Resource Efficiency

Cement manufacturing takes mineral raw materials (including alternative raw materials from waste and by-product sources) and uses heat from fossil and waste derived fuels, to produce cement clinker. Unlike other combustion processes, the ash from fossil and waste derived fuels forms part of the mineral content of the cement clinker and is not a waste residue from the process. Thus, cement manufacturing simultaneously recycles the mineral content of wastes and recovers energy, in a process known as ‘co-processing’. Co-processing is recognized as global best practice for cement manufacture.

Co-processing is, by its very nature, a resource efficient manufacturing process. The UK cement sector maximises its resource efficiency by ensuring that the small quantity of residues find productive outlets – for example, most UK kilns recycle dust within their manufacturing processes, but where this isn’t possible, the dust finds beneficial reuse – commonly in agriculture.

MPA members follow a Waste Code of Practice for introducing new wastes as raw materials and fuels. The code sets out the specifications that must be met for waste to be considered, the assessment process for introducing new waste materials and provides a list of unsuitable materials