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Holcim Proposes To Burn Toxic Waste In Dundee

Environmentalists Call On Holcim To Modernize Plant

December 18, 2001 - Dundee, Michigan

Contact:
Jeff Gearhart, Ecology Center, (734) 663-2400 ext. 117
Arreta Schills, Local Resident, (734) 439-2573
Jerry Renning, Michigan Citizens Against Toxic Substances(MCATS), (734) 439-3040

Background on Holcim Proposal

1999 EPA TRI Emissions Summary for Michigan
Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data shows how Holnam's (now Holcim) emissions compare to other facilties in the state.

List of Proposed "Alternative Fuels" from Holcim's permit application to the State of Michigan.

Background Information on Dioxin

Holcim (formerly Holnam, Inc.) has applied for a permit to burn 79 different types of waste in its Dundee, Michigan (20 minutes south of Ann Arbor) cement kiln. Environmentalists and local residents today announced plans to oppose the proposal and called on the plant to modernize their operations. The Holcim cement kiln produces 1.1 million tons per year of cement and is the 6th largest polluter in the state, emitting 2.6 million pounds of pollutants annually.

The permit application, which was filed with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality on November 19th, contains a three page list of 79 different materials which the plant proposes to burn. While none of the wastes are regulated as hazardous, a number of the proposed waste materials contain toxic contaminants. For example, auto fluff is contaminated with PVC, lead, and mercury; pulp and paper sludges contain dioxins. When burned, chlorinated organics (e.g. PVC) are known to form deadly dioxins.

Environmentalists charge that the burning of toxic waste materials will increase emissions of dioxins and other air toxics, like heavy metals, including lead and mercury. "Holcim is more interested in increasing profits by burning toxic waste, than it is in truly improving the plant's environmental performance," said Jeff Gearhart, Campaign Director of the Ecology Center.

Holcim still uses the obsolete and energy-intensive wet process while 94% of European and Japanese plants have adopted the dry and semi-dry cement processes. Dry processing not only saves 50+% on fuels but additionally reduces emissions of toxins and greenhouse gases. Instead of modernizing its process, Holcim is trying to cut costs by burning toxic waste fuels.

Environmentalists have called for Holcim to drop its toxic waste plans and have called for the company to adopt a 3-point plan to improve the plant; (1) Convert the plant to a dry kiln process -- reducing energy needs and emissions by more than 50%; (2) Implement energy conservation by using its hot exhaust gases to dry raw materials and generate electricity; and (3) maintain the regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) to reduce the bulk of its permitted annual release of 7,200 tons of volatile organic compounds that contribute to ground level ozone formation.

Furthermore, environmentalists assert that Holcim is attempting to use a regulatory loophole to avoid comprehensive evaluations. Lawyers for Holcim have argued that most of the plant's operation should be grandfathered from state review and that it may not be in compliance with current state regulations.

"Šit is entirely possible that a source the size of the Kilns [Holcimıs plant] would have pre-existing emissions of some toxic air contaminants that would not be able to meet the standards imposed on new sources under the air toxics rules." P6, Honigman, Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, Letter to DEQ, October 15, 2001.

Environmentalists contend that the entire plant should be evaluated to determine if it is in compliance with state and federal environmental regulations.

The Ecology Center is a 31-year-old nonprofit environmental organization which works for clean air, safe water, and healthy communities in southeast Michigan. MCATS is a ten-year-old organization originally formed to fight a proposed hazardous waste facility in Augusta Township, and now working to stop the dumping of toxics into our environment.