Wyandotte Official: Burning Tires is 'Better Alternative' to Burning Just Coal
Wyandotte provides power to nearly 26,000 residents by burning a mixture of coal and tires and natural gas.
Wyandotte was recently featured in an article in the Detroit Free Press highlighting Michigan municipalities that burn tires to create electricity for residents.
Residents who live in towns with tire-burning power plants have challenged municipalities because of pollution concerns, according to the Detroit Free Press.
However, Wyandotte's Acting General Manager Rod Lesko told Patch he had not heard of any complaints regarding the burning of tire derived fuel (TDF).
"Most of the complaints that I can recall had to do with odors that have been emitted do to the occasional coal pile fire," Lesko said. "We are actually looking to modify our process so that our coal pile is not so large to reduce the likelihood of a spontaneous combustion coal fire."
Lesko added that burning tires is a better alternative to burning 100 percent coal--both economically and environmentally.
One concern mentioned in the Free Press article is that scientists have said that government standards are too low and power plant equipment is inefficient.
Lesko said, while burning any type of fuel will create pollutants, in comparison to coal, the TDF helps keep our emissions well within federal guide lines with a little extra leeway.
"The major plus side is that the tires that we consume are not going to a landfill," Lesko said.
Sue Czarnecki
11:47 am on Monday, March 18, 2013
Does anyone know how many toxic chemicals are released when tires are burned?
Nicole P
3:15 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Sue--from articles it is not good!
acroporless
1:54 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
0.000000000000000001 Per Million Miles, Less if rotated fruequently!
laura young
4:00 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
I'm all for the environment and not sending anything to a landfill that doesn't have to be there. However, that being said, I hope that these burned tires are not going straight to our lungs. I would assume if we are burning them, we have done the research to know if the fumes created are toxic or not??? If anyone has ever watched a person battle lung cancer, it is not a fun way to go!
LW
6:35 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
I would like to see an official report on this. I would think both are toxic, but which is worse? Guess I'll have to do a little research myself.
LW
6:41 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
http://www.lesspollution.org/learn.html
Here is a good article on it.
Nicole P
3:13 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Screw the landfills....lets be concerned about what we are breathing. And what does Lesko mean about --"TDF helps keep our emissions well within federal guide lines with a little extra leeway". What leeway?
T. Sig
5:51 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
I heard the TDF Tire Derived Fuel actually burns Cleaner and Hotter,more BTUs, within the boiler than the coal.
T. Sig
5:58 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
And its cheaper.than coal...the title Burning tires is misleading because what comes to peoples mind is thick black smoke like when theres a car fire .Within the controlled enviroment of the boiler the TDF doesnt burn like that at all.
T. Sig
6:08 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Oh and Sue? And Nicole? Relax please. Im sure you both catch more Toxic Emissions walking past the smokers outside your Bingo Hall than are being emitted from the plant. So if you both stop talking and listen to what Lesko is saying I think you just MAY be able to catch the NEXT Concerned Citizen Bandwagon and hop on it Post Haste !!
Nicole P
7:30 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
T.Sig-relaxed over here and not jumping on any bandwagons anytime soon. Whats wrong with being a little concerned and posting my opinions on an article? I will do more reading up on it other than this article. Chill dude/dudette
T. Sig
7:41 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Didnt say anything was wrong with having an opinion less its a negative one based on what little facts youve just read. This is also my opinion and I am chilled.
Nicole P
7:56 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Cool. See you at the Bingo hall :)
T. Sig
11:13 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Ill bring the chips.....
Carey
3:44 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
YA. Well, let's not forget about this story: http://wyandotte.patch.com/articles/federal-government-sues-wyandotte-over-air-emissions
And then this one (even though not at the power plant, still close enough)
http://wyandotte.patch.com/articles/basf-to-pay-more-than-1m-to-correct-air-pollution-at-wyandotte-plant
Trish S.
10:17 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
....and do you 'know' that the story (from first link) was caused by burning of rubber chip (tires)? The power plant uses the tire chip (they are not taking whole tires and burning them) and combine it with the coal...and i 'may' be mistaken, but I do believe that they are not burning the chip along with coal 365 days a year, sometime coal alone. Why dont those of you who believe this is more harmful contact the power plant and ask what the process is...then contact the epa and ask them which causes more pollution instead of reading stories/articles on the internet...because as we all know...and see here, everyone has their own opinion.
William Riley
11:47 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013
The Federal Government is bent on shutting down ALL coal fired electric plants in this country, despite all the efforts made to control emissions from them. Every time a plant becomes compliant, they add more restrictions. OK, let's go to all natural gas!!! I sure hope all of those people out there screaming for the close of these plants or their conversion to gas can afford the much higher electric bills. As a retiree I know I can't, but then, who cares? Try looking up the word COMPROMISE sometime. As for burning tires, I'd like to see an independent test and report on the effects before saying it's good or bad.