Sewage sludge; disposal

The first stage of the ordinance on the reorganization of sewage sludge recycling came into force on October 3, 2017. In order to do greater justice to the goals of sustainable environmental and resource protection than before, this amendment tightens the previously applicable requirements for soil-related sewage sludge recycling and extends the scope of the ordinance to include landscaping measures. As a central element, the ordinance provides for the first time comprehensive requirements for the recovery of phosphorus from sewage sludge and sewage sludge incineration ash, which operators of larger wastewater treatment plants and sewage sludge incineration plants must comply with after a (two-stage) transitional period has expired.

Due to the function of sewage sludge as a pollutant sink in wastewater treatment, the state government aims to end the application of sewage sludge in agriculture as soon as possible for reasons of precautionary environmental, health and consumer protection.

More detailed information on the disposal of sewage sludge from the sewage treatment plant to which you are connected can be obtained from the responsible district office or the district-free city (= district administrative authorities).