MONTREAL—  Cascades Inc. is closing three plants as part of changes to its containerboard operations that will affect 310 employees. Cascade's Belleville (Ontario) and Newtown (Connecticut) converting plants will be permanently closed by May 31, 2024. The slowdown in the economy, consumption goes accordingly and so is the demand for packaging products, boxes and also for the paper. Higher operating costs, aging technology and the need for significant capital investment were the determining factors in the decision to cease operations at the facilities. Cascades also announced that its currently idled Trenton, Ont., mill (formally Domtar plant) will not restart operations."The Company will record $61 million of impairment and environmental obligation charges associated with these closures in its fourth quarter 2023 financial results and will incur approximately $35 million of additional restructuring charges in the coming years,"