End-to-end process management
Safety, responsibility, transparency
From production inspired by circularity principles to continuous monitoring of the supply chain, from constant control of air and water emissions to the responsible management of the Val Rogno landfill: Pontenossa S.p.A. holds an Integrated Environmental Authorization (IEA) that regulates all environmental aspects connected to its activity.
Management of the production residues storage site
Management of the production residues storage site
Air
Water
Supply chain
External audits
Management of the production residues storage site
For over thirty years, Pontenossa S.p.A. has managed and monitored the Val Rogno landfill: about 105,000 m² located near the production plant, ensuring responsible treatment of Waelz zinc oxide production’s residues.
Pontenossa S.p.A. boasts thirty years of experience in the design, fulfillment of authorization criteria, construction, testing, and both ordinary and extraordinary management of a landfill in a mountain environment.
The landfill base, built according to strict authorization requirements, rests on a reinforced concrete shell and consists of two thick layers of rubberized liner alternating with drainage layers. These enable the collection of all leachates into a drainage network connected to inspection chambers, easily accessible via a 320 m tunnel beneath the landfill body, passable with work vehicles.
Key strengths of current landfill management include:
24/7/365 monitoring and surveillance of all critical parameters (e.g., stability, water collection under and over the liner, piezometers, quality of deposited waste);
collection, treatment, and purification of all leachates from the landfill body;
availability of certified companies for construction in special environments;
research and use of innovative construction solutions suitable for building a landfill in a mountain environment;
constant attention to maintenance, cleanliness, safety, and preservation of the surrounding environment.
Hydrogeological monitoring
includes weekly measurement of piezometer groundwater levels, flow rates of the Rogno stream and leachate correlated with rainfall, and quarterly sampling and analysis of piezometer water, leachate, and Rogno stream water upstream and downstream of the landfill;
Geotechnical monitoring
includes monitoring landfill stability through advanced inclinometers and monitoring potential landfill movements using next-generation extensometers;
3D volumetric surveys
Pontenossa S.p.A.’s internal laboratory, in addition to controlling all water flows, performs daily monitoring of the quality of residues deposited at the storage site (leachate analysis) and compliance with legal environmental parameters.
Air
Monitoring atmospheric emissions
Pontenossa S.p.A. has installed advanced abatement systems to control all possible emission sources. These include bag filters at dust emission points, a regenerative thermal after-burner to prevent carbon monoxide and organic compound emissions from the main Waelz kiln outlet, and a nitrogen oxide reduction system.
Pontenossa S.p.A. monitors all emission points through continuous monitoring systems and specific analyses. In particular, the main outlet is equipped with a “Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS)” to control the TOC (Total Organic Carbon) parameter.
Annual air quality monitoring in neighboring municipalities
Each year, a study is conducted on air quality in nearby towns (Ponte Nossa, Gorno, and Premolo). The monitoring consists of one-month continuous data collection, followed by statistical analysis to verify potential correlations with plant’s activity.
Water
Monitoring wastewater
After collecting all industrial water, leachate, and yard runoff into its physio-chemical water treatment plant, Pontenossa S.p.A.:
- constantly monitors parameters (such as pH and chlorides),
- ensures precipitation of any pollutants,
- uses specific reagents,
with the goal of achieving wastewater parameters well below the limits set by regulations and its IEA.
The internal laboratory constantly checks the proper functioning of the purification plant by sampling and analyzing daily average samples.
Monitoring of the Riso stream waters
In collaboration with the University of Camerino, Pontenossa S.p.A. carries out a biennial study on water quality, fish populations, and macroinvertebrates of the Riso stream, with multiple samplings conducted over two years.
Supply chain
Pontenossa conducts strict checks to ensure the compliance of steel mill dust before entering the plant, paying special attention to radioactivity levels throughout the production process, and working with stakeholders and authorities to promptly report anomalies or non-conforming loads.
External audits
Pontenossa S.p.A. undergoes external audits by certification bodies for its ISO 14001, ISO 9001, and ETS (Emission Trading System) management systems, ensuring compliance with related requirements.
A shared responsibility
Pontenossa has trained its staff and implemented all necessary monitoring, analysis, and constant control measures over the years to ensure the best functioning of the storage site.
Science in support of circular economy
To meet regulatory obligations for managing the production residue storage site, Pontenossa S.p.A. has already developed a project for the rehabilitation of the area at the end of its use, with the aim of returning it safely and sustainably to the community and mountain territory.
To extend the landfill’s lifecycle, Pontenossa S.p.A. is conducting chemical-physical tests on its production residues with the aim of reintroducing them in the supply chain as an aggregate for stabilized mixes, concrete, and asphalt, as already practiced in other European countries.
A certified responsibility
The current IEA edition is contained in Decree No. 10115 of 07/10/2010 and was renewed with Decree No. 2481 of 02/12/2020, in light of the issuance of new sector BATs and the End of Waste directive. The renewal of the IEA also redefined the list of EER codes that Pontenossa S.p.A. is authorized to process.
