The Puerto Rican unit of Mexican cement firm Cemex  plans to invest more than US$25m in works to mitigate the environmental impact and further the sustainable development of its operations on the island, local paper El Vocero reported. 
 
By the beginning of 2007, Cemex expects to have wrapped up the installation of dust control filters and other equipment worth a total US$20mn to cut down on airborne particles. 
 
The firm will also implement a system to incinerate used tires in furnaces during the cement making process. The procedure, approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency, will not only help the company to reduce power costs, but it will also offer a partial solution to Puerto Rico’s problem of finding disposal sites for 5M discarded tyres a year. 
 
Cemex authorities will continue to explore other options to fire its furnaces, such as used oils, solvents, paint, wood and carpets, among others.