Waste-derived fuels could help reduce fossil fuel use in cement manufacturing while diverting suitable waste from landfill, according to a review of international research by Adelaide University researchers.
PhD candidate Geethmi Thisakya and her supervisory team, Dr Navodana Rodrigo, Dr Chamitha Wijewickrama and Professor George Zillante, reviewed research on the use of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) in cement production, examining its potential role in industrial decarbonisation and waste management.
Cement production accounts for an estimated 8 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions and relies heavily on coal and other fossil fuels to generate the high temperatures required for manufacturing. Meanwhile, combustible waste that cannot be recycled is often sent to landfill.
RDF is produced by processing suitable waste materials into fuel that can replace some conventional fossil fuels. Its use alongside traditional fuels in cement kilns is known as co-processing.
The researchers reviewed 211 scholarly articles published between 1991 and July 2025, examining 48 in detail, including seven regulatory documents. The findings, published in the International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, indicate growing global interest in RDF as a potential means of addressing waste disposal and fossil fuel dependence.
Thisakya said the approach could connect waste management with efforts to reduce industrial emissions, but its implementation would require consistent fuel quality, clear regulations and stronger evidence of its impacts.
“However, our review shows that realising this potential requires more than simply replacing coal with waste. We need consistent fuel quality, clear regulations and stronger evidence about the environmental and economic impacts,” she said.
The review also identified confusion between RDF and solid recovered fuel (SRF), a more highly standardised form of waste-derived fuel. The researchers said inconsistent terminology and varying quality standards make it difficult to compare studies, interpret regulatory requirements and assess fuel reliability.
Thisakya said cement manufacturers needed assurance that alternative fuels could meet operational and environmental requirements.
“Developing stronger quality assurance systems and clearer regulatory frameworks will help industry make informed decisions about using waste-derived fuels,” she said.
The research identifies priorities for further investigation, including improved fuel classification, stronger quality control, comparisons of regulations across countries, and more detailed assessments of environmental, economic and social impacts.
The findings highlight potential opportunities for waste-derived fuels in cement manufacturing, while identifying standards, regulation and evidence of their broader impacts as important considerations for wider adoption.
