Lafarge Canada is about to commence the next phase of a project to test the suitability of a variety of alternative fuels, the Kingston Whig-Standard reports.
In conjunction with researchers from Queen's University, Ontario, the company has already examined the use of a number of materials, including railway ties, telephone poles, construction and demolition debris, shingles, paper sludge and coated cardboard.
In the next phase, tests will be carried out with household goods, non-recyclable packaging, textiles, carpet and disposable cups and lids, including beverage pods.
Robert Cumming, environmental director for Lafarge Canada, said: "It's all part of a retooling of the cement industry. We've been using fossil fuels for 100 years. We know how to use coal and coke. This is all new and it has been a more challenging process than we could have imagined at the beginning two years ago.
"All the fuel types we've been looking at, to be honest with you, have been used elsewhere, whether it is shingles or construction and demolition debris or, more recently, non-recyclable packaging. What has not been done is the degree of analysis, before and after emission testing with a statistical analysis to look for effects."
