EuCIA has collaborated with industry partners to issue a joint statement highlighting the urgent global challenge of waste management and calling for stronger policy support to unlock the full potential of cement co-processing as a safe, effective and sustainable global waste management solution.
The statement, co-signed by the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) – Africa, Mission Possible Partnership (MPP), and Global Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council (WtERT®), explains how the cement industry can make a substantial and positive contribution in tackling the challenge of non-recyclable and non-reusable waste through energy and mineral recovery in the process known as co-processing. In this process, waste is used to replace fossil fuels in heating cement kilns, while any remaining ashes are recycled into the building material compound itself, making it a zero-waste solution. This process maximises the environmental value of waste treatment and lowers the demand for new disposal infrastructure.
Co-processing is recognised as an environmentally sound waste management practice around the world. A life cycle assessment (LCA) report commissioned by EuCIA and nine association partners confirms the positive environmental impact of this end-of-life solution for glass fibre reinforced thermoset composites.
When lifetime extension strategies for composite parts are no longer possible, the final option is recycling. One of the most effective methods for recycling glass fibre composites is reprocessing into cement. Reprocessing into cement is available now and paves the way for further composites recycling process under development.
Policy asks
We call on international stakeholders and national and municipal governments to support uptake of co-processing across the world by calling for and delivering policies that will:
- recognise co-processing as a sustainable waste management method – providing simultaneous energy recovery and material recycling – in waste policy frameworks;
- incentivise collection, sorting and pre-treatment of waste at municipal level to ensure quality and consistency of waste streams, encouraging recycling of the recyclable material and the co-processing of non-recyclable material;
- enable environmental permit-issuing at the cement plants to get access to suitable waste;
- count the materials’ content (ash) effectively recycled through co-processing towards national recycling targets;
- provide fiscal incentives acknowledging the environmental benefits of co-processing waste in a cement kiln to create a level playing field with other waste management and energy options;
- create public-private partnerships for co-processing to allow risk-sharing and ensure long-term sustainability;
- encourage knowledge transfer and policy alignment across regions to unlock the full potential of co-processing as a sustainable waste management solution.
Download the Joint industry statement on the role of co-processing in sustainable waste management.
GCCA communications campaign
The GCCA has launched a communications campaign on the theme Co-processing – transforming waste into purpose. This aims to:
- Increase recognition and awareness (among key stakeholders and the public) of cement co-processing and its benefits;
- Increase the adoption of enabling legal and regulatory frameworks to accelerate and increase co-processing implementation.
It will highlight how co-processing offers:
- A win-win for society and the environment.
- An effective and safe waste management solution.
- A positive circular solution.
- A positive alternative to fossil fuels.
