The Municipal Autonomous Government of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, through the Municipal Aseo Company (EMACRUZ), and the cement company Itacamba Cemento S.A., have signed a key agreement that marks a milestone in the environmental management of the capital of the cross-border capital: the transformation of thousands of end-of-life tyres (ELTs) into alternative fuel for the production of cement.
The agreement officially introduces co-processing as a circular economy solution for an environmental liability that, until now, posed a double risk of pollution and health in the city.
Direct benefit to the public health of the municipality
The mayor of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Jhonny Fernández, highlighted the relevance of the agreement, focusing on the direct benefit to the population and the quality of life of citizens.
“The impact of this project translates into a direct benefit to the population. We guarantee the responsible elimination of thousands of tons of tires that would otherwise end up contaminating or becoming foci of vector diseases such as dengue. This is our tangible contribution to the quality of life and healthy environment of our citizens,” the burgmaster said.
The objective of the alliance is clear: “to transform the ELTs found in landfills into thermal energy for cement production.”
Industrial leadership and circular economy
For his part, the general manager of Itacamba Cemento S.A., Marcelo Morales, underlined the company’s leadership in the search for sustainable and efficient solutions.
“Itacamba is driving sustainable solutions that benefit society and the planet. Coprocessing is a globally recognized waste management method that meets the waste hierarchy. Our furnace is the ideal infrastructure for the total and safe destruction of the ELTs,” explained the executive.
He said that, by using tires as an alternative fuel with high calorific power, the company manages to replace the consumption of traditional fossil fuels, which will have a measurable impact on the company’s goal to preserve non-renewable natural resources.
It is crucial to note that the practice of co-processing is carried out under the strictest safety and environmental control conditions. ELTs are processed in cement kilns at temperatures above 1400°C, which guarantees the total destruction of the contaminant molecules. The technology used allows the monitoring and controlled capture of the generated gases, ensuring that the process does not generate pollutants that negatively impact the environment, an internationally endorsed methodology.
To obtain the required environmental licenses, Itacamba demonstrated the safety of this practice through atmospheric gas monitoring carried out with a certified laboratory and in the presence of the competent authority, obtaining results that are well below the permissible limits of the standard.
EMACRUZ ensures responsible disposal
The general manager of Emacruz, Ricardo Oviedo, emphasized the achievement in the management of solid urban waste and the role of the company in the value chain.
“By joining this initiative, we ensure that this material receives a treatment of total and safe destruction, freeing up space in our landfills and improving the environmental health of the city. This shows that sustainability and industrial efficiency are mutually dependent, directly benefiting the environment and public health,” he said.
The agreement establishes a circular economy mechanism that eliminates an environmental liability and, simultaneously, generates an energy resource, setting a precedent for public-private collaboration for the sustainable management of waste in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
Click here for free registration to World Cement