Reject treatment system reduces paper mill waste

P.T. Suparma Tbk operates a recycled-fiber-based paper mill in Surabaya, East Java, supplying tissue, packaging, and specialty paper products. As part of its sustainability and operational efficiency strategy, the company sought to improve the treatment of coarse rejects generated by its drum pulping line.

The reject stream contains heterogeneous materials, including mixed plastics and other contaminants, creating challenges in handling, dewatering, and downstream processing. Inefficient reject management can increase disposal volumes, complicate operations, and negatively affect environmental performance.

To address these issues, Suparma selected ANDRITZ to supply a complete coarse reject treatment system designed to stabilize processing operations while reducing the environmental impact associated with waste handling.

Start-up of the new installation is scheduled for the third quarter of 2026.

Solution: Integrated Dry-Process Reject Treatment
The supplied system combines mechanical dewatering, shredding, and preparation technologies within an integrated dry-process configuration.

A central component of the installation is the ReCo reject compactor, which mechanically dewaters coarse rejects to significantly reduce the volume of material requiring downstream handling. This approach lowers transport and processing demands while simplifying reject management operations.

The system also includes the ADuro P shredder, designed for reliable size reduction of heterogeneous and contaminant-heavy material streams. By producing a more uniform output, the shredder supports efficient metal separation and improves the consistency of subsequent reject processing stages.

According to ANDRITZ, the overall system configuration was selected to maintain operational stability, ensure high equipment availability, and reduce energy consumption during reject treatment.

Deployment: Supporting Stable Mill Operation
The new reject treatment line will be integrated into Suparma’s existing recycled fiber production process. The dry-process setup reduces handling complexity compared with conventional wet reject systems and supports more consistent operational performance.

Suparma selected ANDRITZ based on its experience in recycling and reject treatment technologies within the Southeast Asian pulp and paper sector. The project also represents another reference installation for ANDRITZ in Indonesia in the field of complete coarse reject treatment systems.

Joseph Sulaiman, Director at Suparma, stated that improving reject handling was an important step to enhance environmental performance and support stable mill operation. He also highlighted the company’s focus on long-term operational development through reliable recycling technologies.

Results: Reduced Handling Volumes and Lower Environmental Impact
The new system is expected to reduce reject handling volumes through efficient mechanical dewatering and improve the consistency of downstream processing operations.

By stabilizing reject treatment and enabling better separation of contaminants, the installation supports Suparma’s objectives for environmentally responsible paper production. The integrated configuration also contributes to lower operational complexity and improved resource efficiency.

In addition, the low-energy design of the system aligns with broader industry efforts to increase circularity and reduce the environmental footprint of recycled fiber processing.

Conclusion
With the implementation of a complete reject treatment system, Suparma is strengthening the efficiency and sustainability of its recycled paper production operations. The project demonstrates how integrated recycling technologies can improve reject management, reduce environmental impact, and support stable long-term mill performance.

Edited by an industrial journalist Sucithra Mani with AI assistance.

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