Corner Brook -
A new research project will help determine whether ash produced through burning by Corner Brook Pulp and Paper can be reused for agricultural, horticultural and forestry applications.
Funding through the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board, $10,000, was announced by the project partners in Corner Brook Wednesday.
The provincial funding is provided through the Solid Waste Management Innovation Program.
The College of the North Atlantic will work in partnership with Hi-Point Industries' compost and soil blending facility, located just outside the city. Together they will research the use of fly ash and bottom ash as an ingredient in potential new product lines.
The material may be useful as a component of existing compost-based product lines.
According to a press release issued through the Department of Environment and Conservation, preliminary research indicates ash may be used as a source of activated carbon.
Activated carbon can be added to compost, used as a soil amendment, or applied directly as a forest fertilizer.
Essentially, it is looking at the potential of turning waste into a useful product.
Environment and Conservation Minister Charlene Johnson said waste reduction is a critical component of the waste management strategy.
"This fund is all about trying to find ways to displace or keep waste out of landfills," she said during the announcement at Captain Cook's Lookout.
"The less waste going to landfills, the better it is for the environment and certainly the better it is for people's pocket books.
"Certainly when you can take a product and reuse it in a way such as we are studying here, there is tremendous potential benefits."
The minister said the heavy metal/nutritional component of the ash will be examined.
She said currently limestone is trucked in, so there is a potential to displace that importing.
"It can have applications throughout the province and beyond, so we are really looking forward to see what comes out of this," she said.
Corner Brook Pulp and Paper currently sends an estimated 10,000 tonnes of fly and bottom ash each and every year.
Patrick Corriveau, the mill's general manager, refused comment following the announcement Wednesday.
Leigh Puddester is the the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board chair and chief executive officer. He said potential business opportunities will increase as the Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy advances.
This could benefit a lot of companies, he said. He encourages other organizations and businesses to explore prospective opportunities that produce new or improved products, processes or technologies made from solid waste.
