Unions and employers evaluate the results of the sustainable use of resources in cement plants

The Autonomous Committee for the monitoring of the agreement on the sustainable use of resources in Catalonia (CASA Cataluña), in its telematic meeting on December 2, evaluated the situation of the recovery of waste in the cement factories of Catalonia that, therefore, refers to energy substitution, it exceeded 40% during 2019. In this sense, it was reported that contacts have been maintained with the Catalan Waste Agency for the possible recovery in the cement plant of the fraction rejection of bio-dried MSW (MOR), estimated at about 200,000 tons per year. The tests that are being carried out include the adaptation of the material (level of digestion, humidity, addition of wood and plastic waste to the rest fraction) to comply with the energy recovery specifications of cement factories. It could begin to appreciate, at the earliest, at the end of 2021.

CASA Cataluña also analyzed the ruling of the Supreme Court (TS) on the General Program for the prevention and management of waste and resources of Catalonia 2013-2020 (PRECAT), in which a ruling favourable to the appeal filed by the cement sector on the section that stated that by 2020 100% of Catalonia’s end-of-life tires (NFU) should be sent for material recovery. It was also agreed to resume institutional contacts and visits to factories with the new government and political parties, once the Catalan elections are held, scheduled for February 14, 2021.

All attendees highly appreciated the power of the joint work developed between employers and unions last year, with eight meetings held in less than a month, which made it possible for to fail the resolution proposal presented by the Catalunya parliamentary group In Comú Podem in which it requested the Government of the Generalitat to create an additional tax on the emission of greenhouse gases in cement plants. The meetings also served to convey the image of a modern and innovative sector, and to avoid the approval of a parliamentary proposal whose objective was to urge the Government of the Generalitat to prohibit energy recovery in cement plants.