Pactiv Evergreen's Toxic Secret: Illegal Chemical Dumping into Canton's Wastewater System Expose

US: Pactiv Evergreen paper mill, situated in Canton, is currently facing allegations of illegally dumping chemicals into the wastewater system. The Department of Environmental Quality has reported that these chemical dumps occurred during the recent plant shutdown process. According to DEQ officials, the mill has committed three violations, including making outlets into waters of the state without a permit and failure to fulfil mitigation and duty obligations.

The early days of June, a complaint was filed against the paper mill workers, alleging that they were disposing of sodium hydroxide solution and calcium hypochlorite into the wastewater system, which has led to the current violations. In the following days, both the mill and the DEQ's Water Resources Division had conflicting views on the permissible practices regarding chemical disposal. The paper mill argued in a letter to DEQ that virgin chemicals can indeed be disposed of through the wastewater system and claimed that they met all permit requirements.

Mill contended that this process was an integral part of the shutdown. During the shutdown, the Water Resources personnel informed Pactiv Evergreen officials that discharging or disposing of unused or virgin chemical products into the allowed wastewater system was prohibited. Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers expressed his disappointment upon hearing about this occurrence just a few weeks ago. The Mayor acknowledged the promises made by Governor Roy Cooper and the DEQ and stressed the importance of holding Evergreen accountable. According to the Mayor, the mill must comply with the legal requirements for environmental cleanup, and he believes that dumping things into the river is unacceptable, even though he is not familiar with the processes involved.

Green Packaging, a paper mill located in Canton, North Carolina, is under investigation by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for several environmental violations. The mill has been accused of discharging wastewater into the Pigeon River, which is believed to have caused pollution and devastation to many species living in its waters. According to reports, the DEQ has documented nine environmental violations at the Evergreen mill over 18 months. The violations include surface water sampling results from the Pigeon River that have not met DEQ standards. Additionally, the mill is facing allegations of illegal chemical dumping into the wastewater system during its shutdown operation. If found guilty, Pactiv Evergreen could face fines of up to $25,000 per violation per day. Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers expressed his disappointment regarding the incident and stressed the importance of holding the company accountable while ensuring that clean water continues to flow through the Pigeon River.