Castle Cement recently presented its plans to burn agricultural waste derived fuel (AWDF) at its Ribblesdale works, Clitheroe, Lancashire to the neighbouring community and environmentalists. The plans were generally well-received.
Local people said the proposal was “a great idea” as “animal waste is better being burned than buried.” The environmental group Friends of the Earth also voiced its overall support for the initiative via its Hyndburn and Ribble Valley spokesperson Lynda England: “ I think it’s a positive move. I still have a problem with increased numbers of vehicles on the road from the transport of this fuel, but that’s the only negative I can see.”
Gareth Price, the works’ general manager, commented on the success of the exhibition: “It was a successful exhibition. We received no really negative feedback in relation to this issue.”
AWDF is produced by sterilising and grinding abattoir waste and will contain no BSE-infected material. The incineration of the waste is a safe alternative to disposing of it in landfills, practised by cement firms in Europe, according to Castle Cement management.
To assure the public, the Environment Agency has stated that the cement maker will not be allowed to use the fuel until a rigorous programme of trials has been set up. These will need to include checks on air, water and land releases.
