Lafarge issued warning over recycled liquid fuel trials

But, the Agency said its formal warning regarded only a “minor” problem involving the failure to report the exceeding of a cement dust limit.

It has therefore given the company the green light to continue its six-month trial to replace fossil fuels with the recycled liquid fuel at its Westbury plant.

”Our main concern was the failure to report one minor exceedence of a cement dust limit. This is a breach of Lafarge’s permit and as such we have decided to issue a formal warning.“
– Tony Owen, Environment Agency
Suggestions that the company had falsified data relating to cement quality and that there were weaknesses in Lafarge's environmental management system were not supported by its investigation, the Agency said.

The investigation of Lafarge Cement's Wiltshire operation was sparked in February this year after “minor technical irregularities” were found in cement manufactured there. The company had been trialing the use of recycled liquid fuel – a high-grade blended fuel made from waste materials used in making products including screen wash, paint, printing ink and brush cleaners – to replace fossil fuels (see letsrecycle.com story).

However, after a “comprehensive audit” the Agency today gave the Lafarge a clean bill of health save for the minor transgression that resulted in the formal warning. Tony Owen, area manager for the Environment Agency, confirmed that Lafarge’s environment management system is “robust” and that the data the Agency receives from the company is” sound”.

Concern
Mr Owen, said: “There are no issues with falsification of data however our main concern was the failure to report one minor exceedence of a cement dust limit. This is a breach of Lafarge’s permit and as such we have decided to issue a formal warning.

“None of the findings revealed by the investigation are of significant concern in relation to any potential or actual impact on the environment or human health,” Mr Owen added.

Other points identified were the failure by a contractor to exactly follow the relevant standards for monitoring and the lack of documented procedures for data conversions and providing monitoring returns for the Environment Agency. However the audit confirmed that the monitoring returns were carried out correctly.

The formal warning means that the offence has been formally recorded and that further breaches of the permit will be viewed seriously and may result in more formal action, the Agency said.

A summary of the Agency report on Lafarge is available on teh Environment Agency website. A copy of the full audit is available on request – tel: 01278 484530.