Odor mitigation tops Domtar's list for 2025 plans

KINGSPORT — Changes are on the horizon as Domtar looks ahead to 2025 and the coming years.Most recently, the company announced its approved plans for an anaerobic digester treatment system at the Kingsport mill that will help mitigate some of the odor concerns from the community."Receiving the final approval from senior leadership is a major milestone for us and, more importantly, for our community," Troy Wilson, manager of the Kingsport Mill, said in the release. "We are committed to being responsible corporate neighbors."The project, known as Project Bandit, was first publicly discussed at the July 2024 Kingsport Economic Development Board meeting. Domtar committed around $1 million to kickstart the project at the time.KEDB approved a $60.5 million preliminary bond resolution to help move along Domtar's odor mitigation efforts. Permits for the project are being reviewed by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation; construction cannot start until those permits are approved.Meanwhile, Domtar has also been working on other short-term odor mitigation efforts, since the new treatment system is not expected to be online until the first or second quarter of 2026.One of the main short-term efforts is dredging the 27-acre wastewater treatment plant on Domtar's property, also referred to as a lagoon. According to the Domtar website, hydrogen sulfide occurs naturally and is produced as bacteria breaks down organic material when oxygen is limited in areas like a swamp or wetland."The odor you smell is a result of the decomposition of wood fibers and organic matter in our effluent treatment system that originates in the recycled paper used to make our products," the website states. "While the odor can sometimes be unpleasant, it is harmless to the environment and community. The decomposition of organic matter takes time for materials to naturally break down."Wilson said in previous presentations to the KEDB that keeping odor to a minimum is an important part of the process. He said dredging is expected to be complete by the end of March with around 12,000 wet tons removed from the lagoon.Domtar also made use of local clarifiers to improve the "overall biological health" of the wastewater system and create more "soldiers" to treat the wastewater, according to Domtar Environmental and Sustainability Director Brian Kozlowski in a previous statement.Other newsJanuary 2025 marked Domtar's second full year as a brown board packaging facility. The Kingsport Mill celebrated their conversion of the freshsheet paper machine into a containerboard machine at a ribbon cutting in May 2023.As of February 2025, the mill currently employs 215 individuals.Wilson unveiled a new Veterans Wall at the mill last year, which displays the military service photos of 19 Domtar employees. He said photos will be added as veterans are hired and the photos will remain on the wall once they retire."Our veterans will be recognized on a daily basis, not just once a year during Veterans Day," Wilson said at the wall unveiling in November 2024. "As we pass through the halls of this operation, we'll pass this on a daily basis. It'll be a daily reminder to us that we have employees that gave a sacrifice at one point in time in their lives."For more information about Domtar and its current developments, visit https://domtarpackagingkingsport.com/.