A cement company’s plan to burn more tires draws opposition from South Seattle neighbors

Driving on Highway 99 or the West Seattle Bridge, you might recognize the gray domes and towers of the Ash Grove Cement Company along the Duwamish River.

What you might not know is that the facility, which is responsible for producing one of the most consumed materials in the world, burns whole tires in the process, some 1.2 million a year.

The practice has garnered significant opposition in the Duwamish Valley as Ash Grove has sought a permit that would remove the limit on how many tires the company can use to fire its kiln. Currently, tires can’t make up more than 30% of its fuel supply.