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

Ksymena Rosiek

doi:10.3390/su12093686

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.

Highlights

With its accession to the European Union (EU), Poland intensified its efforts to expand its municipal sewage infrastructure and sewage treatment process
The aim of the analysis was to search for directions for modifying how sewage sludge is handled given the approach promoted by the circular economy concept, which can be implemented in Poland
The amount of municipal sewage sludge (MSS) generated in municipal wastewater treatment plants depends on the quantity and quality of wastewater discharged to the wastewater plant

Summary

Introduction

With its accession to the European Union (EU), Poland intensified its efforts to expand its municipal sewage infrastructure and sewage treatment process. While municipal sewage sludge (MSS) accounts for a small percentage of total waste production, its impact on the environment and the risks involved in the process of its use are considerable. Despite many postulates of scientists and practitioners, Poland did not have an integrated strategy for sewage sludge management by the end of 2018, and the requirements in this area, including the ban on the landfilling and limitation for agricultural use, are constantly growing. The aim of this study was to analyze changes in the approach to sewage sludge in the municipal economy in Poland based on strategic documents and available statistical data. The aim of the analysis was to search for directions for modifying how sewage sludge is handled given the approach promoted by the circular economy concept, which can be implemented in Poland. An additional purpose of this study was to review legal acts in this field that affect the directions of actions on sewage sludge management

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Conclusion