Residents close to Adbri’s Birkenhead cement plant near Adelaide, South Australia, have expressed concern about a potential increase in the amount of plastic being burned as an alternative fuel (AF) at the plant. City of Port Adelaide Enfield Councillor Peter McGregor has also announced his opposition.
"Adbri has used refuse-derived fuel (RDF) in the past. It currently contains 20% plastic. What they're proposing now is to use more RDF and increase the plastic in a separate part of their plant," said McGregor, who claimed that a new permit would allow the plant to use up to 50% plastic in its RDF. This has not been confirmed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In a statement, Adbri said the company has hosted information sessions and has encouraged the local community ‘to provide feedback on proposed trials to further reduce fossil fuel usage’ at its Birkenhead facility. Adbri said that the RDF it uses is made from construction and demolition waste that would otherwise be sent to landfill and that the trial would take place in full compliance with EPA regulations.