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LAFARGE'S PLAN TO CUT POLLUTION RISES FROM THE ASHES

Dec, 14 2004

LAFARGE'S PLAN TO CUT POLLUTION RISES FROM THE ASHES (UK) Lafarge Cement's Cauldon Works is to continue in its mission to reduce its impact on the environment by replacing some of the raw materials it currently uses with a by-product of the paper industry. The company is looking at reducing the amount of raw materials it has to dig from its quarries to make cement. Historically it has used limestone and shale as the main ingredients. Now, in an innovative way of using a derivative of the paper industry, Lafarge will use paper ash to replace some of the raw materials. In consultation and agreement with the Environment Agency, this latest development highlights the company's commitment to cut the amount of natural resources it uses as fuels and raw materials in the process. In fact, more than half the fuel used at the plant now comes from more sustainable sources such as scrap tyres and processed sewage pellets. "We are joining forces with an energy recovery power plant in Kemsley, Kent to further improve our environmental performance," said works manager Ian Mycock. "The plant is partly powered by waste material from an adjoining paper mill - material which cannot be recycled back into paper. "This combined heat and power (CHP) plant generates electricity for both the paper mill and the surrounding area. "The ash we will use is a by-product from this operation. As both limestone and paper ash are calcium-based, this material is a good fit for our process." Previously, the paper ash from the CHP facility was being sent to a landfill site. "Finding another use for it is good news for the environment and fully in line with the Government's push to make landfill the last resort for waste disposal." The paper ash is not only a similar chemical make-up to existing quarried raw materials, but it is also a material in which the carbon has already been removed. That means the carbon dioxide emissions from the cement works will reduce, helping the country meet its self-imposed emission reduction targets (in line with the Kyoto climate change protocol). Lafarge has invested more than £200,000 in new equipment to store the material and introduce it into the kiln where the cement is made. The usual high quality of the cement will be maintained. Ian continues: "Not only will the use of paper ash at Cauldon help us further reduce our impact on the environment, it will also help us maintain our competitiveness and help to secure local jobs and our annual £10m-plus contribution to the local economy." The plant has also significantly reduced the dust levels in its limestone quarry by investing more than £100,000 in new filtering equipment. The 'reverse jet filter', which acts like an enormous vacuum cleaner has been installed in the building where large pieces of limestone are crushed for use as a raw material in the cement-making process at the works. Ian said: "We have replaced a 47-year-old unit with state-of-the-art technology, which once again significantly improves our environmental performance. The new filter unit will reduce our emissions from the crusher to almost undetectable levels. "Not only does this industrial vacuum cleaner remove most of the dust particles from the air around the crusher building in the quarry, it also recycles the dust by placing it back on to a conveyor to be mixed with the other limestone, ready for use in the production process."