Canada: A group of residents close to the Lafarge Canada Brookfield plant has launched a court challenge arguing the Nova Scotia government's approval of a plan to burn tyres as an alternative fuel at the plant violated the Environment Act.
In his application for a judicial review, lawyer William Mahody wrote that Environment Minister Iain Rankin didn't properly assess the impact of emissions from the Lafarge plant in Brookfield on surrounding areas, stating that was a ‘strong potential for adverse effects’ on surface water, human health and wildlife from the project. The plan has run into criticism from environmental groups, municipal councils and area residents, who prevented a similar proposal a decade ago.
Nova Scotia’s waste diversion agency has shifted a supply of at least 280,000 tyres per year to Lafarge and recently approved the company's environmental application for a one-year pilot project to incinerate the tyres as fuel.
Lafarge says it can't comment on the judicial review. However, Robert Cumming, the environmental director at Lafarge, says research conducted off-site by a Dalhousie University engineer suggests the use of scrap tyres will lower the plant's CO2 emissions. "Our pilot project seeks to validate this evidence gathered from scientific reports and in Dalhousie University laboratories. The research team and Lafarge have committed to sharing the results with the community."
