Co-processing recovers energy and heat from waste, conserves non-renewable resources, may reduce emissions. Environmental burdens from waste co-processing may come from additional requirements to prepare the wastes before feeding them into the kiln. In addition, wastes with a high content of heavy metals may lead to increased air emissions of volatile heavy metals (e.g. mercury) and the accumulation of low volatile heavy metals in the cement.

This Module gives comprehensive information on life cycle assessments (LCA) as a useful tool to compare co-processing with other waste treatment alternatives according their benefits and losses.