ZeroPM removal workshop: Sludge management: the wastewater sector's contribution to a circular economy

Sludge management: the wastewater sector’s contribution to a circular economy Table of content 1. EurEau 2. Wastewater sector contribution to a circular economy 3. Current sludge management practices 4. Legislative framework 5. Challenges & strategic solutions to unlock the potential of sludge to contribute to a circular economy 6. Key messages 1. EurEau - European Federation of National Associations of Water Services 38 national associations of drinking and wastewater operators (public and private sector) 33 European countries 2. Wastewater sector contribution to circular economy Competitiveness Autonomy Water resilience Climate mitigation and adaptation What the wastewater sector can offer Water reuse Renewable energy generation Resource and nutrient recovery Extraction Soil improver EU level impacts 3. Current sludge management practices (I) Source: EEA (2024) UWWT Figure 6 NEW 42.5% 14.7% 17.5% 8.26% 5.46% 11.6% Proportion of wastewater sludge generated from UWWTPs reused or disposed Source: EurEau (2021) Europe's Water in Figures Destination of sewage sludge production in EurEau member countries (based on responses, no extrapolation) (8.7 Million tonnes DS/y) 3. Current sludge management practices (II) Source: EurEau (2021) Europe's Water in Figures Destination of sewage sludge production 4. Legislative framework Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) Recast Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (EU 2024/3019) Sewage Sludge Directive (86/278/EEC) Circular Economy Act (proposal expected Q4 2026) Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) Fertilising Products Regulation (2019/1009 – under evaluation) Industrial Emissions Directive (EU 2024/1785) Renewable Energy Directive (EU 2023/2413) Health Soil Monitoring Directive (final approval still needed) 5. Challenges •Lack harmonisation in quality standards & in quality assessment for recovered resources •Pollutants of emerging concern •Limited analytical capability •Public perception of safety •Lack of awareness/training endusers •Immaturity of recovery technologies •Development to full-scale requires time & investment •High CAPEX/OPEX technologies •Cost recovery •Limited demand for recovered resources •Recovered resources restricted to fertiliser markets •P recovery targets rUWWTD •Inconsistent definitions across EU legislation •EoW gap •Lack of harmonised EoW criteria •Lack of policy coherence Fragmented definitions and regulation Market barriers Economic and technological constraints Quality and safety concerns 5. Strategic solutions and recommendations (I) Regulatory clarity and harmonisation Consider resources recovered from sludge as strategic EU resources Broaden & accelerate EoW & CMC criteria application to sludgederived resources Homologation approaches to reduce costs while ensuring quality Market creation and demand pull Compulsory blend ratios of recovered nutrients in fertilisers Subsidies/incentives for recovered raw materials Enable wider use of recovered nutrients beyond fertilisers EU-wide EoW and quality criteria Improve & facilitate approval processes for recovered resources Harmonise minimum P recovery rates rUWWTD Holistic sludge management Acknowledge different possibilities in valorisation of sludge Address entire sludge cycle Ensure quality of sludge and recovered resources Prioritise & mainstream control at source New business partnerships & supply-consumption-chains