Material recovery
Savings in consumption of natural resources for the production of clinker came close to 74 thousand tons during 2020 thanks to the use of waste or by-products such as granulated slag, iron shavings or ashes from cement grinding, among others. The use of 114 thousand tons of this type of material, representan increase of 6% over the previous year.
This practice, known as material recovery, makes it possible to reduce the use of natural raw materials, thereby minimizing the impact on open-pit mining. The use of waste to produce clinker is part of the Circular Economy strategy followed by cement companies.
| Waste type / byproduct | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Var. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casting sands | 715 | 0 | 0,62 | 100% |
| Cement grinding ashes | 42.410 | 41.192 | 23.658 | -43% |
| Dehydrated sludge | 2.285 | 8.573 | 806 | -91% |
| Carbonated sludge (industrial waste) | 4.485 | 2.599 | 6.461 | 149% |
| Sands contaminated with hydrocarbons | 705 | 194 | 978 | 405% |
| Concrete waste | 5.873 | 5.092 | 4.477 | -12% |
| Iron waste (iron silicate) | 4.976 | 8.100 | 0 | -100% |
| Other alternative raw materials | 13.137 | 15.831 | 5.845 | -63% |
| Iron shavings | 28.413 | 26.058 | 26.136 | 0,3% |
| Granular slag | 27.328 | 100% | ||
| White slag from steel industry | 759 | 100% | ||
| Thermal slag | 3.178 | 100% | ||
| Industrial rock waste, ornamental and derived from crude oil | 14.959 | 100% | ||
|
Total |
102.999 |
107.640 |
114.585 |
6% |
| % materially recovered raw material |
2,6% |
1,8% |
1,9% |
3% |
| tons avoided from the exploitation of natural resource |
76.235 |
81.152 |
73.909 |
-9% |
Note: Data in tons
Source: Generalitat de Catalunya
