Verso Corp Clocks Major Boost to Recycled Content at Duluth Mill

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  Verso Corporation plans to significantly increase recycled content at its Duluth, Minnesota board and kraft paper mill. The papermaker made public its decision in a filing on mill strategy to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last week.

According to the filing, it has commenced a conversion project for recycled packaging and kraft paper grades. This will result in production of 90,000 tons per year starting January 2020. The completion of the conversion project will raise this level to 375,000 tons per year, it said.

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Earlier in August 2019, Verso Corp. had made initial announcement about its plans to convert part of its Duluth mill from producing writing and printer papers to producing recycled paper packaging. At that time it had projected annual recycled packaging production capacity of 48,000 tons per year. The shift was considered part of its plan to reduce its dependence on graphic paper markets.

The project is expected to mitigate the demand loss of products currently produced at the mill.

Earlier in 2018, Verso Corp. had commenced a mill conversion project at its Androscoggin mill in Jay, Maine, which was later sold.