Graphic Packaging International (GPI) continues to place a high priority on the health and safety of employees and community neighbors. As a part of this commitment, GPI has published its ongoing Odor Action Plan, which is a critical part of the company’s continued investment in the Kalamazoo community. Graphic Packaging first began addressing the odor issue voluntarily more than a decade ago, and in February of this year, incorporated its findings and recommendations into a consent agreement with the state of Michigan.
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Odor Action Plan
At Graphic Packaging, we are proud to call Kalamazoo home. That’s why we have invested more than $800 million in the past several years in a new, state-of-the art mill and upgraded equipment and have implemented environmental controls to reduce the potential for nuisance odors near our operations.
Since 2019, we have been an active participant on the City of Kalamazoo’s Odor Task Force, which has been studying and addressing the potential for nuisance odors from our operations, the Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant (KWRP), and other potential community sources. Graphic Packaging expects to complete its $8 million commitment for odor mitigation equipment by the end of 2023. The company also increased its annual wastewater treatment operating costs to $2 million to further reduce the potential for odors.
Backpack Drive Benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters is Underway
On May 1, Graphic Packaging’s Kalamazoo mill kicked off its backpack drive benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan. The drive, which runs through June 30, collects backpacks for “littles” ages six to 16 involved in the nonprofit’s programming.
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Graphic Self-Reported Minor Sump Discharge on October 20
On Thursday, October 20, Graphic Packaging contacted the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and the City of Kalamazoo to self-report a minor incident involving a sump that overflowed paper fiber and water into the city’s stormwater system. The overflow occurred at 1810 Pitcher Street, near a section of the Kalamazoo River undergoing a Superfund cleanup unrelated to Graphic Packaging.
Continue reading “Graphic Self-Reported Minor Sump Discharge on October 20”Graphic Packaging Updates Community on Permit Issues
On September 8, 2022, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), issued a Violation Notice (VN) to Graphic Packaging in connection to air permit deviations. Graphic reached out to EGLE in early July to inform EGLE that we had certain deviations from our air permit, and that we would be submitting a proposed modification to our air permit as a result. EGLE visited the facility in late July and confirmed the deviations that we self-reported before issuing the VN. It is important to note that these issues are largely technical in nature and do not reflect any meaningful increase in emissions to the community.
In an effort to increase the line of communication with our neighbors, below is a detailed glimpse into the nature of the violations listed in the VN and the efforts we are taking in response.
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