German government sets out plans for phosphorus recovery from sewage

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The German government has put forward proposed regulations that will require phosphorus to be recovered from sewage treatment plants with a population equivalent of 50,000 or more.

The proposed amendment of the country’s Sewage Sludge Ordinance sets a deadline of 12 years after entry into force of the regulation for sewage treatment plants serving at least 100,000 population equivalents, with a deadline of 15 years for those serving at least 50,000 population equivalents.

The amendment, adopted by the Federal Cabinet, was proposed by Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks, who commented: ‘The recycling of phosphorus from sewage sludge will become a duty in future, which will lead to a paradigm shift towards an ecologically sound use of valuable components of sewage sludge.’

The new regulation requires approval by Germany’s parliament and the country’s council of states (Bundesrat).

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Keywords: 

  • Germany, municipal wastewater, resource recovery, phosphates