Land Application of Biosolids in Europe: Possibilities, Con-Straints and Future Perspectives

The agricultural use of good quality sludge represents a value-added route to ensure growth sustainability in Europe, where raw material availability, for example, for phosphorus, is insufficient to meet demand. However, the possible presence of pathogens, pharmaceuticals and heavy metals requires specific regulations to minimize sludge-related health issues and environmental risks. The current regulation on sludge agricultural use applied by many EU countries is here presented and compared, highlighting scarce harmonization of the legislative framework among Member States. Actual issues, such as the fate of emerging micropollutants and microplastics in sludge-amended soils, and public health concerns regarding sludge spreading during the COVID-19 epidemic, are considered, too.

Automated summary

The agricultural use of good quality sludge in Europe represents a value-added route to ensure growth sustainability, but specific regulations are required to minimize health issues and environmental risks. The legislative framework on sludge agricultural use lacks harmonization among EU Member States, and challenges such as the fate of emerging micropollutants and microplastics in sludge-amended soils, as well as public health concerns during the COVID-19 epidemic, need to be considered.