Plans to burn used tyres and plastics for energy at the Aberthaw Cement Works in South Wales industrial plant have been submitted to the Environment Agency for approval.

The proposal comes six years after the Lafarge Cement company began using MBM, or meat and bone meal from cows and sheep, as a sustainable waste-derived fuel at its Aberthaw Works.

The company’s application to the Environment Agent comes after it sent out 5,000 letters to residents explaining the latest proposals and held two public consultations.

If the move is approved by the Environment Agency, the used Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF), including papers and plastics, and end-of-life car and van tyres, could save up to 15,500t of coal each year, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 20,000t.

James Kirkpatrick, manager at the Aberthaw works - which makes up to 550,000tpa of cement - said the plan had been prompted by increased competition in the cement market and a serious downturn in demand for construction products.

"Since it was introduced in 2005, we have used 50,000t of MBM which has significantly reduced our consumption of fossil fuels," he said. "Extending the range of sustainable waste-derived fuels we can use offers us a good way to keep a check on our costs which have been escalating."