Sustainable and innovative recycling strategies

Sewage sludge disposal and utilisation

The land application of sewage sludge on agricultural areas is becoming increasingly restricted. Due to legal constraints, sewage sludge disposal must be reconsidered.

Increased demands on environmental protection, safety and resource conservation are leading to an increase in thermal sewage sludge utilisation as the mono-incineration of sewage sludge offers a holistic and future-oriented concept for the secure utilisation of the accumulating sewage sludge volumes.

sludge2energy GmbH is on hand to advise you on developing sustainable and innovative utilisation strategies for your sewage sludge.

Legal framework – initial situation for sewage sludge in Germany

For sustainable protection of the environment and resources, the requirements for sewage sludge utilisation have been significantly tightened. The Sewage Sludge Ordinance (AbfKlärV)), which came into force in October 2017, is intended to reduce environmental pollution resulting from the spreading of sewage sludge containing nitrogen and phosphates.

This leads to a reorientation of sewage sludge utilisation in Germany as, with the new ordinance, spreading on agricultural land will no longer be possible so easily in the future. A central element of the Sewage Sludge Ordinance are also the requirements for the recovery of phosphorus from sewage sludge and its incineration ashes.

Learn more about Germany's pointing-the-way Sewage Sludge Ordinance

Initial situation and sewage sludge disposal abroad

In other countries, material utilisation of sewage sludge still predominates at present. The path Germany has chosen, abandoning the utilisation of sewage sludge for land application, has led to increased attention in some countries to the use of sewage sludge as a resource. As a result of the internationally growing concern for sustainability and the increasing environmental demands, an expansion of thermal sewage sludge utilisation capacities is to be expected worldwide.

As a specialist in sewage sludge incineration, sludge2energy GmbH will be happy to provide you with comprehensive expertise for your project, whether in Germany or abroad.