A delegation from Ciment Català headed by President Salvador Fernández Capo and technicians from the four associated companies made a visit on May 29 to the facilities of Ecoparc 2, located in Montcada i Reixac. During the tour they have been informed in detail about the waste treatment process corresponding to the rest fraction and, in a special way, that which applies to the rejection part of this fraction. The purpose of the visit was to contrast to what extent this material can be used for cement factories and thus avoid being used for incineration or landfill with the consequent impact on the environment.
The rejection of the rest fraction is the product that remains after separating the recyclable components and of making the most of organic matter such as compost. This residue, called ROM (Residual Organic Material), could be reintroduced into the productive circle of the cement factories in substitution of natural materials, which in this way could be saved in a context of resource use. In this way, the industry would add a new example of commitment to the circular economy and, respecting the hierarchy of waste, would add a new contribution to society in the management of a material that on the other hand can only be used for incineration or dump .
Through various processes, manual and mechanized, the Ecoparc ends by extracting four resources from the metropolitan waste of organic fractions and rest: recoverable materials (packaging, paper and cardboard, glass, etc …), biogas (a source of renewable energy generated by the decomposition of organic matter), compost (organic fertilizer used for agriculture and gardening) and bio-stabilized (organic matter of less quality that is used for landfill). Now, with the possible use of the ROM, an additional use could be made of the waste generated in the homes of Barcelona and neighboring municipalities.