Alberta is rolling out an ambitious new pilot program to turn millions of old tires into fuel as part of its latest push for sustainability. In partnership with Lafarge Canada, the province has launched the Tire-Derived Fuel (TDF) pilot project alongside the Strategic Energy Management for Industry (SEMI) program.
The TDF pilot project, led by the Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA), will test the viability of converting used tires into fuel for industrial applications. Up to 1.5 million old tires will be processed into 15,750 tonnes of tire chips, which will be used as fuel at Lafarge Canada’s new Low-Carbon Fuel Facility in Exshaw. This facility, equipped with advanced technology to burn waste-derived fuels, will replace a portion of its natural gas usage with tire-derived fuel.
The project aims to determine whether tire-derived fuel should become a permanent part of Alberta’s Tire Recycling Program. Ed Gugenheimer, President and CEO of ARMA, emphasized that the initiative addresses declining markets for recycled tire products and helps manage tire stockpiles across the province.
ARMA’s Tire Recycling Program repurposes scrap tires into various products, such as playground surfaces, roofing tiles, and landscaping mulch. As demand for these products declines, the province is exploring new, energy-generating uses for waste tires.
In addition to the TDF pilot, the Alberta government is investing $10 million from the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund into the SEMI program. This initiative, managed by Emissions Reduction Alberta, is open to applications today and offers financial support to help Alberta’s industrial and manufacturing facilities reduce energy consumption and emissions. The program will cover energy assessments, capital retrofits, and training for companies looking to improve efficiency.
The SEMI program targets various sectors, including agriculture, forestry, mining, oil and gas, and cement manufacturing. It aims to help industries adopt advanced energy-saving technologies and practices through technical support and knowledge-sharing opportunities, reducing operational costs and emissions.
Thanks to a $10 million TIER fund investment, Lafarge Canada opened its Low-Carbon Fuel Facility in Exshaw. The facility will convert construction and demolition waste into low-carbon fuel, replacing up to 50 percent of the natural gas used at the site. This shift is expected to divert 120,000 tonnes of waste from landfills annually and cut emissions by up to 30,000.
Brad Kohl, President and CEO of Lafarge Canada (West), highlighted the importance of government support for technological innovation, noting that it has been instrumental in developing low-carbon solutions for the company. The new facility is a significant step toward advancing Alberta’s sustainability goals.
Since 1992, ARMA’s Tire Recycling Program has recycled over 149.5 million tires, diverting substantial amounts of waste from landfills. However, with market demand for traditional recycled tire products declining, the TDF pilot seeks to establish a long-term solution for managing tire waste in Alberta.
Emissions Reduction Alberta has invested $960 million in more than 290 projects, which are expected to reduce 40 million tonnes of emissions by 2030. Federal funding is also anticipated to support the SEMI program, with further details to be announced.
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