Greenpeace is calling on the New South Wales Government to reject Blue Circle Cement’s proposal to use alternative fuels such as tyres and oils in its New Berrima plant, west of Wollongong. The cement company says the fuels will benefit the environment by reducing land-fill and emissions. However, Greenpeace spokesman Jason Collins says Blue Circle’s own environmental study has shown the dioxin emission levels will triple. "Blue Circle is currently the sixth biggest dioxin emitter in New South Wales and by increasing by three times you can see the kind of problems it could cause," he said. "Dioxins [are] probably one of the most toxic substances out there, it’s highly carcinogenic and it’s a hormone mimic so it affects people’s physical and psychological development."
