India: UltraTech Cement’s integrated Reddipalayam plant in Tamil Nadu has reached a 25% alternative fuels substitution rate. The unit sources municipal waste from 11 local municipal corporations including Ariyalur, Erode, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Perambalur and Karur. It also sources plastic waste from cities such as Chennai and Kozikhode. In the financial year to 31 March 2020, UltraTech Cement says it replaced 17.2% of its raw material requirement for cement manufacturing and 3.7% of its thermal energy needs with alternative resources across all operations.

Costa Rica: Geocycle Costa Rica has commissioned a XR3000C type shredder supplied by Austria-based Untha. The unit will be used to process locally sorted municipal solid waste (MSW) and hazardous and non-hazardous Industrial Solid Waste (ISW) into refuse-derived fuel (RDF) for use at Holcim Costa Rica’s integrated cement plant.

“Having worked with Untha in other countries, the XR3000C was chosen for its flexibility, high-capacity and single step alternative fuel capabilities. We also knew it would be supported by a world-class engineering team,” said Geocycle’s general manager Wilkie Mora Bolanos.

Geocycle is the waste processing subsidiary of Switzerland-based LafargeHolcim. There are currently over 20 Untha shredders in operation in Geocycle facilities worldwide.

Russia: LafargeHolcim Russia and the Ministry of Construction Industry, Housing and Utilities of the Moscow Region have signed an agreement to work together on a waste disposal programme. The document was signed by Anton Velikhovsky, the Minister of Housing and Communal Services of the Moscow Region, and Maxim Goncharov, the chief executive officer of LafargeHolcim in Russia. The project will use the cement producer’s plants, including the integrated Schurovsky plant, to process waste products.

Jamaica: The government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Caribbean Cement for the use of tyres as an alternative fuel in cement production. The country is estimated to generate around two million used tyres annually, according to the Caribbean Media Corporation.