Nova Scotia approves tyre burning pilot

The Canadian province of Nova Scotia has approved a pilot project to burn tyres in the cement kilns of Lafarge Canada’s Brookfield plant.

The province will pay the cement producer around CAD105 (US$80.87)/t to a maximum of CAD2100/day, or 20tpd, during the one-year project. 

However, the step has drawn the ire of environmental groups and recycling companies. Mike Chassie, the vice-president of C and D Recycling, said his Halifax firm is losing a third of its supply of about 1m tyres annually.

He says over time that could devastate an industry dedicated to turning the rubber into construction fill.  "This is hugely disappointing for the entire recycling industry in Nova Scotia. This will directly affect the tyre recycling industry and could kill it," he said in an interview.

Nova Scotia Minister of the Environment, Iain Rankin, said it was an excellent way of reducing coal use at the cement plant. "It's diversion. It's energy recovery. The company is using it as a replacement for coal they're currently using. You'll see a reduction in carbon emissions," he said.

Lafarge Canada is required to comply with continuous emission monitoring standards during the trial and make the results available to the public.