Sewage Sludge Disposal in the Federal Republic of Germany

The novel sewage sludge ordinance entered into force on 03/10/2017. Therefore for wastewater treatment plants with more than 100,000 respectively 50,000 populations equivalents the utilization of sewage sludge on soil is only possible until 2029 respectively 2032. Afterwards phosphorus recovery is mandatory for sludge with minimum 20 g phosphorus/ kg as well as for sewage sludge ashes. Even now most of the approximately 1.8 mil. tons of municipal sewage sludge is not used for agricultural purposes but is treated thermal in mono- and co-incineration plants. The present report is summarizing the current state of sewage sludge disposal in Germany and presents the possibilities for its sustainable utilization.