I agree with your recent comments on housekeeping in mills relative to operational efficiency
One story that is now old enough that I can tell it:
In 1991 a group of 6 of us had an assignment to advise on new effluent regulations for Ontario. We reported what was technically feasible, mostly based on in-plant upgrades and estimated costs etc for the regulator.
Industry protested that the only way to clean up was to install waste treatment systems for a zillion dollars, which would shut all mills down.
In a debate on feasibility, I pointed out that the discharge limits we were proposing were already attained by the 100+ year old Glatfelter mill in Spring Grove. The "rebuttal" from Domtar's VP was "That is not practical here. I have been to that mill. Neil, you have to understand that down there they do things right!"
After an embarrassing silence, the meeting resumed.
By the way, all mills Domtar had in Ontario at the time, all pig-pens, closed down within a few years.
Neil McCubbin
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