In the Environmental Management System (EMS), all the processes involving the generation of waste are managed with specific procedures under the strict regulations on the issue. To reduce its impact, the company separates its waste into as many different types as possible so that it can be recovered and/or recycled. In line with the current laws, waste generated at Cartiere del Garda’s plant is recovered and consigned to carriers and external authorised operators both for recycling or disposal. Most of the waste produced by the site consists of sludge from the manufacturing processes, which is approximately 60% water. Once the sludge drying system is in place, this percentage has been reduced in 2007 to approximately 30%.
Sludge dewatering system
The new sludge dewatering system is currently being put in place, the significant investment, of approximately 500,000 euros, involves the installation of a kiln capable of drying manufacturing waste sludge and reducing the environmental impact associated with its storage, recycling and transportation. The waste sludge produced has a 68% water content, a figure that has been concentrated to as little as 30%, a significant positive outcome for the whole waste cycle. At today’s levels, sludge production amounts to approximately 8,000 tons annually: a significant quantity that had given rise in the past to the need for around 360 truck journeys from the site to recycling centres (we recycle 96% of the sludge produced), some 2/300 km away. The dewatering process has significantly reduced the number of these journeys, enable the waste to be taken to closer recycling centres and will ensure a reduction in atmospheric pollution from heavy vehicles. Another notable advantage from an environmental viewpoint is that sludge containing such a low percentage of water allows for greater recycling possibilities: while at present sludge from Cartiere del Garda is reused for land reclamation, it could subsequently become a premium constituent in cement production. Lastly the reduction of the water content ensures a greater facility for material storage and better management of the same within the complex. In order to achieve this ambitious objective a warm air kiln, fed by the heat produced within our thermo-electric plant, has been installed between the conveyor belt and the container, which automatically dries the sludge and drops it into the transportation container.
