Toxic Paper Mill Emission Harms Kalamazoo Community

Residents of Kalamazoo, Michigan have been suffering from the harmful emissions of a local cardboard recycling plant, owned by graphic packaging international. The plant has been releasing gases, including hydrogen sulfide, at levels far above regulatory limits. The plant's emissions have led to high rates of asthma, COPD, heart disease, and cancer in the predominantly poor Black community living nearby. Despite years of complaints, city officials and the state government have ignored the residents' concerns. The recent release of a health study finally confirmed the excessive levels of toxic gases, prompting wider attention to the issue.