Update on PCN’s Anti-Incineration Campaign
By Linda Gasser, Campaign Coordinator
October 15, 2008

Communities across Canada:
Beware of Cement Kilns and burning of “alternative fuels”

In 2006, seven companies with sixteen plants in five Canadian provinces (Alberta, B.C., Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia) produced 16.7 million tonnes of cement and cement supplementing materials. Making cement is an energy-intensive process using conventional fuels such as coal or pet coke (solid waste materials rich in carbon and derived from oil refinery coker units). The cement industry is actively promoting the use of such “alternative fuels” and “energy from waste” as part of a strategy to reduce reliance on external energy sources and improve the competitive position of the industry.

The industry claims that, if processed properly, alternative energy sources can contribute to improved environmental performance without increasing risks to human health and the environment. Materials considered “alternative sources” include scrap tires, used oils, recovered solvents, recovered asphalt shingles, oily waters, oil shales, plastics, “certain hazardous wastes” and post recycling residues such as plastic film and paper sludge. Not only could this reduce their fuel costs, the companies might get a tipping fee for taking the waste.

St. Marys Cement Inc. of Ontario is currently considering the burning of post-recycling plastic residues and paper sludge at its Bowmanville plant, and burning plastic film at its St. Marys plant. Lafarge North America Inc is embroiled in an ongoing legal battle given its plans to burn tires at their plant in Bath, Ontario. What’s in tires? Natural and synthetic rubber containing styrene and butadiene, up to 17 heavy metals including lead, zinc, arsenic and chromium, chlorine, benzene extender oils and other petrochemicals — many of which are known carcinogens.

According to Environment Canada, air pollutants associated with cement manufacturing include: particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds such as benzene and toluene, acidic compounds such as hydrogen chloride, heavy metals including carcinogens such as arsenic and cadmium, as well as dioxins and furans (also known carcinogens).

Dioxins are persistent organic pollutants that are the unintended by-products of many manufacturing and combustion processes that use, produce or dispose of chlorine, or chlorine derived chemicals. Therefore, the burning of plastics or tires by cement kilns could pose a serious risk to human health and our environment.

In their 2008 Sustainability Report, the Cement Association of Canada states the industry is responsible for one percent of Canadian air pollutant emissions. However, a recent Toronto Star article claims “the cement industry has a reputation to clean up because it’s responsible for 5 to 7 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it a major contributor to climate change”.

Communities across Canada should become engaged as the cement industry considers proposals that include the burning of waste. Companies must be required to prove that proposed alternative fuels would not emit more harmful, toxic and/or persistent pollutants, including carcinogens, than fuels currently used.

Individuals and community groups challenging incineration or gasification proposals, and/or actively engaged in promoting Zero Waste, are encouraged to contact the PCN Anti-Incineration Campaign Coordinator, Linda Gasser at: gasserlinda@gmail.com. Linda can put you in touch with like-minded individuals