MPA Cement contributes to new government report
Mineral Products Association welcomes publication of ‘waste to resource productivity’ report
THE Mineral Products Association (MPA) has welcomed the ‘From waste to resource productivity’ report, which was published by former Government Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Mark Walport on 14 December 2017.
Bringing together evidence on waste from a range of industry, academic and government sources, and co-authored by Professor Ian Boyd, the Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the report explores how waste can be treated as a valuable resource, and the use of new technology and approaches to get the most from it in the UK.
The report is accompanied by a separate case study report that brings together evidence and opinions from a range of stakeholders, including a study from MPA’s Dr Richard Leese and Dr Rebecca Hooper regarding co-processing waste in cement.
This document is not a statement of government policy, but it is the first government report to reference co-processed recycling of waste derived-fuels and raw materials, and to consider the value of waste.
Dr Richard Leese, director of industrial policy, energy and climate change at the MPA, said: ‘UK cement manufacturers recycle 1.5 million tonnes of waste and by-products annually. Government scientists have finally acknowledged the important recycling that the cement industry provides for UK society.
‘This report is important recognition of the valuable recycling and energy recovery that the UK cement industry provides through a unique process called co-processing. Co-processing takes materials low down in the value chain and combines them with natural minerals to create a cement product that is essential for society. It does this without creating new wastes for society to deal with.
‘This is the first time that co-processing, which involves the simultaneous recovery of energy, minerals and metals from wastes, has been recognized by government scientists. The next step will be for government to account for this societal benefit in its official recycling statistics.’
