UK co-processing report receives MPA backing

The MPA has welcomed a report entitled 'From waste to resource productivity', which draws on evidence on waste from a range of industry, academic and government sources.

Written by the former Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Mark Walport, and co-authored by Professor Ian Boyd, the Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the report explores how waste can be treated as a valuable resource and use new technology and approaches to get the most from it in the UK.

The report includes a study from MPA's Dr Richard Leese and Dr Rebecca Hooper regarding co-processing waste in cement. Furthermore, the document is the first government report to reference co-processed recycling of waste derived fuels and raw materials as well as considering the value of waste. 

Dr Richard Leese, MPA’s Director of Industrial Policy, Energy and Climate Change, said: "UK cement manufacturers recycle 1.5Mt of waste and byproducts annually. Government scientists have finally acknowledged the important recycling that the cement industry provides for UK society.

"This report is important recognition of the valuable recycling and energy recovery that the UK cement industry provides through a unique process called co-processing. Co-processing takes materials low down in the value chain, combines them with natural minerals to create a cement product that is essential for society. It does this without creating new wastes for society to deal with... The next step will be for Government to account for this societal benefit in its official recycling statistics."