Guidelines on pre- and co-processing of waste in cement production

GIZ, FHNW, LH and Geocycle have updated the 2006 Guidelines on Co-processing Waste Materials in Cement Production to support further development of environmentally sound and safe pre- and co-processing in developing countries.

Objective of the new guidelines:

Contribute to improve poor waste management practices, in particular in developing low and middle income countries
Promote Pre- and Co-processing as a competitive and sustainable waste management solution
Facilitate close collaboration between the public and private sectors on the topic
Set ambitious global standards for companies active in Pre- and Co-Processing
Share good practices and propose means for capacity building to ensure sound application of the technology
Provide links to organizations, institutions and companies active in the field of pre- and co-processing

Principles and Requirements

Waste Hierarchy & Circular Economy

Pre- and co-processing shall respect the waste hierarchy and therefore don’t hamper waste reduction, reuse and recycling.
Pre- and co-processing shall be regarded as an integrated part of modern waste management, as it provides an environmentally sound mineral recycling and energy recovery solution.
Pre- and co-processing can be regarded as a contribution to the circular economy by reducing the use of fossil fuels and primary raw materials as well as ensuring clean material cycles through elimination of harmful substances.

Legal & Institutional Framework

Compliance with all relevant laws and regulations has to be assured. Pre- and co-processing shall be in line with relevant international agreements (e.g. Basel and Stockholm Conventions).
Effective monitoring by an independent environmental regulator, that has sufficient institutional capacity shall be ensured.
Country-specific requirements and needs shall be reflected in regulations and procedures.
If a local legal framework for pre- and co-processing is not existent and/or consistent, international best practices shall be applied and build-up of the required capacity as well as the set-up of institutional arrangements ensured.

Environment

Additional emissions and other negative effects on the environment from pre- and co-processing shall be prevented or kept at minimum.
Emissions to air and water from co-processing shall not be higher than from cement production without co-processing.
The cement products (concrete, mortar) shall not be used as a sink for potentially toxic elements (e.g. heavy metals).

Operation & Quality Control

Only appropriate waste streams shall be selected. These shall be pre-processed to ensure quality control, proper handling and stable kiln operation during co-processing.
Companies engaged in pre- and co-processing must be qualified. They shall ensure continuous control and monitoring of inputs and relevant parameters of their production processes.
The quality of the cement products (concrete, mortar) remain unchanged.

Health & Safety

Companies active in pre- and co-processing shall establish appropriate risk controls to provide healthy and safe working conditions for employees and contractors.
Companies shall have good safety compliance records as well as personnel, processes, and systems committed to protecting health and safety in place.

Inclusivity and Engagement

Companies active in pre- and co-processing shall engage regularly and communicate transparently with the public, relevant authorities and other stakeholders.
Country-specific and local needs as well as different cultural contexts shall be taken into account when implementing pre- and co-processing.
Companies engaged in pre- and co-processing shall consult and collaborate with actors in the existing local waste management value chain, including informal waste workers.

Economic & Financial

Pre- and Co-processing projects shall be based on a financially sustainable business model, which brings value to all involved stakeholders and local communities.
Financing mechanisms shall be in place to ensure that interventions have financing covered in the medium to long term.

Implementation

Monitoring and auditing systems need to be in place to enable successful implementation.
Capacity building and training at all levels is essential.

Download Guidelines

Summary – LH GIZ Guidelines on Pre- and Co-processing of Waste in Cement Production (pdf, 4.61 MB)
Assessment Matrix – LH GIZ Guidelines on Pre- and Co-processing of Waste in Cement Production (pdf, 3.05 MB)
LH GIZ Guidelines on Pre & Co-processing of Waste in Cement Production (pdf, 6.01 MB)
LH GIZ Guidelines on Pre- and Co-processing of Waste in Cement Production (Arab ver.) (pdf, 7.08 MB)
LH GIZ Guidelines on Pre- and Co-processing of Waste in Cement Production (Chinese ver.) (pdf, 6.16 MB)
LH GIZ Guidelines on Pre- and Co-processing of Waste in Cement Production (Spanish ver.) (pdf, 6.39 MB)
LH GIZ Guidelines on Pre- and Co-processing of Waste in Cement Production (French ver.) (pdf, 6.62 MB)