As part of its implementation of the Landfill Directive, the UK banned the landfill of whole tyres from July last year, and is set to ban the landfilling of shredded tyres from July 16, 2006 (see letsrecycle.com story). About 435,000 tonnes of waste tyres arise each year in the UK, with the latest figures suggesting about 34% still go to landfill.
Anticipating a healthy market for used tyres, Moncktons is now looking to become one of the first businesses in the UK to use tyres to make coke. The company has already conducted successful trials at its plant in Barnsley using 7% crumbed tyres with coal in its carbonising process.
The company plans to use up to 20,000 tonnes of tyres a year in its 42 ovens and already has planning permission from the local authority to build a tyre crumbing facility on the site.
Following its trials, the company has now applied to the Environment Agency to extend its Pollution Prevention and Control Permit to cover waste tyres.
Mick Gore, works director at Moncktons Coke and Chemical Company, told letsrecycle.com explained that during the test the company trialled the tyres in a test oven before looking at emission changes in the plant’s other ovens.
He explained: “We conducted a comprehensive trial. We have got a number of coke ovens on the site and we first used the tyres in the test ovens, a few ovens at a time and then 7% tyres in all 42 ovens.”
Emissions
Mr Gore explained that an independent company was testing the emissions from carbonising the tyres with coal, and that it “did not feel there was any detrimental effect” compared to using coal only. The results of the study have now been submitted to the Agency as part of Moncktons' PPC application.
As part of the permitting process, the Agency is looking for responses from the public to using tyres at the Monckton site.
Anne Wallace, Agency regulatory officer, said: “We recognise local people may have some concerns over possible impact on health and the environment. We would welcome any responses to the application from the public who have 28 days to contact us.”
Mr Gore said that Moncktons fully supports the public process but said there was often a misperception as to the process used by the company. “We are not burning tyres, we are carbonising them,” he said.
Moncktons Coke and Chemical Company is awaiting its PPC permit before installing a crumbing machine to break tyres down for use in the process. The company hopes to start using tyres in its coke ovens in autumn 2004.
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