Lafarge, the UK’s largest cement manufacturer is set to pioneer the use of sewage treatment sludge as a fuel, in an effort to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Lafarge UK has struck a deal with Northumbrian Water under which half the sewage treatment sludge produced in the north-east will be used to heat the cement kiln at its Cauldon Works in Staffordshire. The use of the fuel, which is deemed to be "carbon neutral", will help the company to meet its self-imposed target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent between 1990 and 2010. It will also help it meet the emissions targets due to be published by the government tomorrow in its revised national allocation plan for the EU emissions trading scheme.