KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Domtar Paper Company, LLC (“Domtar”) is pleased to announce final management approval for the installation of an anaerobic digester treatment system at its Kingsport Packaging Mill. This initiative is a long-term solution to better manage and efficiently treat wastewater while significantly reducing potential odors from the facility.
“Receiving the final approval from senior leadership is a major milestone for us and, more importantly, for our community,” said Troy Wilson, manager of the Kingsport Mill. “We are committed to being responsible corporate neighbors.”
The company plans to begin construction of the new wastewater treatment system later this year, pending receipt of the required permits.
In December 2024, the company secured $60 million in tax exempt municipal bonds from the state of Tennessee to fund a significant portion of the project.
“This new wastewater treatment system was a complex design effort that is using the best available technology for the mill’s wastewater characteristics and site layouts,” said Steve Henry, president of paper and packaging. “We are confident this investment will provide long-term, sustainability benefits to the mill, community and our customers by lowering our environmental footprint and enhancing our reputation in the Kingsport community.”
After announcing the plan to develop a long-term odor mitigation solution in July 2024, Domtar officials and engineers expedited the company’s three-stage capital project approval process to accelerate the installation and completion of the project. At the same time, the mill also implemented short-term odor mitigation efforts at its current wastewater treatment system including the use of chemical oxidants to treat wastewater, the installation of a mobile water clarifier and dredging the lagoon to remove settled solids.
In 2020, Domtar announced plans to repurpose the Kingsport Mill to enter the containerboard market. The mill resumed operations in January 2023; it currently has 225 employees and is home to the second-largest recycled containerboard machine in North America. It is also the largest recycler of old corrugated containers in the state of Tennessee and can produce approximately 600,000 tons of high-quality recycled linerboard and corrugated medium annually.