Alberta launches pilot project to burn old tires for fuel

Alberta has launched a pilot project to burn 1.5 million tires for industrial energy — starting at the Lafarge concrete plant in Kananaskis, west of Calgary.

“This pilot is the first of its kind in Alberta, though similar programs have been launched in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec,” said Brad Pickering with the Alberta Recycling Management Authority.

The tire-derived fuel pilot was one of three initiatives announced Wednesday in the small community of Exshaw.

Lafarge’s low-carbon fuel facility now burns construction demolition waste in place of natural gas, which officials say will save 120,000 tonnes of material from the landfill and reduce emissions by 30,000 tonnes.

Burning tires, Lafarge says, is the next step in resource recovery.

And the province will also use $10 million in industrial carbon taxes for grants to help other companies pay for energy-efficient retrofits.

“This is about more than just reducing emissions,” said Rebecca Shultz, Alberta’s environment minister. “It’s about keeping people working and building a prosperous and sustainable future for all Albertans.”

Albertans have reused or recycled more than 149 million tires since 1992. But officials say there is declining demand to turn them into things like playground surfaces or roofing tiles, so burning them also takes care of that.

“The intent is to recover the energy out of the tires using technology and the burning of the material allows that to occur within current environment standards as a result of the technology,” Pickering said.

“The emissions are no worse than burning a fossil fuel,” added Brad Kohl with Lafarge Canada.

A spokesperson for the Sierra Club Canada Foundation is skeptical of the plan, saying he’d like to see industry shifting to renewable energy wherever possible.

“I don’t think it speaks particularly well for natural gas as fuel if you can burn tires and it will be cleaner. So, to my mind, this is a little weird,” Conor Curtis said.

Banff-Kananaskis MLA and NDP environment critic Sarah Elmeligi is happy to see Lafarge making voluntary improvements, but will be keeping an eye on the tire burning.

“One of my sources of data will be listening to my constituents in terms of what they experience with this pilot project in terms of odour, particle matter, how often they have to change their furnace filters,” said Elmeligi.

Officials say the tire-derived fuel pilot will be tested for viability. If it passes, it could become a permanent part of Alberta recycling and expanded to other facilities.