Virginia newsprint plant idled

The Bear Island newsprint manufacturing mill in Hanover County, Virginia, has shut down again, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. The plant had reopened in 2018.

Connecticut-based White Birch Paper Co. said March 8 that it’s stopping production of newsprint at the plant right away, the paper reported. Around 140 people work at the plant.

Canada-based Cascades Inc. had bought the plant in 2018 from White Birch, who had leased the plant back to produce newsprint for two years. Cascades plans to make containerboard at the plant in starting in 2021, said Cascades spokesman Hugo D’Amours. The company's board needs to provide final approval to that plan, which may come this year, the paper said. 

“The idea and attempt to keep the employees of Bear Island active through the mill’s transition in ownership and grade production has come to an unfortunate and premature end,” said Christopher Brant, president of White Birch Paper, in a statement.

Cascades could take on some of the workers laid off by White Birch, D’Amours said.

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