USA: Lafarge Bath plant applies to burn railroad ties and shingles

Three years after backing off on a plan to burn tyres at its cement plant in Bath, Lafarge is applying to introduce railway ties and asphalt shingles into its kiln.

The “low-carbon fuel demonstration project” would run for three years and incinerate up to 75t of construction and demolition debris each day.

The application for compliance approval, written by the consulting firm Golder Associates, says that “the emissions from the Bath plant cement kiln are not expected to be significantly changed in comparison to the existing emissions.”

The plant burns 110,000t of coal and petcoke each year. Lafarge is hoping to reduce that amount by 30% using alternative fuels, including biomass products such as grasses and trees.

The application was sent to the provincial environment ministry on 20 April. There is a 45-day period for people to make comments to the Environmental Registry.