available Technology. Best Available Technology for the sulphite pulp industry include the following or equally effective measures as important examples:
1. Dry debarking with minor waste water discharges;
2. Closed screening;
3. Neutralising of weak liquor before evaporation followed by re-use of the main part of condensates in the process;
4. Systems which enable the recovery of almost all organic substances dissolved in the cook (a total U-value**) of about 98% is achievable);
5. No discharge from the bleach plant when the sodium based processes are being used;
6. At least secondary treatment for waste water discharges;
7. Partial closure of the bleach plant when another process than sodium based is used;
8. Use of environmentally sound chemicals in the process, for example use of biodegradable chelating agents wherever possible.
Footnote:
**) U-value is the proportion of organic substances dissolved in the cook and thereafter recovered and burned in the recovery boiler
Attachment 2
METHODS OF EFFLUENT ANALYSIS
For the analysis the following methods or methods giving equivalent results should be used:
AOX SCAN-W 9:89 or DIN 38 409, part 14
COD Potassium Dichromate Oxidation
(e.g. ISO 6060, second edition)
Tot-P Determination using sulphuric acid and potassium peroxo-disulphate
(e.g. SS 02 81 02 or SFS 3026)
Tot-N Determination using the Kjeldahl method after reduction with Devarda's alloy
(e.g. ISO/DIS 10048, SS 02 81 01).
All analyses should be made on unsettled, unfiltered samples.
REPORTING FORMAT FOR HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 17/9 CONCERNING REDUCTION OF DISCHARGES FROM THE SULPHITE PULP INDUSTRY
Country: Year:
For each sulphite pulp mill:
1) Name, location and type of production (for example bleached, unbleached) in tonnes/year;
2) Waste water treatment system applied;
3) Annual mean discharges in kg/tonne of ADP for COD, AOX, Tot-P and Tot-N;
4) Annual use of chelating agents in tonnes per year.