The Minister of the Environment, Cristina Narbona, and the president of the Spanish Association of Pulp, Paper and Cardboard Manufacturers (ASPAPEL), Juan Vila, have signed a voluntary agreement on wastewater discharges from the pulp, paper and cardboard manufacturing industry. Its objective is to establish a basic reference framework for the Autonomous Communities and basin organisations in the determination of the emission limit values that should be set in the integrated environmental authorisation or authorisation for the discharge of wastewater originating in pulp, paper and cardboard factories and discharged into continental and maritime waters.

The aim is to reduce pollution by significantly improving the quality of the discharges from the paper sector as a whole and the consumption of water used in the manufacturing processes. The potential for discharge into the sea and rivers, subject to the agreement, is in the order of 90 cubic hectometres per year.

ASPAPEL represents 56 companies that produce approximately 80% of the national production. Under the agreement, the associated factories undertake to completely eradicate the use of molecular chlorine (Cl2) in the bleaching of Kraft pulp, using the best available technology, as well as to adapt their discharges to highly demanding emission limit values for pollutants.

The associated companies discharge into both inland waters and the sea, so the implementation of the reduction program contemplated in the agreement means the reduction of emissions of hazardous substances into the continental and marine aquatic environment. In addition, it will make it possible to achieve the objectives of the Water Framework Directive by contributing to the eradication of pollution by hazardous substances in all surface waters.

The agreement is valid for four years, and can be extended with the modifications that may be agreed, and establishes the constitution between the parties of a Monitoring Committee to deal with issues related to its content and compliance.