A CHANGE TO ANAEROBIC-AEROBIC TREATMENT MADE
EXPANDED PRODUCTION POSSIBLE WITHOUT EXPANSION
OF WASTE-WATER TREATMENT FACILITIES
C. J. Priest, Process Chemist
Inland Container Corporation
Newport, Indiana 47966
INTRODUCTION
In 1973 Inland Container Corporation, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, broke
ground for a new 350 ton per day Waste Paper Recycling Mdl at Newport, Indiana. In doing
so, Inland Container may have set the stage for things to come in the paper industry. Untd
then almost all additional waste paper recycling mdls had been add-ons to present mdls or
were budt many years ago.
When Inland Container began to anticipate the needs for additional corrugating medium
to complement their product mix in supplying the twenty-two box plants, they found many
alternatives that needed to be examined. Should the supply come from an outside source?
Should the company budd a mdl? If so, should it be a virgin or recycle mdl? Where should it
be located? An extensive marketing and distribution cost study showed the Northeast or
Midwest as an ideal location for the new mdl. Next the question of virgin versus recycle.
Pollution problems, wood supply and large capital expenditures required for the conventional pulp and paper mill, led Inland to turn their attention to budding a 100% recycle fiber
mdl.
Having made the determination of the kind of mdl to be budt, it was necessary to decide
whether to budd in the Northeast or Midwest. Attention was turned to the mdl's requirements of energy, raw materials and transportation. It was determined that energy in the
form of steam and electricity could be purchased from the Pubdc Service Company of
Indiana, Cayuga generation station. This unique situation of not having to have our own
power or boder house was of great import to the selection of the site. Furthermore in this
day of energy conservation it can be pointed out that all steam used is exhaust steam after
power production. Land was avadable adjacent to the power plant. Raw material (old corrugated) could be obtained from a three hundred mde radius. The next question of transportation of raw materials and manufactured product was examined. There was a railroad track
bordering the piece of property being considered. Also, less than V* mde away a modern four
lane highway was under construction.
These many studies culminated in the selection of the present site at Newport, next to
the power plant.
Today Inland, now a part of Time, Inc., is operating their new mid on 100% secondary
fiber. It is obtained from such cities as Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Louisvdle.
Because we are using old corrugated from various sources, an extensive cleaning system
was necessary. We have primary, secondary and tertiary screening. They remove plastics and
other materials which have the same basic density as wood fiber. Sand, glass and other heavy
material are removed by low density cleaners. No pulping chemicals are used.
The mdl was designed for low water usage. We utilize one mddon gadons per day or about
2,000 gallons per ton. It is obtained from on site wells and steam condensate. All of the
water gets used several times before it becomes effluent. There are a number of pieces of
equipment designed into the mid for cleaning and recycling process water.
ORIGINAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM
At the time the Newport facility was designed and constructed, there were no operating
criteria, related to BOD, available for a 350 tons per day secondary fiber mdl. All existing
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