Page 46 - 2020 Sustainability Report

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

The Hunter plant has also transitioned to synthetic The Hunter ready mix site was constructed in such a way
gypsum, a vital material in cement production, which that it recycles all rainwater and runoff from truck
reduces the amount of natural rock gypsum that must washing. “All wastewater stays on site and goes right back
be mined. In addition, because synthetic gypsum is a into the cement plant,” Folhadella said. “Conserving water
byproduct of other industrial operations such as power resources is generally a good thing, but here in Texas,
plants, we are able to find ways to beneficially reuse their where we don’t always get much rain, it’s essential. We
waste. “Power plants can’t use the synthetic gypsum they have to do everything we can to recycle.”
create, but we certainly can,” Cement Plant Manager Julio
Folhadella said. “Moving to synthetic gypsum, has helped Finally, since raw materials needed by each of the three
us reduce our environmental impact. We’re still able to use production facilities are already on site, the need to import
high-quality materials in our cement, but we don’t have to products from distances outside of Hunter is dramatically
mine for it, which opens up land for other uses and reduced. The combined result means lower emissions from
eliminates the emissions created by a mining operation.” equipment like haul trucks and railcars.

Our Hunter Stone’s filter press
system eliminates the need
for an inground settling
pond, which makes the
operation more efficient

44 2020 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT