ESPP presentation at the 5th European Conference on Sludge Management, ECSM’2019

1. 5th European Conference on Sludge Management, ECSM’2019
Developments in regulatory and downstream user perspectives in
sewage sludge management in Europe: drivers, challenges, opportunities
Ludwig Hermann and Christopher Thornton, European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform
Liège, 7th – 8th October 2019

2. Agenda
• Introducing ESPP
• Global problems
• Solutions
• UN, EU and national policies
• Sewage sludge and nutrient
recycling
• Technical nutrient recovery and
recycling
• Conclusions
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 2

3. ESPP facts and figures
• Legally established, not-for-profit association
 important for transparency, clarity of decision making, representation
- statutes are public https://www.phosphorusplatform.eu/platform/about-espp
- EU Transparency Register no. 260483415852-40
http://ec.europa.eu/transparencyregister/
• 100% membership funded
 key to credibility, independence
• 45 paying members to date: industries, SMEs, R&D institutes or projects,
city- / regional- / national governments
 balance between different interests and industries
 in touch with reality (payment = commitment)
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 3

4. How ESPP operates
• Decision by consensus
• Mediation rather than advocacy
- enable dialogue between stakeholders
- develop shared proposals for policy
- communicate with regulators
• Communication tools (web-site,
twitter, eNews, Scope, 45 000 contacts
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 4
Example: Joint Statement on the EU Fertilisers Regulation proposal, between EU federations in the
mineral fertilisers, organic fertilisers, soil improvers, digestate, animal by-products, limiting
materials and wastewater industries, 20th November 2017 www.phosphorusplatform.eu/regulatory

5. Nutrient platforms - partners of ESPP
• Netherlands 2010 http://www.nutrientplatform.org/
• Germany 2015 www.deutsche-phosphor-plattform.de
• Baltic: ESPP works with Baltic Sea Action Group www.bsag.fi
• North America Sustainable Phosphorus Alliance (SPA) 2017
(launched as NAPPS in 2015) https://phosphorusalliance.org/
• Japan PIDO 2011 (Phosphorus Industry Development Organization of Japan) www.pido.or.jp
• Global Partnership for Nutrient Management (UNEP)
http://www.unep.org/gpa/what-we-do/global-partnership-nutrient-management
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 5

6. Nutrient platform projects
• Czech Republic Česká Fosforová Platforma www.fosforovaplatforma.cz
• Ireland All Ireland Phosphorus Platform www.nutrientsustainability.ie
• Italy Piattaforma Italiana del Fosforo Contact ENEA roberta.decarolis@enea.it
• Norway Phosphorus Platform
Contacts Daniel Mueller, Helen Ann Hamilton helen.a.hamilton@ntnu.no
• Swiss Phosphorus Network www.pxch.ch
AMTP Platform for cooperation on phosphorus recovery technologies http://www.klaerschlamm.zh.ch/
• United Kingdom Nutrient Platform Contact r.sakrabani@cranfield.ac.uk
• Canada Phosphorus Hub https://www.phosphorushub.com
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 6

7. Agenda
• Introducing ESPP
• Global problems
• Solutions
• UN, EU and national policies
• Current NRR state and perspectives
• Sewage sludge and nutrient
recycling
• Technical nutrient recovery and
recycling
• Conclusions
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 7

8. We extract more resources than Earth can supply
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 8
Decoupling temporarily
achieved
The Great
Acceleration
(Fischer-Kowalski,
UNEP, 2011)

9. We consume & pollute more than biosphere can tolerate
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 9
Planetary Boundaries
(Steffen et al., 2015)
• Transgressing one or more
planetary boundaries may be
catastrophic
• Abrupt global environmental
change can no longer be
excluded.
• Wasteful operations reduce
profits

10. We deteriorate water quality and aquatic life
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 10
https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps
Source: EEA, 2017

11. And yet………..
• Without mineral phosphate
fertilisers we could feed
maybe 1/5th of the current
world population
Adapted from Dawson et al., Food Policy 2011:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03069192
• Without Haber-Bosch
(mineral nitrogen fertilisers)
we could feed only half of the
current world population
Fertilizers Europe / Wageningen University
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 11

12. Agenda
• Introducing ESPP
• Global problems – Motivation
• Solutions
• UN, EU and national policies
• Current NRR state and perspectives
• Sewage sludge and nutrient recycling
• Technical nutrient recovery and
recycling
• Conclusions
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 12

13. Solutions
• Policies (prices) to account for externalities
associated with mining and emissions
• Strategies to avoid waste and close
material loops
• Agricultural and urban practices to avoid
nutrient losses
• Nutrient recovery and recycling (NRR)
• Transition from a material-based to a
service-based economy
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 13
Produce more from
less - decoupling
economic growth
from materials use
Sustainable
technologies

14. Agenda
• Introducing ESPP
• Global challenges
• Solutions
• UN, EU and national policies
• Sewage sludge and nutrient recycling
• Technical nutrient recovery and
recycling
• Conclusions
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 14

15. United Nations: Sustainable Development Goals
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 15
Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by the UN
General Assembly (193 nations) on September 25, 2015 (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/)
UN Environment, UNEA.4/L.16 Resolution (11-15
March 2019): Sustainable Nitrogen Management

16. EU’s Response to SDGs and Resource Use
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 16
2014 EU Consultative Communication
on Sustainable Use of Phosphorus
Proposals include: Increasing knowledge and research,
P-recycling, risk of soil contamination
by mineral or recycled fertilisers
see www.phosphorusplatform.eu/scope107
2015: EU Circular Economy Package
Flagship initiative = new EU Fertilising Products Regulation
www.phosphorusplatform.eu/scope118
2019: EU Fertilising Products Regulation 2019/1009
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2019:170:TOC

17. National policies (examples)
Austria
• Waste Management Plan includes nutrient recycling obligation
Denmark
• Taxes on P-effluents from sewage plants and on waste landfills
Finland
• To become world leader in Circular Economy by 2025
Sweden
• Aiming at toxin-free and resource-efficient eco-cycles
• Government inquiry to propose a ban on spreading sewage
sludge and require phosphorus recycling
The Netherlands
• Agreements (mostly voluntary) between government and
stakeholders aiming at P-recycling; landfill tax
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 17

18. National policies – making P recycling mandatory
Germany
• AbfKlärV 2017 (sewage sludge regulation): phosphorus recycling becomes obligatory
- within 12/15 years
- for all WWTPs > 100 000 P.E. / 50 000 P.E.
- if sewage sludge P > 2% of dry matter
Switzerland
• 2016 VVEA (waste act), Art 15, makes phosphorus recovery obligatory by 2026
• from sewage sludge incineration ash* and meat and bone meal ash,
• 2018 ChemRRV (chemicals risk reduction act) “MinRec” requirements to inorganic
recycled fertilisers enforced by Federal Council
* Switzerland banned land use of sewage biosolids in 2006
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 18

19. EU nutrient recycling legal framework (25th June 2019)
EU Fertilising Products Regulation 2019/1009 (FPR)
• Flagship of Commission ‘Circular Economy Package’
• All fertilisers (mineral & organic), plant materials, composts &
digestates, soil amendments, growing media, bio-stimulants,
liming materials, etc.
• First EU product legislation to confer “End-of-Waste” status
• Opens European market for recycled fertilisers
and for recycling technologies
• FPR compliance not obligatory – national fertilisers can still be
defined and sold
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2019:170:TOC
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 19
ESPP takes
multiple
actions to
support the
new FPR

20. New CMCs - STRUBIAS Report (24th September 2019)
Criteria proposals for EU Fertilising Product
Regulation for struvite and phosphate salts, ashes
and ash-based materials incl. pyrolysis and HTC
published http://dx.doi.org/10.2760/186684
• CMC XX: precipitated phosphate salts & derivates (e.g. struvite)
• CMC YY: thermal oxidation materials & derivates (ash-based
products)
• CMC ZZ: pyrolysis & gasification materials (sewage sludge
derived pyrolysis products)
• Require conformity assessment
• Constraints for animal by-products including manure
• REACH registration with annexes VI-VIII and chemical safety
report (CSR) required
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 20
ESPP member of
expert group
More details on FPR tomorrow, 8th October 2019, 13:45
“The new EU fertilizing products regulation and its
practical implications”
by Dr Antoine Hoxha, Fertilizers Europe

21. Opportunities to recycle wastewater nutrients?
Under EU Fertilising Products Regulation & STRUBIAS
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2019:170:TOC and http://dx.doi.org/10.2760/186684
NOTE1: this is a simplified summary prepared by ESPP and may not be precisely accurate
NOTE2: all ABPs (including manure)  subject also to definition of End-Points under the Animal By Products Regulation process
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 21

22. EU Water Policy REFIT
Currently underway:
• Water policy ‘Fitness Check’
• Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive ‘Evaluation’
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/fitness_check_of_the_eu_water_legislation/index_en.htm
• Preliminary conclusions of both will be presented at
the ESPP/ ECSM workshop, Liège, 9th October
Workshop with support of ULiège http://phosphorusplatform.eu/Premovalworkshop
• Water Framework Directive report 26/2/2019
https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/com_report_wfd_fd_2019_en_1.pdf
 38% of surface waters in good chemical status
 40% in good ecological status/potential
 “only a limited number have improved” 2009-2015
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 22
http://phosphorusplatform.eu/Premovalworkshop
Phosphorus is the first cause
of (non-morphological) quality
status failure under the EU
Water Framework Directive

23. EU Initiatives to curb nutrient losses
Proposed new CAP (Common Agricultural Policy)
• EU Commission proposal 1 June 2018
• “Farm Sustainability Tool for Nutrients” (FaST)
- information on farm, crops, management
- complete nutrient budget
• Conditionality requirements:
- control of diffuse pollution by phosphates
- nitrate leakages
… buffer strips, soil management …
https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries/key-policies/common-agricultural-policy/future-cap_en
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 23
ESPP coordinates joint position
www.phosphorusplatform/eu/regulatory

24. EU Initiatives to reduce ammonia emissions
• National Emissions Ceilings Directive (NECD) revision:
Ammonia  particulates  health impacts
• - 98% of ammonia emissions from agriculture
• - 2016 NECD revision:
- 19% reduction target for ammonia by 2030
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 24
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/pollutants/ceilings.htm

25. EU Initiatives to support phosphorus recycling
• Phosphate is on the EU Critical Raw
Materials List since 2014 and White
Phosphorus (P4) since 2017
 Non-substitutable
 Non-renewable
 Geopolitical resource concentration
 EU 90% dependent on imports
Reassessment currently underway
ESPP participating
potassium now being considered
last expert workshop Brussels 12.09.2019
https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/raw-materials/specific-interest/critical_en
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-599_en.htm
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 25
Economic ImportanceSupplyRisk
ESPP
contributed

26. EU regulation/studies to support nutrient recycling underway
“SAFEMANURE” study
• DG ENVI study on recycled nutrient products from manures
for the Nitrates Directive (“processed manures”)
https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/science-update/call-participation-eu-wide-monitoring-campaign-manure
REACH contaminants studies
to prepare possible “Restrictions’ under REACH
 composts and digestates – completed not published
 mineral and organic fertilisers – tender closed 26/8/19
https://etendering.ted.europa.eu/cft/cft-display.html?cftId=5131
REACH ‘Registration’ (Annex V) exemption
for digestates: regulation expected to be published soon
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 26
ESPP formal request to
access compost and
digestate study 19/7/19

27. EU R&D funding
• R&D funding:
- FP7 (e.g. P-REX project)
- Horizon 2020
- Horizon Europe (2021-2028)
• Agriculture R&D funding
• DG ENVI: - LIFE
• DG REGIO: - InterReg
• National / regional programmes: -
e.g. Baltic Bonus, BMBF RePhor
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 27
Upcoming Horizon 2020 calls, deadline 22/1/2020
CE-RUR-08-2018-19-20 Closing nutrient cycles - IA Innovation action + RIA Research and Innovation action
CE-FNR-17-2020
Pilot circular bio-based cities – sustainable production of bio-based products from urban biowaste and
wastewater
CE-FNR-15-2020 A network of European bio-economy clusters to advance bio-based solutions in the primary production sector
FNR-18-2020 Sustainability of bio-based products – international governance aspects and market update

28. Horizon Europe
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 28
ESPP input to Horizon 2020,
e.g. as member of EIP-AGRI
Focus Group
• EU’s 9th R&D Framework Programme 2021 – 2028
• ~100 billion € EU funding
Source of diagram: Neville Reeve, DG
RTD at IAFSS 12/2019

29. Horizon Europe
Proposal includes (page numbers refer to proposed orientations document):
• Mission “Soil health and food” (p. 131)
• Partnership “Circular Bio-Based Europe” (p. 140)
• Cluster 6: (p. 110)
“Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment”
- links environment, diets, resources, nutrients and water (p. 111)
- circular food systems (p. 123)
- nutrient & organics recycling, “acceptability” of recycled products (p. 125, 127)
- “comprehensive EU policy to balance nutrient cycles” (p. 127)
- “systemic solutions for sustainable management of nutrient flows” (p. 128)
https://ec.europa.eu/research/pdf/horizon-europe/ec_rtd_orientations-towards-the-strategic-planning.pdf
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 29
ESPP input see
www.phosphorusplatform.eu/R&D

30. Agenda
• Introducing ESPP
• Global problems – Motivation
• Solutions
• Global and EU policies
• Sewage sludge and nutrient recycling
• Technical nutrient recovery and
recycling
• recovery and recycling
• Conclusions
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 30

31. Recycling potential
• European Commission 1
STRUBIAS recycled products
could replace 25-40%
of EU mineral phosphate fertilisers
• European Commission 2
Phosphorus recycling could replace 30%
of EU mineral phosphate fertilisers
• i.e. potential market value of recycled
phosphates = c. 600 M€ 3
1 = JRC STRUBIAS draft « Market » report 20/12/2017
2 = IP/18/6161 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-6161_en.htm
3 = ESPP estimate
P recycling potential in EU-27
[kton P/year] Total Recycled Potential
Sewage sludge 297 115 182
Biodegradable solid
waste
130 38 92
Meat & bone meal 128 6 122
Total 427-555 153-160 274-396
Manure = 1 736
Mineral fertiliser use = 1 448
Van Dijk et al. “Phosphorus flows and balances of the European Union Member
States”, Science of the Total Environment Volume 542, Part B, 15 January 2016,
Pages 1078-1093 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.08.048

32. About half of EU sewage sludge goes to land
“Sewage sludge destination in Europe”, Eureau, based on 2017 survey http://www.eureau.org/resources/past-events/water-
events-docs/3430-sewage-sludge-destination-in-europe/file “Answers to the Sewage Sludge Questionnaire”,
EurEau 4.10.2016 http://www.eureau.org/resources/publications/3249-sewage-sludge-situation-and-trends-2016/file
• Eureau 2017 survey: 49% of EU sludge goes
to agriculture (pie chart)
• Eureau 2016 sludge questionnaire: >50% of
sludge goes to agriculture, green areas or
landscaping in 15 EU Member States (Belgium,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy,
Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the
UK)
• DG Environment (2019) indicates 40% of
sludge to agriculture (2002 data)
• Data difficult because of confusion over composting
and digestion, and definitions of landscaping or green
area uses

33. About half of EU sewage sludge goes to land
• P, N, K and organic carbon return to soil
• Waste status:
- controlled spreading plan
- register of quantities, treatment, fields
This information is now public: update 2:019 of EU
environmental “reporting obligations” Directive see
www.phosphorusplatform.eu/eNews035
• (should be) used only according to crop nutrient needs
• Usually after anaerobic digestion and/or composting
- energy recovery, stabilisation, sanitisation
• Quality certification in place in most Member States
E.g. UK https://assuredbiosolids.co.uk/about-biosolids/

34. About half of EU sewage sludge goes to land
Composts from sewage sludge can be
nationally certified fertilising products:
e.g. in France, Italy?, elsewhere ?
“La transformation en compost normé sous statut de produit. Les
boues de très bonne qualité peuvent être transformées en compost normé
(norme NFU 44-095). Il est utilisé majoritairement en agriculture mais aussi
par des pépiniéristes ou sur des espaces verts. La norme impose des
objectifs de qualité plus sévères que la réglementation « déchet », en
particulier sur les éléments traces métalliques et la microbiologie. Tout
compost de boues conforme à la norme peut être commercialisé au même
titre qu’un engrais organique.”
https://www.eaurmc.fr/jcms/vmr_35488/fr/gestion-des-boues-
urbaines?cid=vmr_35727&portal=cbl_7386

35. Threats to agricultural sludge application
“Sewage sludge destination in Europe”, Eureau, based on 2017 survey http://www.eureau.org/resources/past-events/water-
events-docs/3430-sewage-sludge-destination-in-europe/file
Concerns about contaminants:
• Heavy metals …. Largely resolved by upstream bans on uses
and separation of industrial discharges
• Copper, zinc: toxic / mico-nutrients … require specific
management
• Organic contaminants, in particular pharmaceuticals and
antibiotic resistance genes
• Microplastics
25% of Eureau members expect a >10%
decrease in agricultural use in coming years
35% see risks related to hazardous substances
as a “very important” driver

36. A success story in Sweden:
REVAQ sewage treatment certification
• > 50% Sweden’s sewage goes to REVAQ Certified
• Digestate quality, monitoring, information transparency
• 1 600 t/year phosphorus recycled to agriculture
• Recognised achievements in upstream depollution
http://www.iea-biogas.net/case-studies.html?file=files/daten-redaktion/download/case-
studies/REVAQ_CAse_study_A4_1.pdf
http://www.svensktvatten.se/globalassets/om-oss/nyheter/2017/revaq-arsrapport-2016.pdf
But in 2018 …
Swedish Government launches enquiry into
banning use of sewage sludge on land and
making P-recovery obligatory
https://www.government.se/press-releases/2018/07/inquiry-to-propose-ban-on-spreading-
sewage-sludge-on-farmland-and-a-phosphorus-recycling-requirement

37. Consumer, retailer,
food & beverage industry positions

38. Between a rock and a hard place?
In the UK over 80% of sewage sludge goes to land
- Farmers favorable to sewage sludge: cost, carbon content, …
- Pressure on sewage sludge from food & beverage industry
- Public opposition to incinerators
Rising sludge disposal costs: e.g. 75€ to 115€ /tDM (Italy)
Kanton Zürich – moving to phosphorus recovery
• 50 M€ investment 2015 in centralised sludge mono-incinerator
• 72 wwtps now deliver 100 000 t/y dewatered sludge
• 94% vote “Yes” in local referendum
• 40% operating cost savings by energy efficient dryer
• Phosphorus recovery from ash pilot currently testing
See www.phosphorusplatform.eu/Scope119 and http://www.awel.zh.ch

39. Differing approaches to sewage phosphorus recycling
Carbon Nitrogen Organic
contaminants
(pharmaceuticals …)
Micro-
plastics
Fertiliser /
End-of-Waste
Biosolids
After digestion /
composting, artificial
wetlands, etc.
Biogas +
Return to
soil
To soil
(partly)
Research /
monitoring
needed
Not
removed
In some
countries
Biochar, HTC Yes if
energy
efficient
Lost ? Not
removed
In some
countries
Incineration Energy
recovery
Recovery?
(not at present)
Eliminated Eliminated EU proposed
OK
Other … : hydrolysis, electrolysis, membranes, ion exchange

40. Some examples of biochar and HTC technologies
CARBOREM 1 m3 continuous HTC
reactor for sludge/digestate treatment
http://www.carborem.com/it/
TerraNova Energy, Germany,
HTC process, operating full scale
in Japan, China
https://terranova-energy.com/en/
Hitachi-Zosen, operate full scale
plants in Japan, aiming to develop
biochar from pig slurry in Europe
www.hitachizosen.co.jp/english

41. Agenda
• Introducing ESPP
• Global problems – Motivation
• Solutions
• Global and EU policies
• Sewage sludge and nutrient
recycling
• Technical nutrient recovery and
recycling
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 41

42. More than 100 technical P-Recovery installations (Kabbe, 2019)
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 42
More than 100 full-scale plants operational in Europe, USA/Canada and Japan.
80 struvite plants of which 60 on municipal wastewater; some 20,000 t struvite produced.
Pilot production of high grade P-products from ash in Varna, Hamburg, Madrid and
Helsingborg. In addition, a few full-scale plants for N and S recycling are operational.

43. Struvite – essentially a By-Product of operational savings
• Driven and paid-back by operational improvements/savings:
• Avoids scaling in digesters and pipes
• Improves dewaterability of sludge
• Average P recovery rate from the aqueous phase 8-15% of WWTP inflow, up to 40%
recovery with sludge pre-treatment – albeit design capacity frequently not achieved
• Currently only applicable to enhanced bio-P removal that is about 10% of EU WWTPs
• Good quality struvite has demonstrated high fertilising efficiency and adding economic
and ecological value to wastewater treatment
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 43

44. P-recovery from sludge – applicable to all WWTP
Processes sharing recovery rates of >50% P, being
independent of P-removal processes in WWTPs, producing
marketable products and tested in technical scale pilot
plants:
• RAVITA – N and P recovery (55-60%) by post-
precipitation from mainstream after sludge separation
• Producing ammonium phosphate and phosphoric acid
• ExtraPhos – sludge acidification and P-extraction using
CO2
• Producing precipitated calcium phosphates
• ViviMag – magnetic separation of plant available iron
(FeII) phosphates from digested sewage sludge
• Producing Vivianite (Fe2+Fe2+
2(PO4)2·8H2O)
The list of processes is not exhaustive – several other processes exist in
different stages of development.
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 44
ExtraPhos
HSY RAVITA
ViviMag

45. Nitrogen recovery from municipal sewage sludge (Yara)
• Ammonia stripping from digested sewage
sludge at Oslo’s VEAS 650 000 P.E.
municipal waste-water treatment plant
• 12-15% of input nitrogen stripped and
recovered as ammonium nitrate
• Yara supplies concentrated nitric acid
solution (HNO3, 62% w/w), takes off the AN
solution and sells the product to industrial
customers
• http://www.circulary.eu/project/yara-recovery/
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 45

46. Sulphur recovery from biogas (Paques Thiopaq)
• Alkaline gas-stripping (using the biological reactor return flow)
• Biological reactor conversion to elemental sulphur
• Sulphur
• Nutrient needed in many soils/crops (no longer supplied by “acid
rain”)
• Important for nitrogen uptake
• Fertipaq
• Hydrophilic sulphur crystals in suspension offer
better agronomic properties than sulphur
from petrol refineries or chemical acid production
• 25 000 t/y production of bio-sulphur
– most used in local fertilisers
• 2 000 t/y site marketed in 100ml – 800 litres for gardeners, farmers …
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 46
Paques Thiopaq
https://en.paques.nl/products/featured/thiopaq

47. P-Recycling from Ash – after sludge mono-incineration
AshDec, EasyMining, EcoPhos, Phos4Life, Tetraphos
> 85% P-recovery rate
• Several financially sound, industry owned technology
suppliers
• Independent of P-removal process in sewage plant
• High value “commodity” products =
• Technical grade acid and DCP as secondary raw materials
• Clean, water soluble mineral fertilising products (TSP/MAP/DAP)
• Some processes recover iron/aluminium salts for P-removal
in wastewater treatment plants
• Some processes recover silicates for use in cement
production – saving CO2 emissions
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 47
EasyMining
Tecnicas Reunidas / ZAR

48. Organic farming and recycled phosphorus products
• EGTOP (EU Expert Group for Technical Advice for
Organic Farming)
• In 2016 recommended struvite and calcined phosphate
(AshDec) due to slow nutrient release (but subject to new EU
Fertilising Products Regulation)
http://www.sinab.it/sites/default/files/share/Final%20Report%20on%20Organic%20Fertilizers%20And%20Soil%2
0Conditioners%20%28II%29%20%20%28February%202016%29.pdf
• In 2018 did not recommend stripped N-fertilisers (2018) due to
high solubility
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 48
Expert Group for Technical
Advice on Organic
Production EGTOP
Final Report on Organic
Fertilizers And Soil
Conditioners (II)
 EU Fertilising Products Regulation adoption 2019 opens
route to authorisation process for these recycled
nutrient products from WWTP in organic farming
 Further new applications have to be submitted through
Member States’ Governments

49. Revenues from product sales still widely untapped
(role models: Magic Dirt™, Ostara Crystal Green™)
• Clearly defined products for niche or specific
markets
• Products fit-for-purpose (targeted properties,
consistently reliable quality)
• Elaborated marketing strategies
• Dedicated sales force, including field advisors
• Regular production
• Marketing and image
• Significant investments
required
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 49

50. Agenda
• Introducing ESPP
• Global problems – Motivation
• Solutions
• UN, EU and national policies
• Sewage sludge and nutrient
recycling
• Technical nutrient recovery and
recycling
• Conclusions
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 50

51. Conclusions
• European policies, regulations and directives
• Circular Economy Package
• Critical Raw Materials List revision and EU Water Policy REFIT (WFD, UWWTD)
• Proposed new Common Agricultural Policies (CAP)
• New Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR) including STRUBIAS CMCs
• Remaining barriers
• No (apparent) willingness of customers to accept a premium for sustainability
• Possible customer reluctance if waste raw materials are declared
• Public procurement focusing on low cost instead of closed loops
• Except for Fertilising Products Regulation, harmonized European regulatory
framework missing
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 51

52. More direct Support Needed
• Targeted Circular Economy Directives with clear targets
comparable to energy directives (REDII)
• More harmonisation of regulation in the EU
• Improve coherence and experience transfer between Member
States for national End-of-Waste status for products recovered
from wastewater for recycling
• Making P-recycling mandatory like CH, DE
• Closing binding agreements with industry, municipalities like
NL
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 52

53. More favourable Economic Framework
• Green New Deal for Europe covering Circular Economy principles
• Public procurement focusing on resource use instead of cost reduction
• Reducing taxes on labour – labour is renewable in contrast to
virgin resource use
• Taxing externalities (environmental consequences of wasting
resources) taking policies of CH, DK, NL, SE and UK as positive
examples for taxing, for instance
• Nutrient and GHG emissions to air/water
• Waste of resources and land use for landfills
October 2019 ECSM’2019 Conference 53

54. Website: www.phosphorusplatform.eu Email: Chris Thornton info@phosphorusplatform.eu
News: @phosphorusfacts Ludwig Hermann l.hermann@proman.pro
http://www.phosphorusplatform.eu/members