Atlantic Packaging Products Ltd. is a home grown Toronto company that started out in 1945 making paper bags.  Atlantic Packaging has grown into a large company that owns over 20 manufacturing and distributing facilities in Ontario and Quebec.  Based in Scarborough, Atlantic Packaging is the municipality's largest private-sector employer and has an extensive network of facilities including 5 facilities in the Midland/Progress area alone!  These facilities include:

• 111 Progress Ave. - recycled containerboard mill (old)
• 55 Progress Ave. - wastewater treatment facility for 111 Progress mill
• 80 Progress Ave. - Color Pak printing facility (a division of Atlantic)
• 333 Progress Ave. - recycled containerboard mill (new)
• 350 Midwest Rd. - shipping and receiving facility for corrugated paper

Read more about the Atlantic Packaging's group of companies on their website.  The company has set up a community update website which can be found here: http://www.communityupdatescarborough.ca/  A summary of the company's processes is also available in a presentation given to a Community Liason committee on June 21, 2010 - click here to download the PDF file.

This photo shows steam rising from the 111 & 333 Progress Ave facilities. To see more photos, see our Photo Gallery here.

Atlantic Packaging's 111 Progress Avenue facility was built in 1963, then doubled in size in 1972.  The site produces linerboard, tissue paper and corrugated paperboard.  Atlantic Packaging's maximum production rate is 170,000 tonnes of paper products per year but they have asked for permission to increase their production rate to 228,000 tonnes per year.  You can learn more about this request on the Ontario Ministry of the Environment website here.

The main sources of air emissions are evaporative emissions from the use of glues, adhesives and solvents, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as ethyl benzene, toluene, and isopropanol, and combustion gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.  VOCs have known and suspected health impacts and combustion gases are known to be criteria air contaminants that impact air quality, contributing to smog and acid rain.

Atlantic's Response to Community Concerns

Atlantic Packaging has been responding to some community odour complaints since April 2010. They have developed a special website in order to keep the community aware of their progress. Please visit their website for letters, updates, presentations and upcoming events: http://www.communityupdatescarborough.ca/updates.html.