THE REJECTS SITUATION IN THE PULP AND PAPER MANUFACTURING-INDUSTRY OF GERMANY

From 1990 on, the Federal Ministry for research and technology has worked on a project determining the basic data covering the rejects situation applying to the whole of the German paper producing and processing industry. Questions were put to 337 paper producers (including 11 pulp producers) concerning the residues and rejects of bark, screen rejects, sludges, incineration residues and all other types of rejects and their use and removal (dumping, incineration, composting, agricultural uses, brick-making and special garbage removal). Up to the start of 1992 answers had been received from 139 concerns (117 West, 22 East); this corresponds to 88% of the total production in Western Germany (11.873 Mt during 1990) and about 50% of the total product in the East. These data include 87.1% of the pulp production. The data were classified according to their particular type of production and rejects, and this showed which means were normally used in 1990 to remove or make use of the rejects. It is then discussed which possibilities exist to utilize the rejects for heat production or in other ways. In conclusion cost figures are quoted and development trends - from the point of view of the producers -, are also mentioned.