The LaFarge Dunbar cement works is involved in several exchanges: utilising recycled liquid fuel (RLF) and scrap tyres for fuel; ash (from ScotAsh, a joint venture with Scottish Power) and recycled glass/sand as alternative raw materials. LaFarge has recently formed two joint venture companies: Sapphire Energy Recovery, a joint venture with Michelin to provide a reliable supply of waste tyres; and Glacier ARM to source alternative raw materials.
Glacier sources mainly silica material because limestone and shale are sourced from LaFarge’s own quarry at Dunbar. The Dunbar plant utilises approximately 3 million tyres (about 22,000 tonnes) and 20,000 of RLF, saving over 40,000 tonnes of fossil fuels (LaFarge, 2003). In addition emissions of nitrogen oxides have been reduced due to improved combustion.
The drivers for these synergies came from a combination of legislation, cost reduction and EMS improvements. EU led legislation is phasing out landfill as a disposal option for tyres (by 2006) creating an impetus to form a coordinated collection system. The creation of Sapphire has now ensured that LaFarge will have a reliable supply of tyres of a fuel which is lower in cost and has the additional benefit of improved emissions.
| Industry Sector | Specific Industry |
|---|---|
| cement industry |
|
| power / ash recovery |
|
Dunbar, Forth Valley, Scotland, United Kingdom
Economic |
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|---|---|
Environment |
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Social |
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None.
25 November 2005