In 2004 chemical emissions were 16.6% higher than they were in 2003 due to high production levels of some products that have higher levels of emissions associated with their manufacture; higher than normal surface water run-off containing nitrates and ammonia from one plant property and a 6.9% increase in overall production levels. Emissions will return to 2003 levels in 2005 and this coupled with a production increase of 7.1% will result in reducing emissions per thousand units of production by 56.6% compared with our base year of 1993 matching our best performance ever. Chemical wastes in 2004 increased by 3.2% due to the disposal of obsolete products. However, increased production resulted in wastes per thousand kilograms of production matching the lowest level ever achieved, 44.3% lower than our base year of 1993, and in 2005 we estimate we will improve on this record.

A very cold winter coupled with increased production led to a 3.2% increase in combustion emissions. However the increased production resulted in an all time low level of combustion emissions per thousand kilograms of production which will also be improved on in 2005.

There were three contributing factors leading to a 16.6% increase in chemical emissions; an overall increase in production of 6.9%, an increase in production of some products that have higher chemical emissions associated with their manufacture, plus an increase in nitrate ion and ammonia emissions due to higher than normal rain water run-off from one plant property.  In 2005 it is expected that chemical emission rates will return to 2003 levels despite an increase in production levels of 7.9%. Chemical emissions per thousand kilograms of production increased by 7.1% in 2004 as the result of the overall emissions increase. For 2005 we are looking at this figure being reduced by 20% compared with 2004, matching the lowest levels ever achieved.

Chemical wastes increased by 3.2% in 2004 due to the disposal of inventories of obsolete products. This will continue in 2005 with the result that wastes will increase by another 4.7%. However, as Chart No. 5 shows, the increased production will off-set the increase in wastes resulting in the lowest level of wastes per thousand kilograms of production ever achieved in both 2004 (1.51 kg./1000 kg. production) and 2005 (1.46 kg./10000 kg. production). As may be seen by referring to Chart No. 5, there is a real trend towards leveling off of the data. Continued reductions in wastes per thousand units of production will present a challenge in the years to come. However, efforts will continue in this area in response to this challenge.

A 6.9% increase in production levels in 2004 combined with a very cold winter resulted in a 3.2% increase in combustion emissions. Most of the plant building heating is done with steam hence the effects of a cold winter on combustion emissions. Despite an estimated increase in production for 2005 of 7.9%, it is still estimated that combustion emissions in 2005 will be lower by 2.2% due to a variety of energy saving projects.