JOINT CROSS-INDUSTRY STATEMENT: CEMENT INDUSTRY CO-PROCESSING SHOULD BE MORE WIDELY ADOPTED FOR GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT

LONDON, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- Leading industry organisations today issued a joint statement highlighting the substantial and positive contribution the cement industry can make to addressing the urgent global challenge of non-recyclable and non-reusable waste. The Global Cement and Concrete Association – GCCA; European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA); International Solid Waste Association – Africa; Mission Possible Partnership; and The Global Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council – WtERT® are calling for stronger policy support to unlock the full potential of cement industry co-processing as a safe, effective and sustainable global waste management solution.

Co-processing enables both energy recovery and material recycling. It uses waste to replace fossil fuels in heating cement kilns, while any remaining ashes are simultaneously recycled into the building material compound itself, making it a zero-waste solution. This integrated process maximises the environmental value of waste treatment and lowers the demand for new disposal infrastructure. Co-processing focuses on waste streams that cannot be recycled or are contaminated and as such is complementary to recycling. Co-processing creates a bridge between landfilling and recycling.