Recognizing the significance of the issue of sewage sludge management that has been steadily growing in the Danube Region, the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, Priority Area Water Quality (EUSDR PA4), supported by the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade initiated the elaboration of a study on sewage sludge treatment and recovery in the Danube Region in 2024, updating and complementing a previous report that was developed in 2020.
While some countries have specific sludge management and recovery strategies, others manage sludge in line with the criteria set out in their water and sewage management strategies. There are differences in the administrative backgrounds, the focus and the applied techniques however common points in management exist and targets common in nature are derived from the EC legislation and strategies. Regardless of the embeddedness of countries actions into EU legislation, sludge can be considered an important resource and, at the same time, a risk for the environment in all EUSDR countries concerning soil and water quality as well as human and livestock health.
Considering the New Circular Economy Action Plan, the issue of sludge is specifically important as it has high energy content and contains several materials, notably phosphorus, that are important input materials for the chemical industry and agriculture. The recast of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive also encourages sludge and resource recovery and requires to make wastewater treatment plants energy-neutral.
In light of the conclusions from the above-mentioned sludge management study, the Priority Area Water Quality in cooperation with the International Commission of the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) calls for an online workshop on SEWAGE SLUDGE MANAGEMENT AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE DANUBE REGION on 20 June 2025.
Objectives
The main aim of the workshop is to discuss the situation of sewage sludge management in Europe, primarily in the Danube countries but with an overview to the situation of other regions as well, and to extract relevant messages for national policy makers and experts. Primary target group for the event is sewage sludge and wastewater experts, policy makers and water management professionals from the Danube Region. Members of relevant EUSDR Steering Groups are also welcomed to join the discussion.
The event will feature speakers from DG ENV, JRC, TRENECON, and experience will be shared by 7 countries.
To register:https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/D1iFvIm5Rg2qaTtejnDHBA
Agenda is available here
