Kaiser Cement's Plan to Burn Tires Fuels Concern About Health Effects

The Experiment

Without the consent of area residents, Kaiser Cement Corporation of Cupertino was allowed to burn tires as a 90-day experiment on the environmental and human health impacts. Kaiser Cement wants permission from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to burn 2 million tires a year.

A recent Kaiser Cement newsletter said that burning tires "poses no health problems." Yet, according to Kaiser's own test results, nitrous oxide, particulate matter and toxic chemicals such as benzene and PCBs increased. Dioxin, the most hazardous toxic known, increased four-fold. As a result of these toxic emissions, the Air District estimates that burning tires at Kaiser would increase the incidence of cancer. We need to be aware of Kaiser's self-serving interpretation of data.

We expect the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to protect our air and public health!

• If Kaiser requests a permit to burn tires, an Environmental Impact Report must be required.

• The community must decide what is considered a "significant" increase in health risk.

• We require the use of the precautionary principle because we cannot predict all the impacts chemicals will have on the environment and human health.

• We encourage Kaiser to work with the Air Board to assess alternative fuels which do not compromise our health and air quality.

• We request that an independent expert, chosen by the community and paid for by Kaiser, aid us in analyzing the test burn data and subsequent documents.

Why Not Let Kaiser Do it?

• Increased emissions of dioxin and benzene cause illness and death.

• Kaiser has a poor environmental record. As recently as 1993, Kaiser Cement was listed on the Toxic Hot Spots list of the worst air polluters in California (AB2588).

• The toxic ash goes into the cement. Kaiser says burning tires is "recycling" since the toxic residues go into the cement. What health impact will this have on those working with this cement?

• Kaiser's motivation is clear: tires are cheaper than coal. Kaiser Cement says burning tires will save them over $500,000 a year. Is cutting costs for Kaiser-- a totally owned subsidiary of British industrial giant Hanson Trust--worth increasing our risk of illness and death ????

Two other cement plants in California have attempted to burn tires as fuel. In Kern County, the court ordered the plant to stop burning tires until an EIR is completed. In Davenport, the company chose not to burn tires rather than complete an EIR.

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition has graciously donated the space for this page to West Valley Citizens Air Watch for their use. If you have any questions regarding the information stated here, please contact Sandra Funke at WVCAW.