Ecocement that Solves Social Issues
The Ecocement production facility, operated by Taiheiyo Cement under contract from the Tokyo Tama Wide Area Resource Recycling Association, is a large-scale recycling plant that uses municipal solid waste incineration ash generated in the Tama area of Tokyo (population approx. 4 million) as raw material for cement production. Since the beginning of operation in 2006, cumulative shipments of Ecocement have reached in excess of 2 million tonnes. Ecocement is primarily used within the Tokyo metropolitan area for concrete product manufacture and construction works, such as roads and parks.
Unlike the recycling of waste at conventional cement plants, the Ecocement technology was developed with a focus on recycling municipal solid waste ash. In the production of each tonne of Ecocement more than 500 kg of municipal solid waste incineration ash is used. In Japan, where land space is limited, extension of the lifespan of final landfill sites is a social challenge so converting municipal solid waste ash into Ecocement has made a substantial contribution to prolonging the life of the final disposal sites.
In addition, because municipal solid waste ash contains components required for cement production, it can substitute for traditional cement raw materials—limestone, clay, and silica—thereby reducing consumption of natural raw materials.