Paper Mills In Brunswick, Georgia: How Many?

Brunswick, Georgia is home to several paper mills, including the Brunswick Pulp Mill, owned by Georgia-Pacific, and the Brunswick Cellulose paper plant. The Brunswick Pulp Mill is one of the largest producers of absorbent fluff pulp in the world and employs around 600 people. The Brunswick Cellulose paper plant is a heavy user of water, particularly groundwater, which is a valuable resource along the south Georgia coast. In recent years, the plant has reduced its water usage through the implementation of new technology and equipment, decreasing the strain on drinking water supplies in the region.

Georgia-Pacific Corp: owner of the Brunswick Pulp Mill

Georgia-Pacific Corporation, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, owns the Brunswick Pulp Mill in Georgia. The Brunswick Pulp Mill is one of four large cellulose mills owned by Georgia-Pacific, which is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia-Pacific is one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of tissue, pulp, paper, and related chemicals. The company operates in North America, South America, and Europe, with over 35,000 employees across more than 180 locations.

The Brunswick Pulp Mill, specifically, employs 600 people and is one of around a dozen large paper plants operated by Georgia-Pacific. The mill processes 1,000 truckloads of yellow pines into pulp each day, using large amounts of water, especially groundwater, in the process. In recent years, the mill has reduced its water consumption by adopting new technology and equipment, decreasing its daily water usage from 55 million gallons to about 31 million gallons.

Georgia-Pacific was founded by Owen Robertson Cheatham on September 22, 1927, in Augusta, Georgia, as the Georgia Hardwood Lumber Co. The company expanded over the years, adding sawmills and plywood plants and changing its name to Georgia-Pacific Plywood & Lumber Company in 1948. In 1956, the company changed its name again to Georgia-Pacific Corporation, and the following year, it entered the pulp and paper business by building a kraft pulp and linerboard mill in Toledo, Oregon.

Georgia-Pacific continued to expand through a series of acquisitions, including US Plywood in 1987, Great Northern Nekoosa in 1990, and the Fort James Corporation in 2000. The company has a diverse range of brands, including Angel Soft, Quilted Northern, Brawny, and Dixie, among others. In addition to its paper and pulp business, Georgia-Pacific is also involved in the manufacturing and distribution of building products, packaging, and related chemicals.

Water usage: the mill's water usage has reduced from 55 million gallons per day to 31 million

The Georgia-Pacific Brunswick Cellulose paper plant in Brunswick, Georgia, is a heavy user of water, especially groundwater, which is a valuable resource along the south Georgia coast. The mill uses water to process into pulp the 1,000 truckloads of yellow pines it receives each day. The mill reduces the logs to chips and uses the water to cook the chips into fibre.

In the 1970s, the Brunswick mill was using about 55 million gallons of water per day. However, in recent years, the company has reduced its water usage by employing new technology and equipment to make production more efficient. For example, the mill has started using cooling towers to recycle water instead of taking 22 million gallons per day from the Turtle River for its operations.

As a result of these efforts, the mill's water usage has dropped to about 31 million gallons per day. This reduction has eased the pressure on the Floridan Aquifer and reduced the risk of environmental harm. The decreased strain on the aquifer also helps to prevent saltwater contamination of the Upper Floridan Aquifer in the Brunswick area.

The mill's state Environmental Protection Division permit currently allows it to withdraw 45 million gallons a day and a monthly average of up to 49 million gallons per day. With further improvements, such as the addition of a new bleach plant, the plant's withdrawals are expected to drop by another 6 million gallons per day.

Air quality: the mill has been the subject of air quality complaints

Brunswick, Georgia, is home to a wastewater facility and the Georgia-Pacific pulp and paper mill, which employs 600 people. The mill is one of around a dozen large paper plants operated by the Georgia-Pacific Company, which is often ranked as the second-largest paper producer in the US.

The mill has been the subject of air quality complaints, with residents reporting a foul odour in the community. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) received over 200 complaints since November 2020, with residents comparing the stench to rotten eggs and sewage.

The Glynn Environmental Coalition confirmed the connection between the odour and the mills. A study conducted by the Coalition indicated the presence of pollution in the air. The DNR's environmental division and the air protection branch are currently investigating the issue.

Brett Berry, a program manager with the Georgia DNR's environmental protection department, stated that inspections have been conducted on different mediums, including air quality, wastewater, and industrial facilities. Experts with the DNR have identified two 'title V' facilities in Brunswick, and are asking residents to document every instance they experience the odour, including a description of the smell, time, duration, temperature, and wind direction.

The Georgia-Pacific plant has been suggested as the source of the foul odour. Pulp and paper mills are known large emitters of air pollution, and previous studies have linked air pollution from these mills to various types of cancer, respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Increased air quality monitoring and mill operation upgrades are recommended to improve environmental and human health in the area.

Cellulose: the mill produces cellulose, a wood-derived material

The Georgia-Pacific Brunswick Cellulose paper plant in Brunswick, Georgia, is one of four large cellulose mills owned by the company. Cellulose is a wood-derived material that includes fluff pulp, a highly absorbent form of paper used in diapers and feminine hygiene products. The mill produces cellulose by processing around 1,000 truckloads of yellow pine logs per day. The logs are reduced to chips and then cooked with water to create fibre, which is then converted into fluff pulp.

The Brunswick mill is the world's largest producer of absorbent fluff pulp and employs around 600 people. It is one of around a dozen large paper plants operated by Georgia-Pacific, which is often ranked as the second-largest paper producer in the US. The company started as a lumber company and expanded into paper production in the 1950s. Today, it focuses on products such as paper plates and cups, diapers, paper towels, and toilet paper.

The Brunswick mill has recently undergone a multimillion-dollar overhaul to reduce its water usage and improve efficiency. The mill was previously one of the largest users of coastal Georgia groundwater, with water usage dropping from about 55 million gallons per day in the 1970s to about 31 million gallons per day currently. The reduced water usage has helped ease pressure on drinking water supplies in Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida and lowered the risk of environmental harm.

In addition to reducing water usage, the mill has also improved its recycling processes. Through a recycling process, the mill uses water to produce about 70% of its electricity. The mill no longer uses water from the Turtle River and instead recycles water from its cooling towers for its operations. These efforts reflect the company's commitment to reinvesting in its facilities and the local community.

Fluff pulp: the mill is the world's largest producer of absorbent fluff pulp

Brunswick, Georgia, is home to one of four large cellulose mills owned by Georgia-Pacific. The Brunswick Pulp Mill produces fluff pulp, a type of absorbent paper used in diapers and feminine hygiene products. The mill employs around 600 people and is ranked as the world's largest producer of absorbent fluff pulp.

Georgia-Pacific has a long history, starting as a lumber company and expanding into paper production in the 1950s. The company now operates a dozen large paper plants and is ranked as the second-largest paper producer in the US. Their Brunswick mill has been the focus of a multimillion-dollar overhaul to reduce water usage and improve efficiency, decreasing pressure on drinking water supplies in the region.

The Brunswick Pulp Mill uses water to process 1,000 truckloads of yellow pines into pulp each day. The logs are reduced to chips and cooked with water to create fibre, which is then converted into fluff pulp. This fluff pulp is a crucial component in absorbent hygiene products, and around 70% of the mill's production is exported overseas to Europe, Latin America, and the Far East.

The mill's high water usage has historically placed strain on the Floridan Aquifer, increasing the risk of environmental harm through saltwater contamination. However, with new equipment and technology, the mill has significantly reduced its water withdrawals, easing pressure on water supplies and reducing the potential for environmental damage. This reduction in water usage aligns with the company's philosophy of reinvesting profits into the business to ensure long-term viability and competitiveness in the global market.

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