Tyre recyclers fuel air pollution, activists seek closure of units

Air pollution is a pricking issue now. Everyone is in favour of getting clean air, but there is disagreement over pollutants and the scope of containing it.

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) had urged India to take urgent action to tackle air pollution as the levels of toxic air in many cities of the country are much higher than recommended. Studies have also linked pollution with premature deaths in India. While air pollution has reached alarming levels, the tyre recycling industry is said to be a major contributor to it. Environmental activists have been seeking the closure of polluting pyrolysis units or systematic monitoring of it by the Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board.

Pyrolysis is the method by which tyres are recycled in an oxygen-free atmosphere. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had pulled up 270 tyre pyrolysis units in 19 States, including Tamil Nadu, for using technology that is polluting. The board has also asked its State counterparts to submit reports on the closure of units that violated the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The CPCB had directed a ban on illegal pyrolysis industries that use waste tyres as raw material to produce fuel oil. The ban was effective in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Khand and Uttar Pradesh.

Following the CPCB’s directive, Tamil Nadu recently closed three pyrolysis units out of 17 across the State. TNPCB officials said that the three units were shut down as they violated environmental norms and caused high levels of pollution.

According to environmental activists, India discards more than two lakh tyres every day but the country has no alternative method to deal with the waste. The country also imports waste tyres from other countries which are being used in pyrolysis units. Shredded tyres, at temperatures between 250º C and 500º C, produce liquid oil and gases.

While pyrolysis is safer than just burning tyres, it leaves fine carbon matter and pyrogas as residue. If they are not managed properly, it can lead to health risks.

“Earlier, old tyres were processed and reused. But, with the introduction of radial tyres, the practice had to be discontinued. Now, the option left is to send old tyres industries to be used as fuel. Industries import waste tyres from other countries as well, but without proper guidelines,” Santhanam N, an activist, said. India is a recipient of used tyres from Australia and the UK, which are sent for recycling and disposal.

Santhanam added that the TNPCB should introduce a checking mechanism to ensure air pollution is under check even if the chief technical officer has is-sued clearance. “Why is the TNPCB not alerting the firm which caused the pollution. The TNPCB should also have sought the CPCB’s advice on the matter with regard to the NGT’s order,” he said.

Another environmental activist Vishwanathan S said the units also impacted the health of the workers. “Before issuing licences to industries, the TNPCB should ensure that the units don’t harm public health. Constant monitoring is necessary to ensure that these units do not flout rules. The TNPCB need not wait for approval to close down or act tough on these units,” he added.

TNPCB had taken action against three units following public outrage. Sources said residents in the vicinity faced health issues and the TNPCB was forced to act. “There are more polluting units and the TNPCB should not stop at three,” Vishwanathan said.

Speaking to DT Next, G Gopalakrishnan, Joint Chief Environment Engineer, TNPCB, said, “We were instructed to inspect and close the pyrolysis units that were violating environmental norms, by December 25, 2019. We identified three units across the State and closed them down.”

He pointed out the effects of the other units were not very evident as there were located on the outskirts of the city. “Compared to pollution from vehicles and other industries, this should be considered a lesser harm. We are monitoring the pollution levels and reports are sent to CPCB regularly,” he added.

When contacted, an official at Pairan Pyrolysis Private Limited in Erode said that they check the pollution level every month and send a report to the TNPCB. “All the units in Tamil Nadu should follow the guidelines issued by CPCB, which is overseen by TNPCB. The three units which were shut down by the TNPCB might not have followed the prescribed guidelines,” he said.