On October 3, 2017, the first stage of the Ordinance on the Reorganization of Sewage Sludge Utilization came into force. In order to do greater justice than before to the objectives of sustainable environmental protection and resource conservation, this amendment tightens the previously applicable requirements for soil-related sewage sludge recycling and extends the scope of the ordinance to include landscaping measures. As a central element, the ordinance for the first time provides comprehensive requirements for the recovery of phosphorus from sewage sludge and sewage sludge incineration ashes, which operators of larger wastewater treatment plants and sewage sludge incineration plants must observe after the expiration of a (two-stage) transition period.
Because of the function of sewage sludge as a pollutant sink in wastewater treatment, it is the goal of the state government to end sewage sludge application in agriculture as soon as possible for reasons of precautionary environmental, health and consumer protection.
More detailed information on the disposal of sewage sludge from the sewage treatment plant to which you are connected can be obtained from the responsible district office or the independent city (= district administrative authorities).