On December 16, the construction of 550-square-meter brake shoe storage site paved with bricks manufactured from 13,800 pieces of railway track bed waste ballast was completed, marking a breakthrough in the comprehensive utilization of railway waste ballast for the first time in China, and marking the key technology of extensive utilization of heavy-haul railway waste ballast led by the Railway Equipment Company to make important achievements, which established a strong foundation for promoting the solid waste project featuring optimizing utilization, standardizing disposal and maximizing efficiency. The technology allows whole solid waste disposal for waste ballast with a resource utilization rate reaching 100%, playing a positive role in building a “waste-free city”, and making it the first of its kind in the industry.
In 2024, Railway Equipment Company, in alignment with the national call for resource intensification, carried out project research, independently developed key technologies, and created a new type of high-performance mineral-based curing agent with natural mineral materials. This agent is fused with the waste ballast and pressed into unburned bricks and other recycled products. A scientific proportioning program and production techniques were determined to complete unburned brick proportioning test through fine grading, precise blending, ultra-fine grinding and other techniques. The test indicates that the products made by this technology meet the strength standard of the industry and are suitable for large-scale production and application.
The successful R&D and the application of the project propelled the change in waste ballast management and the green transition of the industry, reduced carbon emissions, lowered environmental pollution and safety risks, and saved disposal costs. This innovative practice of Railway Equipment Company has explored a new technological path for building a “waste-free city” and the green development of the railway industry, playing a positive role in demonstrating and leading the efficient utilization of resources and environmental protection.
