Page 40 - 2019 Sustainability Report

GOOD FOR BUSINESS,

GREAT FOR OUR EARTH

NEW SYSTEM PROVIDES MIDLOTHIAN CEMENT WITH ALTERNATIVE FUEL

SOURCE THAT CONSERVES NATURAL RESOURCES AND DRIVES PROFIT

Discarded tires are a problem. hope to dramatically increase that figure in the next
That’s not an opinion. It’s a fact. few years, ultimately relying far less on coal.
The USEPA says the United States produces about 290 The change also means Midlothian now consumes
million tires each year. Besides being an eyesore, discarded more tires than ever before, a fact that the division’s
tires are a fire hazard and, after capturing rainwater, Director of Environmental Services Michael Meinen
become an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes that and others appreciate.
eventually spread disease.
But what if we could take millions of discarded tires out “Tires are an engineered product made
of the equation while finding an environmentally friendly of highly refined rubber, and that is what’s
purpose for them? really important to us when we think of
them as an alternative fuel.”
That’s exactly what’s happening at our Midlothian Cement
Plant just south of Dallas.
“While this system is helping us minimize our dependence
on fossil fuels, it’s also helping the Texas Commission on
“Our new system is a true win-win for our Environmental Quality (TCEQ),” Meinen said. “Managing
company and the environment. And our the tires discarded across the state is a challenge for the
state and federal environmental agencies TCEQ, so they’re constantly seeking safe and efficient
have been completely supportive.” recycling methods.”

According to Rowley’s research, more than 16 million
“I’m truly excited about this because I love the of those 290 million annually discarded tires across the
environment and want my family — especially my two United States are found in Texas. With the new shredding
young daughters — to enjoy it as I have,” said Midlothian system in place, Midlothian is positioned to use about
Plant Manager Ricardo Del Valle Favela. “Our new system 16,000 of those tires each day. Combine that figure with
is a true win-win for our company and the environment. the shredded tires the site already purchases separately
And our state and federal environmental agencies have and the impact expands greatly; Rowley said the plant set
been completely supportive.” a record in August 2019 when it consumed 45,000 tires in
Since 2008, Midlothian has used a mixture of fuel a single day.
sources, including whole tires, to power its cement Extrapolate those numbers across an entire year, and they
production, according to Vice President of Cement become astounding. On an annual basis, Martin Marietta
Operations Alan Rowley. can now take millions of discarded tires out of the
Recently, the team added a new system to its operation environment while drastically reducing the potential for
that shreds whole tires. The system is allowing the plant dangerous fires and the risks for mosquito-borne illnesses.
to produce an alternative fuel source that is equally as Environmental impact aside, the system is also great
efficient as its traditional competitors. for business. An engineering marvel, the shredding system
“Tires are an engineered product made of highly refined takes in whole tires by the truckload, then runs them to
rubber, and that is what’s really important to us when we the kiln in a methodical and controlled manner. Tires are
think of them as an alternative fuel,” Rowley said. “That moved onto a conveyor one at a time and then pushed
rubber offers a high heat value. It’s as uniform as natural through a number of grinders that shred them into very
gas and, in our kiln system, more uniform than coal.” small chips. About 15 percent of an average road tire’s
weight comes from the steel lining beneath the rubber,
Midlothian has traditionally relied on alternative fuel so the shredding system involves a series of magnets to
sources to provide about 10 percent of its total fuel. remove that lining.
With the new system in place, Rowley and the team

40 / MARTIN MARIETTA / SUSTAINABILITY REPORT / 2019