Lafarge Approved for Pilot Project

Environment Minister Iain Rankin has given an environmental assessment approval, with conditions, to Lafarge Canada Inc. for a one-year pilot project with used tires as a low carbon fuel for one of its kilns in Brookfield, Colchester Co.

“My decision is based on the science and evidence associated with this application as well as the public feedback received which helped to shape conditions of the approval,” said Mr. Rankin. “This pilot will confirm if the company can reduce current carbon emission levels at its Brookfield plant as the information provided in the application indicates.”

The one-year pilot project approval includes terms and conditions to reduce environmental impacts and protect public health. These include:

• limiting tire-derived fuel to 15 per cent of total daily input and no more than 20 tonnes per day
• forming a community liaison committee to keep residents informed of the project’s status and address their questions
• developing a complaints resolution plan.

Lafarge must submit plans for a number of activities associated with the pilot project and apply for a temporary industrial approval to operate the pilot project.

The required plans include:

• tire storage and waste management
• air dispersion modelling, which is a mathematical simulation of how air pollutants disperse in the atmosphere
• continuous monitoring of emissions
• stack testing before and after the pilot begins
• emergency response if there is a malfunction of the kiln.

The results of the annual testing will be made public through the community liaison committee.

The approval and the terms and conditions can be found at https://www.novascotia.ca/nse/ea/lower-carbon-fuel-tire-derived-fuel.asp.