AUTHOR

FUNDACIÓN LABORAL DEL CEMENTO Y EL MEDIO AMBIENTE (CEMA)

ABSTRACT

In spite of the fact that the landfill is the least environmentally sustainable option of waste management, in Spain it’s the most widespread treatment system, opposite to other more sustainable options as the recovery. Thus, 52% of Solid Urban Waste, 47% packages and 50% tyres generated in our country were destinated for dumps in 2004.

The cement industry plays an important role in the environmentally sound management of several waste streams through the replacement of virgin raw materials for waste-derived products and the use of waste-derived fuels. Nevertheless, Spain is foreign to this process, with a poor substitution rate of fossil fuels by waste material (near 4%) in the cement kiln, whereas countries such as Austria, Switzerland and Germany court 50% of substitution, and Holland almost 80%.

The landfill cost in Spain is one of the lowest in the EU. If we add certain consolidated practices (not to impute fundamental costs as the acquisition of areas for dumps or the closing of the same ones), it turns out evident that there are discouraged other more sustainable alternatives such as the recycling or the energy valorization.