In the EU a large share of phosphorus ends up in wastewater, sewage sludge and the ashes produced when sludge is incinerated. Sewage sludge is already extensively used in agriculture, but substantial phosphorus losses from the biogeochemical cycle occur, e.g. following co-incineration.
Although technical solutions exist to recover phosphorus, the uptake of secondary phosphorus products is limited and perpetuates dependence on imported rock phosphate.
What the JRC is doing
The Joint Research Centre is carrying out two tightly linked preparatory studies. First, it is developing science‑based recommendation on a realistic yet ambitious level of ambition that can be embedded in the revised Urban Waste Water Directive, taking into account state of play, new technologies, environmental and health safety aspects, and economic impacts across the EU. At the same time, a feasibility is being executed to evaluate the potential of additional demand-side policy measures to promote the uptake of secondary phosphorus derived from sludge incineration ashes.
The JRC is developing the work in close collaboration with colleagues in DG ENV working on water and waste management and aims to present their outcomes in JRC reports. The studies are conducted in close interaction with national authorities, industry, academics and NGOs, to base the findings on input collected during ad-hoc workshops and Commission Expert meetings.
The Urban Waste Water Directive
The revised Urban Waste Water Directive introduces explicit phosphorus‑recycling and re‑use targets for Member States. The targets apply to both wastewater effluents and sewage‑sludge streams, compelling the development of recovery pathways and the reporting of progress at national level. In parallel, the Commission is examining demand‑side measures that could stimulate the market for secondary raw materials, including phosphorus recovered from sludge incineration ash and are being scoped for inclusion in the forthcoming Circular Economy Act.