Material recovery
The sector's commitment to protecting the natural environment was best expressed in 2021 with the spectacular increase in the use of by-products or waste as raw material for the manufacture of clinker. The 186,000 tonnes used saved a similar amount of stone resources from quarries and mines and represented an increase of 145% compared to 2020.
More than half of this reused waste came from granulated slag. In relative terms, the growth in the use of concrete waste stands out (660%).
Overall, the material recovery of waste made it possible to replace 3.2% of the raw materials used in factories.
| Waste type / byproduct | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Var. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casting sands | 0 | 0,62 | 0 | -100% |
| Cement grinding ashes | 41.192 | 23.658 | 690 | -97% |
| Dehydrated sludge | 8.573 | 806 | 1.810 | 125% |
| Carbonated sludge (industrial waste) | 2.599 | 6.461 | 7.471 | 16% |
| Sands contaminated with hydrocarbons | 194 | 978 | 872 | -11% |
| Concrete waste | 5.092 | 4.477 | 34.032 | 660% |
| Iron waste (iron silicate) | 8.100 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Other alternative raw materials | 15.831 | 5.845 | 10.651 | 82% |
| Iron shavings | 26.058 | 26.136 | 22.888 | -12% |
| Granular slag | 27.328 | 100.531 | 268% | |
| White slag from steel industry | 759 | 3.917 | 416% | |
| Thermal slag | 3.178 | 2.142 | -33% | |
| Industrial rock waste, ornamental and derived from crude oil | 14.959 | 0 | -100% | |
|
Total |
107.640 |
114.585 |
185.555 |
62% |
| % materially recovered raw material |
1,8% |
1,9% |
3,2% |
75% |
| tons avoided from the exploitation of natural resource |
81.152 |
73.909 |
180.711 |
145% |
Note: Data in tons
Source: Generalitat de Catalunya
