WARWICKSHIRE: Building materials' solutions company, CEMEX UK, has been granted permission by the cement industry regulator, the Environment Agency, to use waste-derived Climafuel. It will part-replace the fossil fuels used in the kiln at the Rugby cement plant.

The permission was granted following completion of an extensive trial where Climafuel was used to replace up to 30% of fossil fuels, such as coal, showing significant environmental and sustainability benefits, including a marked reduction of up to 30% in emissions of oxides of nitrogen when Climafuel was in use.

Climafuel is an alternative fuel derived from household residual waste and commercial waste. It looks like shredded paper and consists of paper, cardboard, wood, carpet, textiles and plastics that have been through a treatment process.

It is a solid, non-hazardous fuel from which recoverable materials have been removed for recycling.

Since its introduction in February 2008, almost 130 000 tonnes of Climafuel has been used, produced from approximately 250 000 tonnes of waste that would otherwise have gone to landfill.

Based on the biomass content in the fuel, the use of Climafuel has also saved over 150 000 tonnes of CO2, the same emissions as almost 60 000 cars produce in a year.

If the contribution made by using tyres as a fuel is also included, the total CO2 saving rises to almost 215 000 tonnes.

Rugby plant already has permission to use tyres as a fuel and has been doing so since early 2007. As a result of the success of the use of these alternatives to fossil fuels, CEMEX has applied to the Environment Agency for permission to trial Climafuel at the rate of up to 65% substitution. A decision on this application is expected later this year.