Ontario Construction News staff writer
Lafarge Canada Inc. and Geocycle Canada, part of the Holcim Group, along with the Department of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), have announced the inauguration of Geocycle’s first low-carbon fuel plant in Canada. This $10-million facility, located at the Lafarge Brookfield Cement Plant in Nova Scotia, is set to reduce carbon emissions by 12,000 tonnes annually.
This initiative marks a significant milestone in the 50-year history of the cement plant and received a $3.53-million investment from the federal government’s Energy Innovation Program (EIP), aimed at promoting clean energy technologies to aid Canada’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
“Cement plays a crucial role in infrastructure development that drives economic growth. By embracing sustainable practices, we meet the needs of our customers and the communities we serve today and in the future,” David Redfern, president and CEO of Lafarge Canada (East), said in a statement. “Our collaboration with Geocycle Canada underscores our commitment to advancing circular construction in Canada.”
Once fully operational, the plant will divert about 14,000 tonnes of waste from landfills each year, converting non-recyclable plastics and eventually construction and demolition materials into low-carbon fuel, thereby reducing the Brookfield Cement Plant’s dependency on fossil fuels. This transformation is equivalent to removing approximately 13,480 passenger vehicles from the road.
“Our solutions are designed with circularity in mind. This partnership with Lafarge Canada is a significant step forward in our mission to decarbonize the construction industry in Canada,” said Sophie Wu, head of Geocycle North America.
Commissioning of the plant began in June 2024, with teams from Lafarge and Geocycle collaborating with local manufacturers and materials recovery facilities to source waste for processing. In May, the companies completed a pilot project producing high-quality clinker from recycled materials, further demonstrating their commitment to decarbonizing the construction sector.
