Scrap tires are a modern hazard that represents a significant challenge for the Central American region.
As a result, and committed to promoting a circular economy, we have managed more than one million used tires to date. These have been co-processed in the cement kiln and used as an alternative fuel.
With this initiative, Cementos Progreso Costa Rica ensures proper management for tires that reach the end of their useful life and can no longer be retreaded. This in turn reduces the use of primary fuel and improves general environmental conditions.
The company is redoubling its efforts to capture a greater amount of scrap tires, which will be shredded and used at the Colorado Plant. It also uses state-of-the-art equipment at the Patarrá Plant, where it extracts a significant portion of steel found in the tires to ensure increased combustion efficiency in the furnaces. These successful practices are also carried out in Guatemala with great environmental success.
The company recently participated in a tire management training process with Fundellantas, one of Cementos Progreso Costa Rica’s strategic allies, local government representatives, and the Ministry of Health.
During the activity, participants discussed the importance of co-processing waste. They also touched upon the processes and technology used to promote the importance of an efficient, safe, and requirement-meeting scrap tire treatment process.
With these actions and commitment to the vision of being an Environmental Leader, Cementos Progreso Costa Rica promotes diverse efforts in alternative-fuel use in cement production.
The purpose of this partnership is to offer the general public more and better alternatives to properly dispose of tires they no longer use, and to provide collection points in various sectors of Costa Rica. Fundellantas has collection points throughout the country and thanks to their efforts, it’s possible to co-process more efficiently and reliably.
