Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation, Chicago, IL, announces the decision to discontinue operations at its Los Angeles, CA, bag packaging plant. The facility produces multiwall bag packaging products for building, food, and chemical products companies.

The decision was made after careful review of the plant’s operations, available capacity within the company’s Consumer Packaging division, and current economic market conditions. Additional factors were also taken into consideration, including operating costs and strategic fit. Operations will be consolidated with other Smurfit-Stone bag packaging facilities within the division.

The plant’s final day of production is tentatively scheduled for the first quarter of 2004. A total of 180 hourly and 27 salaried employees are affected.

Smurfit-Stone’s Consumer Packaging division is a leading supplier of coated recycled boxboard, folding cartons, multiwall and specialty bags, flexible packaging, and label products to an array of consumer and industrial products companies.