Cemex’s Kosmos plant in Louisville, USA, is seeking permission to blend scrap plastic and wood to fuel its kiln, according to public officials. The company already has approval to burn scrap tyres for its cement production process.

Cemex representatives said in a brief written statement that it was proposing to “safely replace up to 30 per cent of its kiln’s energy (and) heat demand” with waste-derived fuels as an alternative to fossil fuels including coal.”

The statement said the process taps the “otherwise lost energy value of the materials, reduces the plant’s reliance on traditional fossil fuels, and preserves valuable landfill space.”