Liberals allow tire burning at Lafarge, NDP introduce bill to ban tire burning

HALIFAX -- Today, the NDP Caucus will re-introduce a bill that would ban tire burning in Nova Scotia. This is following a decision today by the Liberal government to approve a pilot project to burn tires.

“Our province has a made-in-Nova Scotia tire recycling program. We shouldn’t be burning tires for fuel, especially when they could be recycled,” said NDP Environment Spokesperson Lenore Zann. “Today’s decision will not only degrade Nova Scotia’s environment but further damage our reputation as a leader in tackling climate change.”

The Nova Scotia legislature passed a bill in 2008 to ban tire burning in Nova Scotia but that legislation was never proclaimed. Community members near the Lafarge cement plant have fought for years to prevent tire burning. Fred Blois is a member of Citizens Against the Burning of Tires (CABOT) and says the Liberal government refused to listen to the evidence against this plan.​​​​​​​

“The existing system has nothing to do with environmental protection, it has to do with something entirely different, the legalizing of harm,” said Blois.

Nova Scotia produces nearly 1 million scrap tires a year. The proposal at Lafarge is to burn 350,000 tires or 6,000 tonnes, for a one year pilot project.

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