Residual sludge from Italian ceramic sanitaryware production can be reused in other industrial processes. 

After being delivered to Centro Ceramica in Civita Castellana, the sludge is converted into byproducts that can be reused in the ceramic tile production process and in other sectors. All material delivered to the center is homogenized to ensure that it is suitable for use in the end customer’s production cycle.

Product documentation based on experimental studies is available in accordance with European standards. This documentation has been produced with the active participation of Centro Ceramica together with the Lazio regional government, the Province of Viterbo and the ARPA Lazio regional environmental agency.

Requirements of ceramic byproducts

In order to be reused legally, ceramic sludge must fall into the category of a “byproduct”. According to Italian Legislative Decree 152/06, a byproduct is a substance that meets all of the following conditions:

  1. it is an integral part but not the end goal of the production process
  2. it is used for the production of another substance or object 
  3. it can be reused without treatment, or with treatments that fall under the industry’s Best Available Techniques
  4. it meets the legal requirements for reuse, including those concerning the protection of health and the environment.

Let’s analyze these four points.

A – Origin of ceramic sludge

Ceramic sludge is not the end goal of the industrial process but it is an integral part of it. It originates from the process of clariflocculation, a treatment used for recovering sanitaryware production wastewater that involves separating suspended substances within a liquid and causing them to settle on the bottom of the container. This allows for the recovery of part of the raw materials and the water used for washing equipment and machinery.

B – Use in sanitaryware production

Both the facts and technical studies carried out by Centro Ceramica have confirmed the advantages and cost-effectiveness of reusing sludge in production processes other than ceramic sanitaryware (ceramic tiles and others).

C – No need for treatment

Filter-pressed sludge originating from ceramic sanitaryware production can be reused in the ceramic tile production process without the need for further treatment. It is fully compatible in terms of its chemical and physical composition with the virgin raw materials used for ceramic tile production. 

D – Certified sustainability and safety

The raw materials used in the Italian ceramic industry are of natural origin, and this includes ceramic sludge. The environmental sustainability and safety characteristics set out in the Technical Data Sheet and the Declaration of Conformity endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce certify that the products are suitable for specific purposes and for their field of application.

Adopting sustainable solutions such as the reuse of ceramic sludge is essential for companies that aim to optimise their production processes and reduce their environmental footprint. These byproducts help to reduce the use of new resources, offset production costs and make companies more competitive.