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

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  • Ksymena Rosiek

    (Department of Industrial and Environmental Policy, Cracow University of Economics, 27 Rakowicka Street, 31–510 Krakow, Poland)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Ksymena Rosiek, 2020. "Directions and Challenges in the Management of Municipal Sewage Sludge in Poland in the Context of the Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-28, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:9:p:3686-:d:353396
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Bachev, Hrabrin & Ivanov, Bozhidar, 2021. "Подход За Оценка На Ефектите, Ефективността И Факторите На Оползотворяване На Утайки В Селското Стопанство На България [A framework for assessing the effects, efficiency, and factors of sludge util," MPRA Paper 109723, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Bachev, Hrabrin, 2023. "Оценка На Институционалната Структура На Оползотворяване На Утайки От Псов В Българското Земеделие [Assessment of the institutional structure of sludge utilization in Bulgarian agriculture]," MPRA Paper 118309, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Bachev, Hrabrin, 2023. "Institutional structure of the agricultural utilization of sludge from wastewater treatment plants in Bulgaria," MPRA Paper 118416, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Sabina Kordana-Obuch & Michał Wojtoń & Mariusz Starzec & Beata Piotrowska, 2023. "Opportunities and Challenges for Research on Heat Recovery from Wastewater: Bibliometric and Strategic Analyses," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-36, September.
    5. Bachev, Hrabrin & Ivanov, Bojidar, 2021. "Оползотворяване На Утайки В Селското Стопанство На България [Utilization of sludge in Bulgarian agriculture]," MPRA Paper 109606, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Bachev, Hrabrin & Ivanov, Bozhidar, 2021. "Efficiency and factors for agricultural use of sludge in the circular Bulgarian economy," MPRA Paper 109783, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. David Palma-Heredia & Manel Poch & Miquel À. Cugueró-Escofet, 2020. "Implementation of a Decision Support System for Sewage Sludge Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-18, October.
    8. Marzena Smol & Paulina Marcinek & Eugeniusz Koda, 2021. "Drivers and Barriers for a Circular Economy (CE) Implementation in Poland—A Case Study of Raw Materials Recovery Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-19, April.
    9. Jolita Kruopienė & Miglė Žiukaitė, 2022. "Situation Analysis and the Potential for Circularity of the Wastewater Sector in Lithuania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-21, April.
    10. Ewa Wiśniowska & Mariusz Kowalczyk, 2022. "Recovery of Cellulose, Extracellular Polymeric Substances and Microplastics from Sewage Sludge: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-11, October.

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