The National Development and Reform Commission recently responded to the Jilin Provincial Development and Reform Commission, approving Jilin Yatai Cement Co., Ltd. to utilize its large-scale rotary kiln in a new dry clinker production line in Changchun, Jilin Province, for processing industrial waste. This includes automobile paint residue from FAW Group, nickel residue from Jilin Nickel Industry Co., Ltd., chemical waste from Jihua, waste rubber products, and urban domestic waste. Experts have highlighted that this initiative carries significant social value and environmental importance. As energy shortages become more severe, the government should encourage cement and other industries to adopt waste as an alternative fuel source, while establishing policies, incentives, and penalties to promote sustainable waste utilization through economic tools.
With global environmental challenges intensifying and the push for sustainable development, Waste Management has become a critical topic. Traditional disposal methods like incineration or landfill are not only inefficient but also harmful. Landfills consume large areas of land and often lead to secondary pollution. In contrast, using cement kilns for waste treatment offers greater efficiency, reduces secondary pollution, and ensures safer, more environmentally friendly disposal.
Many developed countries have been using cement kilns for waste disposal for nearly 30 years, with well-established systems and advanced technology. In China, cement companies have long used industrial by-products such as fly ash, slag, and gypsum as raw materials. According to preliminary data, about 20% of cement production materials come from these industrial wastes. However, China still lags behind in policy support, technical capabilities, and scale compared to international standards.
Globally, over 100 cement companies now use combustible waste as alternative fuels. For example, France's Lafarge, the world’s largest cement producer, achieved a 50–55% replacement rate of traditional fuels in 2001, cutting fuel costs by 33% and reducing CO₂ emissions by 5 million tons. In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency mandates that each industrial city must have at least one cement plant dedicated to handling hazardous waste. Currently, only Beijing Cement Factory and Shanghai Wanan Cement Co., Ltd. have successfully processed hazardous waste on a large scale. However, no cement plant in China has yet scaled up the use of kilns for domestic waste treatment.
A key principle of a circular economy is waste reduction, recycling, and harmless disposal. The cement industry is well-suited for this due to its production process and product characteristics. However, experts emphasize that waste incineration in cement kilns must not compromise production quality or safety. Certain wastes containing high levels of alkali metals, chlorides, sulfur, phosphorus, cyanide, or mercury should be avoided. Additionally, cement plants need to make adjustments—such as improving storage, transportation, and measurement systems, upgrading burners, and ensuring complete detection equipment.
To move forward, government agencies should strengthen enforcement of environmental laws and waste management regulations, establish specialized organizations for waste collection and transport, improve legal frameworks, set quality standards, and develop tax policies. Investment in waste recycling technologies and research into related equipment is also crucial.
It is reported that Jilin Yatai Cement Co., Ltd.’s waste incineration project has been included in the central budget for the revitalization of the Northeast industrial base. Part of the funding will be subsidized, and the National Development and Reform Commission has urged the project team to build a demonstration line as soon as possible. This marks an important step toward integrating waste management and sustainable cement production in China.
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