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Legislation for the Reuse of Biosolids on Agricultural Land in Europe: Overview

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Cristina Collivignarelli

    (Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, University of Pavia, via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia, Italy)

  • Alessandro Abbà

    (Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, via Branze 43, 25123 Brescia, Italy)

  • Andrea Frattarola

    (Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, University of Pavia, via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia, Italy)

  • Marco Carnevale Miino

    (Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, University of Pavia, via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia, Italy)

  • Sergio Padovani

    (ARPA Lombardia, Pavia Department, via Nino Bixio 13, 27100 Pavia, Italy)

  • Ioannis Katsoyiannis

    (Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Technology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Vincenzo Torretta

    (Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, via G.B. Vico 46, 21100 Varese, Italy)

Abstract

The issues concerning the management of sewage sludge produced in wastewater treatment plants are becoming more important in Europe due to: (i) the modification of sludge quality (biological and chemical sludge are often mixed with negative impacts on sludge management, especially for land application); (ii) the evolution of legislation (landfill disposal is banned in many European countries); and (iii) the technologies for energy and material recovery from sludge not being fully applied in all European Member States. Furthermore, Directive 2018/851/EC introduced the waste hierarchy that involved a new strategy with the prevention in waste production and the minimization of landfill disposal. In this context, biological sewage sludge can be treated in order to produce more stabilized residues: the biosolids. In some European countries, the reuse of biosolids as soil improver/fertilizer in arable crops represents the most used option. In order to control the quality of biosolids used for land application, every Member State has issued a national regulation based on the European directive. The aim of this work is to compare the different approaches provided by European Member States for the reuse of biosolids in agricultural soils. A focus on the regulation of countries that reuse significant amount of biosolids for land application was performed. Finally, a detailed study on Italian legislation both at national and regional levels is reported.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Cristina Collivignarelli & Alessandro Abbà & Andrea Frattarola & Marco Carnevale Miino & Sergio Padovani & Ioannis Katsoyiannis & Vincenzo Torretta, 2019. "Legislation for the Reuse of Biosolids on Agricultural Land in Europe: Overview," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-22, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:21:p:6015-:d:281516
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fytili, D. & Zabaniotou, A., 2008. "Utilization of sewage sludge in EU application of old and new methods--A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(1), pages 116-140, January.
    2. Rattan Lal, 2015. "Restoring Soil Quality to Mitigate Soil Degradation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-21, May.
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    1. Mancini, G. & Lombardi, L. & Luciano, A. & Bolzonella, D. & Viotti, P. & Fino, D., 2024. "A reduction in global impacts through a waste-wastewater-energy nexus: A life cycle assessment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    2. Sonia Sabbahi & Layla Ben Ayed & Monia Trad & Ronny Berndtsson & Panagiotis Karanis, 2022. "Parasitological Assessment of Sewage Sludge Samples for Potential Agricultural Reuse in Tunisia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-18, January.
    3. Houda Oueriemmi & Petra Susan Kidd & Carmen Trasar-Cepeda & Beatriz Rodríguez-Garrido & Rahma Inès Zoghlami & Kaouther Ardhaoui & Ángeles Prieto-Fernández & Mohamed Moussa, 2021. "Evaluation of Composted Organic Wastes and Farmyard Manure for Improving Fertility of Poor Sandy Soils in Arid Regions," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-19, May.
    4. Vito Horvatić & Helena Bakić Begić & Davor Romić & Marko Černe & Smiljana Goreta Ban & Monika Zovko & Marija Romić, 2021. "Evaluation of Land Potential for Use of Biosolids in the Coastal Mediterranean Karst Region," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-22, October.
    5. Di Capua, Francesco & Spasiano, Danilo & Giordano, Andrea & Adani, Fabrizio & Fratino, Umberto & Pirozzi, Francesco & Esposito, Giovanni, 2020. "High-solid anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge: challenges and opportunities," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    6. Natalia Milojevic & Agnieszka Cydzik-Kwiatkowska, 2021. "Agricultural Use of Sewage Sludge as a Threat of Microplastic (MP) Spread in the Environment and the Role of Governance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-16, October.
    7. Salah Jellali & Yassine Charabi & Muhammad Usman & Abdullah Al-Badi & Mejdi Jeguirim, 2021. "Investigations on Biogas Recovery from Anaerobic Digestion of Raw Sludge and Its Mixture with Agri-Food Wastes: Application to the Largest Industrial Estate in Oman," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-20, March.
    8. Giuseppe Campo & Alberto Cerutti & Claudio Lastella & Aldo Leo & Deborah Panepinto & Mariachiara Zanetti & Barbara Ruffino, 2021. "Production and Destination of Sewage Sludge in the Piemonte Region (Italy): The Results of a Survey for a Future Sustainable Management," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-13, March.
    9. Monika Jakubus, 2023. "Quantitative Distribution and Contamination Risk Assessment of Cu and Zn in Municipal Sewage Sludge," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-18, August.
    10. Ana Simoes-Mota & Rosa Maria Poch & Alberto Enrique & Luis Orcaray & Iñigo Virto, 2021. "Soil Quality Assessment after 25 Years of Sewage Sludge vs. Mineral Fertilization in a Calcareous Soil," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-20, July.
    11. Maria Cristina Collivignarelli & Alessandro Abbà & Francesca Maria Caccamo & Silvia Calatroni & Vincenzo Torretta & Ioannis A. Katsoyiannis & Marco Carnevale Miino & Elena Cristina Rada, 2021. "Applications of Up-Flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) and Characteristics of Its Microbial Community: A Review of Bibliometric Trend and Recent Findings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-25, September.
    12. Maria Cristina Collivignarelli & Alessandro Abbà & Marco Carnevale Miino & Vincenzo Torretta & Elena Cristina Rada & Francesca Maria Caccamo & Sabrina Sorlini, 2020. "Adsorption of Fluorides in Drinking Water by Palm Residues," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-12, May.
    13. Camilo Venegas & Andrea C. Sánchez-Alfonso & Crispín Celis & Fidson-Juarismy Vesga & Mauricio González Mendez, 2021. "Management Strategies and Stakeholders Analysis to Strengthen the Management and Use of Biosolids in a Colombian Municipality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-25, November.
    14. Gabriele Di Giacomo & Pietro Romano, 2022. "Evolution and Prospects in Managing Sewage Sludge Resulting from Municipal Wastewater Purification," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-33, August.

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