EPA Imposes Ban On Tyre Pyrolysis Units For Emitting Toxic Gas

There are approximately 11 factories in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that dispose of used tyres, nine of which are in Nowshera and two of which are in the Badabair neighbourhood of Peshawar.

EPA Imposes Ban On Tyre Pyrolysis Units For Emitting Toxic Gas

Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KP imposed a ban for one year throughout the province on toxic gas emitting tyre pyrolysis (decomposition of materials by elevated temperature) units.

According to a notification released by EPA KP, the order of ban on tyre pyrolysis made in reliance on the authority granted by clause (XII) of Section 07 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Act 2014 has been implemented with immediate effect.

The choice was made in accordance with Peshawar High Court (PHC) orders directing action against factories that produce tyres. There are approximately 11 factories in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that dispose of used tyres, nine of which are in Nowshera and two of which are in the Badabair neighbourhood of Peshawar.

Because factories severely pollute the air around them, they release toxic gases into the air that can lead to a variety of respiratory conditions. While praising the decision, Dr. Adil Zareef of the Sarhad Conservation Network (SCN) has called for a total ban on the practice.

Additionally, he called for action to reduce air pollution caused by emissions from various production facilities and vehicles.

Tyre pyrolysis is a process that involves the thermal decomposition of tyres at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen. This process can be used to recover valuable products such as fuel oil, carbon black, and steel wire from discarded tyres.

However, tyre pyrolysis can also produce toxic gases as a byproduct of the process, including carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These gases can be harmful to human health if inhaled or ingested, and can also have negative environmental impacts.

It is important for companies that engage in tyre pyrolysis to take steps to control and mitigate the emissions of toxic gases from their operations. This may include the use of emissions control technologies such as scrubbers, which can remove pollutants from the gas stream before it is released into the air.

It is also important for governments to regulate the tyre pyrolysis industry and set limits on the emissions of toxic gases to protect public health and the environment.