Implementation of the sewage sludge Directive in Denmark and other countries

Linda Bagge, the Danish Environmental Agency

SIDE 2

Directive 86/278/EEC – the so-called Sewage Sludge Directive

The purpose

• regulate the use of sewage sludge in agriculture

• regulate its use in such a way to prevent harmful effects on soil, vegetation, animal and man

• the use of sewage sludge must not impair the quality of the soil and of agricultural products

SIDE 3

Directive 86/278/EEC – the so-called Sewage Sludge Directive (continued)

Regulations on the agricultural use of sludge:

• types of sludge covered

•Mandatory or preferred treatment methods

•Limit values for heavy metal concentrations, pathogens and organic compounds

•Maximum allowed quantities of sludge or specific elements (e.g. total phosphorus) to be applied annually

•Surfaces on which the use of sludge is prohibited

•Sludge and soil analysis and their frequency

SIDE 4

Legislation

The Sewage Sludge Directive

- inplemented into national legislation

- possible to have more stringent requirements

Additionally priovisions under the fertiliser law

SIDE 5

National targets for the use of sewage sludge

Denmark (targets 2010) • 50% for agricultural purposes

• 25% incineration (reuse of ash)

• 20% incineration

• 5% landfill

•New targets for phosphorus in DK

Sweden • By 2015 60% of the phosphorus in wastewater shall be restored to productive soil/half to arable land

SIDE 6

Sludge disposal

Danish Sludge Disposal in Percentage. Agriculture Incineration Landfill Mineralisation Other

2002 ¨ 59 16 6 7 12

2005 43 4 <1 53

2011/12 70 % Agricultural purposes - Unofficial statistic from Danish org. for organic waste (BGORJ) .

Swedish Sludge Disposal in Percentage

Agricul. Soil Storage Landfill Other

1998 25 9 5 46 13

1999 21 32 8 34 5

Ref: Naturvårdsverket, Aktions för Återföring av fosfor ur avlopp, 2002

SIDE 7

Sludge disposal

Germany Sludge Disposal in Percentage.

Agriculture Incineration Landscaping Other

2010 30 53 3 3

Norvigian Sludge Disposal in Percentage

2009 78 % Agricultural purposes.

Ref: Arne Haar, Conference 16-17 March 2011

SIDE 8

The ”regulatory” system in DK

AnalysisContract

AnalysisDeclaration

Contract

MunicipalityRecieves a copy of the

declaration and contract 8 days before delivery

AnalysisDeclaration

Contract

SIDE 9

Hygienic requirements for application

SIDE 10

Limit values for heavy metals Denmark mg/kg DM

Sweden g/ha/year

Norway mg/kg DM (4 quality classes)

Cd 0,8 (100) 0,75 0,4 0,8 2 5

Hg 0,8 (200) 1,5 0,2 0,6 3 5

Pb 120 (10.000) 25 40 60 80 200

Ni 30 (2.500) 25 20 30 50 80

Cr 100 40 50 60 100 150

Zn 4.000 600 150 400 800 1500

Cu 1.000 300 50 150 650 1000

SIDE 11

Limit values for organic substances

Denmarkmg/kg DM

Swedenmg/kg DM

LAS 1.300

PAH 3 3*

NPE 10 50*

DEHP 50

PCB 0,4* 0,4*

Toluen 5*

SIDE 12

Limits values for pathogens

Denmark Norway

Salmonella 0 0

E.Coli < 100 CFU/g WW

Enterokokker < 100 CFU/g WW

Parasite eggs (infective) 0

TKB < 2500 g/TS

SIDE 13

Criteria for soil quality

Denmarkmg/kg DM

Swedenmg/kg DM

Norwaymg/kg DM

Cd 0,5 0,4 1

Hg 0,5 0,3 1

Pb 40 40 50

Ni 15 30 30

Cr 30 60 100

Zn 100 100 150

Cu 40 40 50

SIDE 14

Dosage limits for P and N

Denmark Sweden

P 30 kg/he/year90 kg/he/3 year

35 kg/he/year (P-class in soil I-II)245 kg/he/7 year (I-II)22 kg/he/year (P-class in soil III-V)154 kg/he/year (III-V)

N 170 kg/he/year 150 kg/he/year

SIDE 15

Approach of setting limit values

• No risk to environment and health

• Danish soil contains low heavy metal concentrations

• Denmark takes great concern in protection of the ground water

• Danish limit values are based on the principle that heavy metals and organic pollutants should not accumulate in the soil or effect the environment negative

• Predicted No Effect Concentration

SIDE 16

Approach of setting limit values (continued)

Assessment of Contaminants in Sewage Sludge 1995/96:

• 120 substances/groups of substances and heavy metals were assessed

• 4 substances were selected (LAS, PAH, NPE, DEHP) for further examination

• Threshold values were developed for these 4 substances and implemented in the Danish Statutory Order on Waste for Agricultural purposes in 1997 (later the threshold values were changed into limit values)

The conclusion:

• No risk in using sewage sludge for agricultural purposes if the limit values were met

SIDE 17

Approach of setting limit values (continued)

Since 2000 increased number of studies on pollutants in sludge

- But data is generally sparse

- Norwegian Risk Assessment of Contaminants in Sewage Sludge applied on Norwegian Soil 2009

- Danish Risk evaluation of five groups of persistent organic contaminants in sewage sludge, 2012

Focus on new substances like nitro-musks, PFOS and pharmaceutricals

So far the general conclusions have been that the risks are insignificant in sludge amended soils

SIDE 18

Approach of setting limit values (continued)

Risk reduction includes not only strict limit values:

- Treatment

- Limits to application

- Identification and assessment of new substances

- Source tracking of substances

- Monitoring programmes

- Phase-out of substances

- Source separation of waste wasters

- Quality standards

SIDE 19

Innovation partnership for use of phosphorus from wastewater and sewage sludge

Main activities:

•Development of technology, including identification of need for further development of existing technologies and of new technologies

• Market development, including assessing the market potential for existing direct phosphorus recycling and for alternative technologies. Identify barriers and promote the conditions for development of the market

• Development of regulation, including feasibility study of setting goals for an increased recycling of phosphorus ressources from wastewater and sewage sludge. Identify regulatory barriers