China: Coal waste-to-sand plant advances zero-waste goal

China is taking a significant step towards its zero-waste goal for the fossil fuel industry with a new plant in Shanxi province that transforms ultra-hard coal waste into high-value industrial materials. The project, located in Gaoping, is now operational and producing 1,000 tonnes per day of building and industrial materials, including sand and gravel aggregates for construction.

The materials are derived from coal gangue, the primary solid waste generated during coal mining and washing. By processing this tough material, China is advancing the comprehensive clean utilization of coal wastes, which now extends from contaminated water and exhaust gases to solid byproducts.

This initiative aligns with broader efforts in China to leverage its strengths in extraction technology and industrial infrastructure. The country is also exploring ways to process coal gangue and fly ash to extract critical metals like lithium, gallium, and germanium. Furthermore, innovations such as converting emissions from coal-fired power plants into fertilizer are expanding the applications of carbon capture technologies, potentially making both environmental solutions and food production more economical.