In 2019, AVE managed 453,576 tons of waste / products.

 In 2019, the supply of waste for co-processing managed by AVE increased by about 18% reaching a volume of 453,576 tonnes, of which 284,883 tonnes were alternative fuels. There was a very significant growth of secondary raw materials, which reached a quantity of 116,352 tons, more than three times the values verified in 2018, largely due to the increase in managed soil waste.

Overall, there was an increase of around 3% in the consumption of alternative fuels compared to 2018.

The most significant alternative fuels in the cement plants’ consumption are ‘RDF from industrial waste’, which represented about 150,269 tons in 2019. However, a reduction in the consumption of this stream of about 3% was observed between 2018 and 2019.

On the other hand, the stream with the highest increase was the one that include tire fibers, RDF and ELV pellets, plastics and rubbers and biomass. The received quantity of this waste stream for energy recovery reached a total of 18,801 tons in 2019, a reduction of about 14% compared to 2018.

The quantity of used tires and their fragments that was sent to the cement plants amounted to 48,672 tons in the year 2019, which is practically equal to the amount verified in 2018.

In 2019 the mobilization of secondary raw materials (SRM), resulting from the activity related to current stocks, reached a total quantity of 116,352 tons. This represents an increase of 211% when compared to 2018 (37,356 tons), which is mostly due to the increase in managed waste soils. 

The supply of iron oxide, through the tailings and steel slags flows, comprised a total of 26,057 tons in 2019, which is similar to the quantity of 27.244 tons that was managed in 2018.

The amount of avoided CO2 emissions was 237 thousand tons.

The amount of avoided Pet Coke amounted to 178 thousand tons.

Throughout this year, the national market continued to be the main source of alternative fuels and secondary raw materials supply of AVE, although it was necessary to resort to the import of waste with adequate technical conditions to respond to the consumption requirements of its customers. The year 2019 confirmed that the international supply is a necessity and a certainty, even with the threats associated with Brexit, given the availability of other markets, namely Spain, Italy, Belgium, France and the Netherlands.

The clarification of Alternative Fuels (AF) evaluation rules, based on a policy that provides a win-win relationship, has served as based for AVE – Gestão Ambiental e Valorização Energética’s proposals to be well received in the by enterprises, the economy and society as a whole in the country.

The market in which AVE is positioned has a huge challenge that involves the decarbonization of the cement industry, with the year 2019 marked by an increase in heat per ton of fuels supplied to cement kilns, accompanied by an increase in the biogenic component of these fuels. and a significant increase in the amount of secondary raw materials. The results presented in 2019 demonstrate the success of the assumed strategy, which should be pursued in the coming years, contributing to the creation of economic, environmental and social value

During the year 2019, AVE maintained a dynamic and proactive attitude towards the sector in which it operates, namely regarding investment in research and development activities. In this way, in 2019, AVE continued to strengthen the technological resources associated with the laboratory activity and logistics of AVE in order to support its partners in the use of alternative fuels. In 2019, this was achieved with the entry into operation of new software that allowed to improve the report of the alternative fuels assessment, as well as the security in the database where they are registered. All these investments contributed to stimulating the competitiveness and sustainability of all its operations. 

AVE’s laboratory analysed more than 1,500 products, guaranteeing a real-time response which allowed to improve the interaction with waste preparers and to quote the value of transactions with transparency. Sample collection actions were carried out and corrective actions were promoted with fuel producers, as well as communication channels between laboratories reinforced, clearly contributing to improve the quality and reliability of alternative fuels.

The completion of investments to support the logistics of alternative fuels consumption in the associated plants will allow to substantiate the increase in the substitution rate of fossil fuels. During 2019, part of these investments was sold at acquisition price to their users (cement plants).

The co-processing consists of the complete destruction of waste – previously prepared and identified as suitable for replacing fossil fuel and / or raw materials in clinker production in cement kilns, ensuring product quality standards, energy efficiency and environmental protection in line with the official certification of these plants.

The use of waste as fuel and / or alternative raw material contributes to the preservation of limited and not renewable natural resources. Despite being part of an industrial process, co-processing of waste in cement kilns does not imply any excess – since there is no residual waste – or any environmental liabilities.

This technique widely used in various countries around the world since 1976 is scientifically proven as one of the best environmental and economic solutions as final destination of numerous waste streams, assuming as a preferred solution for the sustainable development of contemporary society.