The Geneva, Switzerland-based World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)’s Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) published a report focusing on the availability of the latest technologies and the need to scale up research and development that can help the cement industry mitigate its greenhouse gas emissions.

In light of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Paris Agreement, the CSI initiated an in-depth review of its original technology papers, which were developed in 2009 when the sector issued the first ever low-carbon technology roadmap in partnership with the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The 2017 technology review is comprised of 52 individual papers on existing technologies and their latest developments and implementation statuses and seven additional summary papers describing anticipated technological developments that can further enhance mitigation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in cement production, such as alternative fuels derived from biomass. The report also includes an assessment of the level of possible implementation, the challenges and costs of these technologies in future scenarios for 2030 and 2050.

The European Cement Research Academy supported CSI with the review of these technology papers. In addition, a stakeholder consultation process involving experts from various cement companies, researchers and international organizations has analyzed the outputs and ensured the analysis reflects the most up-to-date knowledge.

The papers have already been considered by the IEA’s modelling project: Energy Technology Perspective (ETP). They will also serve as a reference document for development of low-carbon technology roadmaps for the cement sector at global, regional or national levels. The roadmap is also made to identify the major opportunities, barriers and measures facing the industry, as well as financial partners and policy makers. 

Philippe Fonta, managing director of the CSI, says, “The publication of these revised and new technical papers sets robust foundations for the overall exercise of updating our 2009 roadmap. It is also a major step in the implementation of commitments made by the cement sector in Paris through the Cement Low Carbon Technology Partnerships initiative (LCTPi), and it demonstrates that the business is more than ever focused on supporting the implementation of the Paris Agreement.”

The CSI and IEA plan to share the initial results of the updated global technology roadmap for the cement sector at COP 23 in Bonn, Germany.

World crude steel production for the 67 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (Worldsteel) was 143.3 million metric tons in May 2017, a 2 percent increase compared with May 2016, according to the association. 

China’s crude steel production for May 2017 was 72.3 million metric tons, an increase of 1.8 percent compared with May 2016. Japan produced 9 million metric tons of crude steel in May 2017, an increase of 0.1 percent compared with May 2016.

In the EU, France was the only country that reports to Worldsteel that posted an increase in production. The country’s steelmakers produced 1.4 million metric tons of crude steel in May 2017, an increase of 21.5 percent compared with May of the previous year.

Germany, Italy and Spain each posted decreased production for the month, according to Worldsteel. Germany produced 3.8 million metric tons of crude steel in May 2017, a decrease of 1.4 percent compared with May 2016. Spain produced 1.2 million metric tons of crude steel, a decrease of 3.7 percent compared with May 2016. Italy produced 2.1 million metric tons, a year-on-year decrease of 4.1 percent.

Brazil also saw its crude steel production increase in May 2017. The country produced 2.9 million metric tons, which was 13.2 percent more crude steel than it produced in May 2016.

At 3.3 million metric tons, Turkey’s May 2017 production also increased 9.7 percent relative to May 2016 to 3.3 million metric tons, Worldsteel reports.

The U.S. produced 7 million metric tons of crude steel in May 2017, a year-on-year increase of 0.2 percent.

Worldsteel says the crude steel capacity utilization ratio of the 67 countries in May 2017 was 71.8 percent. This is 0.5 percentage points higher than May 2016, though it is 1.8 percentage points lower than in April 2017.

Worldsteel calculates the monthly crude steel capacity utilization ratio based on crude steel production information available at Worldsteel and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) capacity estimates.

The Larmier County, Colorado landfill is sending its wood waste to a local biochar company to be used as feedstock, a report by the Loveland Reporter-Herald says. The landfill created a contract with Waste-Not Recycling in Johnstown to process the material. 

Under the contract, commercial tree-trimming services will take their trimmings to a designated area at the landfill. After creating a stockpile large enough, Waste-Not will bring a shredder to the site, reduce the wood waste in size and haul it to Biochar Now in Berthoud, Colorado.

Clean wood waste, such as pallets and crates, also will be accepted, the report says.

After a trial period with commercial waste to smooth out any bumps is complete, the landfill will open the site to the public, the report says. Stephen Gillette, the county’s solid waste director, says that may happen in January 2018.

The tip fee for dumping the waste will remain the same, at $6.05 per cubic yard, to cover operation costs. 
According to the report, a recent study revealed that 50 percent of the waste dumped at Larmier County landfill could be recycled, with wood waste at 18 percent. Although some of the incoming wood waste is painted or stained and therefore, not usable at Biochar, 5 percent of the landfill’s annual wood volume could be diverted.

Biochar Now uses pyrolysis to turn the clean wood waste it receives into biochar. According to the report, the process takes six to 14 hours to complete and then the kiln is left to cool for a day. After the wood is turned to biochar, the chunks are crushed into either chips, rice-sized pieces, sand-sized pieces or powder.

The biochar can be used as a soil amendment or to clean water.

The board of directors for the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), Washington, will consider adding new specifications for rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic recyclables during its Summer Meeting July 20, 2017. These specifications are intended to encompass more of the plastics recyclables that are actively trading in the marketplace, ISRI says.

The PVC specifications were approved by ISRI’s Plastics Division at the Spring Board & Committee Meetings in New Orleans April 24, 2017.The new PVC specifications are available for review at www.isri.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/isri-rigid-pvc-spec-draft---20jun2017.pdf?sfvrsn=4.  

At the upcoming meeting, the ISRI board may choose to adopt, amend or reject the recommendations of the Plastics Division or table them pending further review. More information about the rules governing the procedures from the addition, amendment or withdrawal of ISRI’s scrap specifications can be found in the “Scrap Specifications Circular."

To submit comments, recommendations or questions regarding the proposed specifications, contact Joe Pickard at jpickard@isri.org. Following the vote by the board, ISRI will welcome comments for a 30-day period.