Ash management at Canfor Pulp - turning a waste product into a profit stream

Canfor Pulp Ltd. produces bleached and unbleached softwood Kraft Pulp and Paper products at mills located in Prince George British Columbia. They burn biomass to generate energy, and they produce ash as a by-product. Due to the changing nature of the business, the amount of waste ash produced by Canfor Pulp has increased significantly over the last 10 years - using conservative estimates, by at least 100%. This project examined the options available for beneficial reuse of the ash, measured them against defined criteria in order to select preferred options and then and evaluated the viability of those options for the diversion and sale of this ash. It was determined that use of the ash as an agricultural supplement presents a viable market for the ash. Market size and price are not barriers to enter into this market. Other markets, such as mine reclamation, and petroleum site reclamation may also be viable outlets for the ash, pending the outcome of further financial analysis. --Leaf 1.