Removal of sewage sludge in the Netherlands by destination, 1981-2001

The removal of sewage sludge from UWWTPs to agricultural land was stopped in 1995. There are also regulations limiting the dumping of sludge. Most sludge is incinerated.

		Number of plants	Total removal	among which to
				agriculture	compost forming	animal feed ¹⁾	landfill	incineration

		million kg dry matter
Sludge from UWWTPs
1981		504	180	69	38	.	65	5
1990		469	315	82	63	.	158	12
1995		423	360	-	80	.	179	79
1999		406	374	-	34	.	119	184
2000		393	336	-	39	-	64	181
2001		389	345	-	39	-	63	204

Sludge from IWWTPs
1981		48	85	21	4	.	10	0
1990		567	238	65	6	11	109	27
1995		610	220	30	4	14	126	29
1999		657	202	26	2	13	60	49
2000		632	210	36	4	21	40	47
2001		635	187	27	8	16	34	53

Breakdown of industrial sludge (from IWWTPs) 2001
Industry		574	166	27	8	15	19	51
among which	Food products and beverages	185	51	17	7	15	2	4
	Paper and pulp	34	56	3	-	0	1	34
	Chemical industry	103	44	7	0	0	5	13
	Primary metals and metal products	110	3	-	-	-	2	0
Other companies and institutions		61	20	0	-	1	15	2
among which	Environmental services	28	16	-	-	-	15	-

Source: CBS (2003).		CBS/EDC/May03/0154
1) Including removal to destruction facilities.

Developments

The removal of sewage sludge from UWWTPs to agriculture was stopped in 1995. Restrictions are also to be introduced on sludge landfill (LNV/VROM, 1998, 2001). It is expected that most sludge will be incinerated in the future.

See Removal of sewage sludge to agricultural areas in the Netherlands, 1981-2000

Technical note

The table shows the number of urban wastewater treatment plants (UWWTPs) and industrial wastewater treatment plants (IWWTPs) as well as the destination of the sewage sludge produced. The IWWTPs also include plants that produce little or no sludge, such as anaerobic plants.

References

CBS (2003). Statline. Zuivering van afvalwater. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.
CBS (2003). Statline. Zuiveringsslib van bedrijven. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.
LNV/VROM (1998, 2001). Besluit houdende regels met betrekking tot de kwaliteit en het op of in de bodem brengen van overige organische meststoffen (Besluit kwaliteit en gebruik van overige organische meststoffen (BOOM)). Bulletin of Acts, Orders and Decrees 1998, 391 and Bulletin of Acts, Orders and Decrees 2001, 479, The Hague.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

More information about the discharge of oxygen-demanding substances and the burden on surface water can be found on Statline (Statistics Netherlands). Information about the regulations for sludge landfill can be found in the Besluit kwaliteit en gebruik van overige organische meststoffen.