Directions and Challenges in the Management of Municipal Sewage Sludge in Poland in the Context of the Circular Economy

Abstract

Landfilling was the main method of sewage sludge disposal in Poland for decades. After Poland’s accession to the European Union (EU), many investments have been made into providing better access to tap water as well as to collect and treat municipal sewage. However, sewage sludge treatment has not been treated as an integral part of the implementation of wastewater management obligations. Stricter European Union regulations regarding the management of municipal sewage sludge (MSS) pose new challenges for Poland. The aim of this study was to analyze changes in the direction of the final management of municipal sewage sludge in Poland based on the analysis of strategic documents, regulations, literature, and available statistical data. The aim of the analysis was to search for directions to modify how sewage sludge is managed, given the approach promoted by the circular economy concept. The results prove that investments in wastewater treatment plants according to the EU sewage directive are not applied to the development of infrastructure that would enable the disposal of sewage sludge, which, for many years, has been stored (landfilling) or used directly in agriculture and ground reclamation. The introduction of stricter regulations in the area of sewage sludge usage and better wastewater treatment have increased the level of difficulties concerning sewage sludge management. Poland faces the challenge of defining sewage sludge management directions. The circular economy concept offers an approach that can be the basis for the creation of a new sewage sludge management strategy for Poland. The concept allows the combined goals of sewage sludge disposal and of energy and nutrients recovery to be achieved.

Exploring the potential of urban sewage sludge for liquid humus production

“…Scientists worldwide have long been researching options in the area of municipal sewage sludge management in the context of the circular economy (e.g., Rosiek, 2020). Although liquid humus extraction from urban sewage sludge represents an example of waste reutilization in the economy of circular character, the studies dedicated to this specific method are scarce Table 1.…”

Drivers and Barriers for a Circular Economy (CE) Implementation in Poland—A Case Study of Raw Materials Recovery Sector

“…The raw material recovery sector is one of the strategic sectors (key industries) in Poland [27,49], indicated in the several documents determining further directions of economic growth in the country [50]. In recent years, the dynamic development of the recovery industry has been observed [51,52], supporting the formation of new companies [46].…”

Phosphorus Recovery from Sewage Sludge Ash Based on Cradle-to-Cradle Approach—Mini-Review

“…There is considerable public concern about exhaust emissions and atmospheric pollution. Still, the amount of sludge utilized thermally has increased in Poland from 1.6% to 18% [104,105]. Thermal waste treatment technology became an integral part of the municipal waste management system in large cities and urban areas [106].…”