Agronomic characterisation of different types of sewage sludge: Policy implications

Spain is one of the main municipal sewage sludge producers of Europe. This paper aims to agronomically characterise different types of sewage sludge stabilised by different methods (anaerobically digested, composted, and pelletised) and deliver policy recommendations from the results of this charact...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Waste management (Elmsford) 2010-03, Vol.30 (3), p.492-503
Main Authors: Mosquera-Losada, M.R., Muñoz-Ferreiro, N., Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agriculture - legislation & jurisprudence
Agriculture - methods
Agronomy
Anaerobic processes
Applied sciences
Cadmium - analysis
Composting
Control
Exact sciences and technology
General purification processes
Geography
Heavy metals
Metals, Heavy - analysis
Multivariate Analysis
Other industrial wastes. Sewage sludge
Other wastes and particular components of wastes
Policies
Pollution
Public Policy
Sewage
Sewage sludge
Sludge
Spain
Time Factors
Wastes
Wastewaters
Water - chemistry
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water treatment and pollution
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Summary:Spain is one of the main municipal sewage sludge producers of Europe. This paper aims to agronomically characterise different types of sewage sludge stabilised by different methods (anaerobically digested, composted, and pelletised) and deliver policy recommendations from the results of this characterisation. Anaerobic sewage sludge quality is found to be better in plants with a lower volume of water processing. Composted sludge shows the best quality from a heavy metal point of view, but its low available nitrogen content increases the input of heavy metals when spread, as compared to digested or pelletised sludge. Pelletised sludge has higher heavy metal content than anaerobically digested sludge. Despite the good quality of the sludges, future regulations, especially with regard to Cd levels, will limit the use of this waste in agriculture.
ISSN:0956-053X
1879-2456
DOI:10.1016/j.wasman.2009.09.021