People concerned about cement plant application in Mississauga
Published September 9, 2024 at 1:38 pm
An application to burn alternative fuel at a cement plant in Mississauga has some residents concerned.
Ash Grove Mississauga Cement Plant at 2391 Lakeshore Rd. W. is preparing an Alternative Low Carbon Fuels application for the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks.
The plant wants to burn “alternative” fuels such as non-recyclable construction and demolition by-product materials, non-recyclable paper fibre, wood, plastics, and plastic composite materials, non-recyclable industrial rubber materials, non-recyclable industrial tire fluff material, and non-recyclable plastic, Ash Grove said in a notice posted on their website.
The material would provide an energy source and reduce the plant’s greenhouse gas emissions, the notice said.
Alternative Low Carbon Fuels are used in cement kilns around the world, including in Ontario, and are a proven method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the plant said.
Cement plants are well equipped to use Alternative Low Carbon Fuels as they operate at very high temperatures and require long residence times to make the cement product, Ash Grove said.
Attempts to reach a spokesperson at the plant went unanswered. MPP Rudy Cuzzetto’s office also did not respond to a request for an interview.
Several people have raised concerns about the application in a post on the Mississauga sub-Reddit.
People suggested the gases produced by the materials burned may be harmful to nearby residents.
“How will the company invest in sorting the landfill from acceptable to non use,” one person wrote. “Improper sorting will lead to unknown toxicity.”
“Environmental protection has been sliced and diced in this province let’s not lose sight of that,” another person posted.
An area resident’s association also raised concerns about a previous application from the plant.
In February, the Park Royal Community Association posted its worries about another application.
This application, also to the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks, was to approve an alternate standard, known as “site-specific standards” for its operations, which would allow for higher than the recommended level of emissions, the association said.
“These emissions are harmful to our health and the environment, creating smog and acid rain,” the association said.
Ash Grove is holding a public meeting about the application for Alternative Low Carbon Fuels on Sept. 12 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The meeting is at the Admiral Inn & Suites, 2161 North Sheridan Way.
More information can be found here.
Lead photo: Google Maps