Abitibi-Consolidated Launches its Largest Recycling Expansion

Paper Retriever(R) begins collection in seven additional U.S. markets



HOUSTON, TX, Nov. 15  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. announced today that its Paper Retriever(R) program is expanding into seven additional U.S. markets, including Baltimore, MD, Boston, MA, Buffalo, NY, Cincinnati, OH, Las Vegas, NV, and Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA. The Abitibi Paper Retriever(R) program will now operate in 23 metropolitan areas in the U.S. and Canada.

"Abitibi-Consolidated is already North America's leading recycler of newspapers and magazines - this expansion further solidifies this leadership into the future," said Michael Sullivan, General Manager, Abitibi-Consolidated Recycling Division. "The Abitibi Paper Retriever(R) program is a key strategy in the Company's overall effort to ensure the wise use of resources while managing newsprint manufacturing quality and costs."

The paper collected in the expansion markets will go mostly to the Company's Thorold, Ontario and Snowflake, Arizona mills, both of which manufacture newsprint using 100% recycled fiber.

The community-based program is a simple and free service to use for paper recycling. Distinctive green and yellow bins are provided at schools and other non-profit organizations, to encourage the community to bring newspapers, magazines and other papers. In fact, Abitibi Paper Retriever(R) pays its customers for the paper collected in each bin. In 2004, Paper Retriever organizations received US$2.8 millions to restore playgrounds, enhance libraries, award scholarships, provide team uniforms, support field and mission trips and many other worthwhile projects. It provides an environmentally fun method to raise money for non-profit organisations.

The Abitibi Paper Retriever(R) program works in concert with other recycling programs by increasing people awareness about recycling and seeking common solutions to help communities and taxpayers reach their paper recycling objectives. The results of an independent study show that on average the Abitibi Paper Retriever(R) program increases the total diversion of municipal programs by 4.5%.

The Abitibi Paper Retriever(R) program is currently operating in Arlington, TX, Austin, TX, Baltimore, MD, Boston, MA, Buffalo, NY, Chicago, IL, Cincinnati, OH, Cleveland, OH, Columbus, OH, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX, Indianapolis, IN, Kansas City, KS, Las Vegas, NV, Oklahoma City, OK, Philadelphia, PA, Phoenix, AX, Pittsburgh, PA, St. Louis, MO, San Antonio, TX, Thorold, ONT and Tulsa, OK. To learn more about the Company's recycling efforts, visit PaperRetriever.com.

Abitibi-Consolidated is a leading producer of newsprint and commercial printing papers as well as a major supplier of wood products, serving 70 countries from close to 50 operating facilities. Committed to the sustainable forest management of more than 40 million acres through third-party certification, the Company is the largest recycler of newspapers and magazines in North America. 

DATASOURCE: ABITIBI-CONSOLIDATED INC.



CONTACT: Recycling Division inquiries: Debbie Johnston, Regional

Manager, Communications and Government Affairs, Abitibi-Consolidated Recycling

Division, [phone], ;

Corporate inquiries: Seth Kursman, Vice-President, Communications and

Government Affairs, [phone], 

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