MoreThanWaste.com - Cemex wins permission to use waste tyres as fuel (08/02/2007)

"Our role is to make sure that Cemex uses the best available techniques to protect human health and the environment. I want to reassure people that we would not have made this decision unless we were completely satisfied that the impact of burning tyres would not be detrimental, compared with standard fuels. Amongst other things the trial has shown that burning tyres results in a reduction in nitrogen oxides, when compared to burning traditional fuels. This will reduce the level of nitrogen dioxide in the Rugby environment"

Ian Withers, Environment Agency

Cemex can now use waste tyres as a substitute fuel at its cement plant in Rugby following a strictly-controlled and monitored trial, according to the Environment Agency. Under the Agency's Tyres Protocol, Cemex undertook three months’ public consultation and prepared a detailed report of the trial.

The Protocol sets out a preferred method of consultation to be employed prior to and during the determination of an application to burn used tyres in cement kilns.

The Agency assessed the report and addressed any issues raised by consultees to decide whether the use of tyres as a partial substitute fuel could continue.

The decision to allow tyre burning was based on the company’s ability to meet a number of "critical success factors", which were set before the trial started.

The Agency now needs to prepare the Decision Document, which will be placed on the public register at the Environment Agency’s office in Tewkesbury and at Rugby Borough Council offices as soon as possible. It is likely to be available within 14 days.

Background to the decision

On 16 August 2001 the Rugby Group Limited (now Cemex) submitted an application for a Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) Permit, which included a proposal to burn used chipped tyres as a partial substitute (up to 40%) for the normal fuel, coal and petcoke.

The Agency agreed with the applicant that the application would be dealt with under the requirements of the Tyres Protocol.

The operator consulted widely on the application, and was allowed additional time to consult with the public, the Warwickshire Health Authority, Rugby Primary Care Trust, English Nature (now Natural England) the Food Standards Agency and Rugby Borough Council.

Warwickshire County Council and the Health and Safety Executive were also consulted although they are not statutory consultees for this Application.

A number of public meetings were held in late 2001 and spring of 2002. The Agency carried out further public consultation by means of a local discussion "surgery" in March 2002 to which an open invitation was extended.

Officers of the Agency has also regularly attended the Rugby Cement Community Forum.

The tyre trial began on 19 May 2004, but stopped on 1 July 2004 following an incident at the plant. Although the incident was not connected in any way with the use of tyres as a fuel, the company had to demonstrate that it could operate responsibly before it was allowed to recommence the tyre trial.

Formal trials re-started on 21 October 2005, and lasted until 26 December 2005. Under the Agency's Tyres Protocol, Cemex then had to submit its report on the trial for three months’ public consultation before it would assess it to decide whether the use of tyres as a partial substitute fuel could continue.

The Agency received the report on 24 October 2006, since which time it has been studying the evidence presented in the report and the results of the Agency's independent monitoring systems.

Under the requirements of the Tyres Protocol, in order to be granted a Permit to burn tyres as a partial substitute fuel on an ongoing basis, Cemex had to demonstrate that it could meet the following success factors, set by the Environment Agency before the trial started:

there will be no net environmental detriment to the local environment resulting from a change in emissions caused by the use of tyres as a substitute fuel. This assessment will be based on the methodology in H1 (Agency Horizontal Guidance Note: Environmental Assessment and Approval of BAT and will take into account other benchmark criteria established to protect the environment and human health.
The process efficiency when using tyres will not decrease (subject to normal variations). This includes the amount of waste produced. Waste in this case includes recycled materials or reworked clinker.
All inspections by Agency officers of the tyre trials will produce acceptable assessments in line with existing Agency compliance assessment tools including the Operator Performance Risk Assessment (OPRA) and Operator Monitoring Assessment (OMA).
There will be no increase in abnormal operations as a result of using tyres, including Electrostatic Precipitator (EP) trips.
Emission Limit Values (ELVs) will be complied with at all times.
The Operator will demonstrate that modulating fuel feeds between coal and tyres can be achieved without adversely affecting kiln stability or emissions.
The monitoring information obtained for the baseline and trial periods will be quality assured to ensure it is representative and complies with at least the requirements of the Tyres Protocol.

Agency comments

Area Environment Manager, Ian Withers, said:

"We have studied the report and the results of the tyre trial in great detail before coming to this decision. We are satisfied that Cemex has met the requirements of its Permit and can now burn tyres in accordance with the conditions in the Permit."

"In our experience, few applications have been subjected to such intense scrutiny and debate as this one. We have committed substantial resources to engaging with and informing the public over an extended period of time and we have ensured that people’s views have been taken into account in making our decision."

"We understand our responsibilities to the people of Rugby and we will continue to monitor the site to ensure that the company operates in line with the strict conditions in their Permit. We have already demonstrated that we are prepared to stop the plant operating, and even prosecute if necessary, should Cemex not adhere to the Permit conditions."


	Cemex wins permission to use waste tyres as fuel (08/02/2007) "Our role is to make sure that Cemex uses the best available techniques to protect human health and the environment. I want to reassure people that we would not have made this decision unless we were completely satisfied that the impact of burning tyres would not be detrimental, compared with standard fuels. Amongst other things the trial has shown that burning tyres results in a reduction in nitrogen oxides, when compared to burning traditional fuels. This will reduce the level of nitrogen dioxide in the Rugby environment" Ian Withers, Environment Agency Cemex can now use waste tyres as a substitute fuel at its cement plant in Rugby following a strictly-controlled and monitored trial, according to the Environment Agency. Under the Agency's Tyres Protocol, Cemex undertook three months’ public consultation and prepared a detailed report of the trial. The Protocol sets out a preferred method of consultation to be employed prior to and during the determination of an application to burn used tyres in cement kilns. The Agency assessed the report and addressed any issues raised by consultees to decide whether the use of tyres as a partial substitute fuel could continue. The decision to allow tyre burning was based on the company’s ability to meet a number of "critical success factors", which were set before the trial started. The Agency now needs to prepare the Decision Document, which will be placed on the public register at the Environment Agency’s office in Tewkesbury and at Rugby Borough Council offices as soon as possible. It is likely to be available within 14 days. Background to the decision On 16 August 2001 the Rugby Group Limited (now Cemex) submitted an application for a Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) Permit, which included a proposal to burn used chipped tyres as a partial substitute (up to 40%) for the normal fuel, coal and petcoke. The Agency agreed with the applicant that the application would be dealt with under the requirements of the Tyres Protocol. The operator consulted widely on the application, and was allowed additional time to consult with the public, the Warwickshire Health Authority, Rugby Primary Care Trust, English Nature (now Natural England) the Food Standards Agency and Rugby Borough Council. Warwickshire County Council and the Health and Safety Executive were also consulted although they are not statutory consultees for this Application. A number of public meetings were held in late 2001 and spring of 2002. The Agency carried out further public consultation by means of a local discussion "surgery" in March 2002 to which an open invitation was extended. Officers of the Agency has also regularly attended the Rugby Cement Community Forum. The tyre trial began on 19 May 2004, but stopped on 1 July 2004 following an incident at the plant. Although the incident was not connected in any way with the use of tyres as a fuel, the company had to demonstrate that it could operate responsibly before it was allowed to recommence the tyre trial. Formal trials re-started on 21 October 2005, and lasted until 26 December 2005. Under the Agency's Tyres Protocol, Cemex then had to submit its report on the trial for three months’ public consultation before it would assess it to decide whether the use of tyres as a partial substitute fuel could continue. The Agency received the report on 24 October 2006, since which time it has been studying the evidence presented in the report and the results of the Agency's independent monitoring systems. Under the requirements of the Tyres Protocol, in order to be granted a Permit to burn tyres as a partial substitute fuel on an ongoing basis, Cemex had to demonstrate that it could meet the following success factors, set by the Environment Agency before the trial started: there will be no net environmental detriment to the local environment resulting from a change in emissions caused by the use of tyres as a substitute fuel. This assessment will be based on the methodology in H1 (Agency Horizontal Guidance Note: Environmental Assessment and Approval of BAT and will take into account other benchmark criteria established to protect the environment and human health. The process efficiency when using tyres will not decrease (subject to normal variations). This includes the amount of waste produced. Waste in this case includes recycled materials or reworked clinker. All inspections by Agency officers of the tyre trials will produce acceptable assessments in line with existing Agency compliance assessment tools including the Operator Performance Risk Assessment (OPRA) and Operator Monitoring Assessment (OMA). There will be no increase in abnormal operations as a result of using tyres, including Electrostatic Precipitator (EP) trips. Emission Limit Values (ELVs) will be complied with at all times. The Operator will demonstrate that modulating fuel feeds between coal and tyres can be achieved without adversely affecting kiln stability or emissions. The monitoring information obtained for the baseline and trial periods will be quality assured to ensure it is representative and complies with at least the requirements of the Tyres Protocol. Agency comments Area Environment Manager, Ian Withers, said: "We have studied the report and the results of the tyre trial in great detail before coming to this decision. We are satisfied that Cemex has met the requirements of its Permit and can now burn tyres in accordance with the conditions in the Permit." "Our role is to make sure that Cemex uses the best available techniques to protect human health and the environment. I want to reassure people that we would not have made this decision unless we were completely satisfied that the impact of burning tyres would not be detrimental, compared with standard fuels. Amongst other things the trial has shown that burning tyres results in a reduction in nitrogen oxides, when compared to burning traditional fuels. This will reduce the level of nitrogen dioxide in the Rugby environment." "In our experience, few applications have been subjected to such intense scrutiny and debate as this one. We have committed substantial resources to engaging with and informing the public over an extended period of time and we have ensured that people’s views have been taken into account in making our decision." "We understand our responsibilities to the people of Rugby and we will continue to monitor the site to ensure that the company operates in line with the strict conditions in their Permit. We have already demonstrated that we are prepared to stop the plant operating, and even prosecute if necessary, should Cemex not adhere to the Permit conditions."