Material recovery
Year after year, the sector increases its waste recycling capacity and reducesraw materials consumptionfrom quarries, thereby minimizing the impact on the natural environment. In 2018, over 100,000 tonnes were used as constituent of clinker, which represents a 9% increase over the previous year.
Cement grinding ashesare the first source of recycling, but the substantial increase in the use of iron shavings has been worth of notice last year. Thanks to this practice, Catalan cement companies saved more than 76,000 tonnes of material in the country's quarries.
| Waste type / byproduct | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | Var. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casting sands | 1.902 | 4.917 | 715 | -85% |
| Cement grinding ashes | 16.078 | 37.695 | 42.410 | 13% |
| Dehydrated sludge | 4.083 | 3.720 | 2.285 | -39% |
| Carbonated sludge (industrial waste) | 6.956 | 4.281 | 4.485 | 5% |
| Sands contaminated with hydrocarbons | 1.139 | 3.160 | 705 | -78% |
| Concrete waste | 2.858 | 3.446 | 5.873 | 70% |
| Iron waste (iron silicate) | 27.205 | 19.670 | 4.976 | -75% |
| Other alternative raw materials | 13.698 | 13.335 | 13.137 | -1% |
| Iron shavings | 158 | 4389 | 28.413 | 547% |
|
Total |
74.093 |
94.613 |
102.999 |
9% |
|
% materially recovered raw material |
1,0% |
1,6% |
2,6% |
61% |
| tons avoided from the exploitation of natural resource |
20.943 |
103.869 |
76.235 |
-27% |
Note: Datain tons
Source: Oficemen
