Holcim Apasco receives ISO 14001 environmental certificate

Holcim Apasco, one of the largest cement makers in Mexico, has been awarded the ISO 14001 environmental certificate for replacing fossil fuels with garbage within its production process, corporate director of operations Filiberto Ruiz said, confirming press reports. 

"This certificate affirms the quality of the company’s environmental management practices and it is something we have worked very hard to achieve," Ruiz told BNamericas. 

The company has been recognized by the International Standards Organization because it has managed to substitute approximately 15% of the fuel it uses with waste, such as used tires, plastics and other garbage. 

Holcim Apasco plans to substitute around 50% of its total fuel requirements with various types of waste eventually, said Ruiz. This will be an important figure given the high costs of fossil fuels. 

"We have invested around US$50m in the last five years to implement the systems to burn solid and liquid waste," the executive said.