Refractory linings are torn out at the end of their life. Much of this material used to go to landfill; today a growing share is turned back into raw material.
How does the process work?
- Coatings and build-ups are removed before the lining is torn out.
- Bricks are sorted on site by magnesia type.
- At the recycling hub, chemical analysis comes first, then foreign matter such as steel anchors and wood is removed by hand.
- In bricks from cement kilns, infiltrated alkali salts are removed with a special cleaning process.
- The material is crushed and used to make new bricks.
In figures
RHI Magnesita uses up to 50% recycled raw material in some of its products for cement kilns. According to the company, the product with the highest recycled content has a carbon footprint close to 50% lower than the standard product. A pilot system for automated, sensor-based sorting is being set up in Austria.
The role of primary raw material
Recycling is one of the most effective ways to cut carbon footprint and waste. But the quantity and quality of spent material are limited, and products that need high purity still require clean primary magnesite.
Source: RHI Magnesita, The Bulletin (2025).
