Phosphorus recovery: policy and drivers at WssTP Resource Recovery workgroup meeting

WssTP RR WG 24th June 2015 - n°1European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform

Phosphorus recoveryPolicy and drivers

Chris Thornton, ESPP [email protected]

www.phosphorusplatform.eu @phosphorusfacts

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.phosphorusplatform.eu/

https://twitter.com/phosphorusfacts






1. Policy developments… at the EU level, nationally, regionally

2. Success stories and implementation status

3. ESPP projects




EU Raw Materials policy• 2014: phosphate rock added to

EU Critical Raw Materials list Implications for other EU policies

1. Policy developments… at the EU level, nationally, regionally




Phosphorus in European policies• Fertiliser Regulation (access to market for

recycled P)- ESPP proposed “Fertiliser criteria for struvite” online on ESPP website- proposed criteria for use of ashes as a fertiliser ingredient under discussion

• Nitrates Directive (“processed manure”)• REACH (chemical regulation): recycled P,

digestates• Agriculture: CAP / RD, nutrient farm best

practices, EIP-AGRI (dissemination, research implementation)




Phosphorus in European policies• Water Framework Directive: driving P-removal

in sewage works, manure management• Groundwater Directive: P added to monitoring

list 2014• Organic Farming Regulation• European Food Safety Authority 2015

opinion on dietary reference values for phosphorus

• BioRefineries initiative• Circular Economy: Consultation open to

20/8/15 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/closing_the_loop_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/closing_the_loop_en.htm




National policy initiatives on phosphorus• Switzerland: waste ordonnance, proposal to

make obligatory P-recovery from sewage sludge and animal waste ash (or separate storage pending recovery)

• Sweden: proposal to oblige 40% recycling of P and 10% of N (including via agricultural valorisation of sewage biosolids)

• Germany: political commitment to make P-recovery obligatory in sewage works



https://www.news.admin.ch/index.html?lang=fr


European Commission Investment Fund• European Commission / European Investment

Bank• “Phosphorus recycling Investment Fund”• EU loan funding to stimulate bank support• Call for ‘bankable’ project proposals currently

open first project funded 5/2015: COOPERL Brittany 38 000 t manure/year + slaughterhouse + sewage sludge processing to organic fertiliser




Standards• CEN: SABE ENVI, water treatment standards,

…• ISO 275 “Sludge recovery, recycling, treatment,

disposal”• Fertiliser analysis standards: recycled

products• Industrial Emissions Directive: nutrient

recovery in BATs for incineration, water treatment …

• ESPP proposed Struvite Fertiliser Standard




Joint workshop with DG RTDBerlin 4th March inventory of P-recycling projects on ESPP websiteEU COM published conclusionshttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/circular-approaches-to-phosphorus-pbKI0115204/

http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/circular-approaches-to-phosphorus-pbKI0115204/






Joint workshop conclusions: R&D needs• Phosphorus flow studies (mass flows, characteristics), to

identify points for P-recovery implementation• Social science (attitudes, acceptance, choices) to accompany P-

recycling implementation• Actions covering the whole value-chain, from P-recovery

to market of recycled P products• Organic contaminants in sewage sludge and recovered

nutrient products• Full-scale demonstration projects• R&D to support standards,

BAT, product criteria, best practices• Coherency and interpretation of legislation• Regional approaches, niche markets• Clustering of projects and networking




2. Success stories

WWF’s Baltic Sea Farmer of the Year Award. www.panda.org/baltic_farmer

http://www.panda.org/baltic_farmer




Success story:NuReSys• SME, Belgium• 8 installations recovering P as struvite• Potato processing, dairy, pharmaceuticals,

municipal waste water




Success story: Thames Water – Ostara Pearl®• Slough municipal wastewater treatment plant, UK• 150 tonnes Crystal Green® fertiliser / year• High quality slow release fertiliser



http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/earthrise/2014/12/recycling-phosphorus-2014121693225616272.html

http://www.ostara.com/


Success story: DSM phytase in pig feed• DSM phytase is produced from bio-sourced materials• Renders feed P available (phytate)• Reduces feed phosphate use• Reduces manure P by up to 30%• 60-80% market uptake in livestock farms in Europe




Success story: COOPERL / Brittany farmers’ cooperatives• 400 000 t/y manure processed to organic fertiliser

product- 150 000 t composted poultry litter- 150 000 t dried poultry manure- 100 000 t pig manure (1 100 farms)

• Adapted for specific crops• Export to other regions of France• Positive farmer acceptance




Success story: Käppala municipal sewage works, Sweden• REVAQ sewage sludge certification• 260 tP/year recycled to agriculture• Reductions in industry & household contaminants• Sludge mixing with manure for contaminant

degradation




Success story:SNB – HVC Groep - Ecophos• Contract signed 2015• Netherlands / France (Dunkerque)• Sewage sludge incineration ash• Production of DCP (Di Calcium Phosphate) for fertilisers or

animal feed• 60 000 t/y P recycling contract




3. ESPP projects




R&D to support standards- with P-RCN/NAPPS North America- ESPP already working with CEN, ISO, BAT identify standards relevant to nutrient recycling define R&D needs to support standards




DONUTSSData on Nutrients to Support Stewardship- workshop Ghent 3 (science) – 4 (stakeholder) Sept- EU COMM DG GROW support identify data needs to support decision making for industry, regulators define how and who to monitor, collate, data




EIP-AGRI Focus Group proposalAgricultural use of recycled nutrient products- compost, disgestate, recovered mineral products …- contaminants, agronomic value, applications …- proposal submission 1/7/15- expert group selected and operated by EIP-AGRI Define R&D, dissemination needs




EIP-AGRI Focus Group proposalAgricultural use of recycled nutrient products- compost, digestate, recovered mineral products …- contaminants, agronomic value, applications …- proposal submission 1/7/15- expert group selected and operated by EIP-AGRI Define R&D, dissemination needs




EU COM consultation onCircular EconomyConsultation open to 20/8/15 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/closing_the_loop_en.htm

- encourage wide response on nutrients- need for operational proposals for policies and for funding mechanisms






Nutrient recycling R&D “Cluster” - P-REX finishes August 2015- Needs

- coordinate R&D projects- facilitate consortium building, disseminate calls- prepare input to future H2020 and others

- Synergy with existing structures (WssTP …)




Chris Thornton, ESPP [email protected]

www.phosphorusplatform.eu @phosphorusfacts

mailto:[email protected]







Government & Nonprofit

Phosphorus recovery: policy and drivers at WssTP Resource Recovery workgroup meeting