Court judges: Bypass dust remains waste-Heidelberg in offside!

Court judges: Bypass dust remains waste-Heidelberg in offside!

Sigmaringen, Deutschland - The administrative court Sigmaringen rejected the urgent application from Heidelberg Materials on November 20, 2024, which was directed against the classification of bypass dust as a waste according to the circular economy law (KRWG) (Az. 8k 3540/23). Heidelberg Materials had argued that the bypass dust and the dust mixture were by-products whose waste property expires with the use in end products.

The decision of the court refers to pure bypass dust and the dust mixture, which is partly used in the production of special binders. The Tübingen regional council found in June 2023 that bypass dust, due to its high pollutant concentrations, in particular lead, cadmium and chlorine, must be classified as a waste. Mixing with raw flour is not sufficient to eliminate the waste property.

sustainability and legal framework conditions

The court agreed to the regional council's assessment and pointed out that the use of the dust mixture in special binders is inadmissible in waste law because it can lead to an enrichment of pollutants in the recycling circuit. The classification of the bypass dust as a by-product in accordance with § 4 KrWG was excluded because the further use could have harmful effects on people and the environment.

Furthermore, the court confirmed the legality of the order for regularly testing the dust mixture. The sampling of the pure bypass dust, on the other hand, was regarded as illegal, as this could not be technically implemented. The decision is not yet final, since Heidelberg Materials has already lodged a complaint with the Baden-Württemberg Administrative Court. In addition, the main proceedings at the Sigmaringen administrative court (Az. 8k 1811/23) are still pending.

The Schelklingen cement plant produces around 5,000 tons of cement clinkers every day and increases more alternative raw materials and replacement fuels, which increases the chlorine in the oven system. The bypass system is used to pay chlorine; The bypass dust is removed behind the combustion chamber and mixed with raw flour. Around 80 percent of the raw flour mixture flow into the end product cement, while the remaining part is either used in special binders or is otherwise released. About nine percent of the mixture is disposed of as waste.

For further information on the legal framework and the circular economy, the guidelines of the Environmental Office

In addition, euwid Recycling Bypass dust.

-transmitted by West-East media