Municipal Sewage Sludge Disposal in the Republic of Poland
Source abstract
Abstract
This paper reviews methods of municipal sewage sludge (MSS) disposal in the Republic of Poland. The MSS amount produced in 2022 in sewage treatment plants is 580.7 thousand tons of total solids. This is related to the increase in the amount of treated sewage and the use of the co-digestion of sewage sludge with waste. MSS generated in municipal sewage treatment plants constitutes waste with code 19 08 05—stabilized MSS. It is subjected to the rules of conduct specified in the Act on Waste. According to data from the Central Statistical Office, in 2022, the most popular disposal method was its use in agriculture (27.1%). Approximately 18% of the MSS from treatment plants was thermally treated. A significant part of MSS is also used for crops, compost production, and reclamation. MSS management requires an individual approach from sewage treatment plant operators and the use of effective disposal methods. Considering the assumption of the circular economy, it is necessary to consider the possibility of recovering valuable raw materials from MSS and producing products for reuse. One of the possibilities of reusing MSS is to generate porous materials. Moreover, MSS can be transformed into multiple types of soil improvers and fertilizers.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Phosphorus and nutrient management · Waste Management and Environmental Impact · Sustainable Development and Environmental Management
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Department of Water and Wastewater Engineering, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Funding
Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland
References (100+)
Show source-provided references
1. Michałkiewicz, M., Dymaczewski, Z., Jaroszyński, T., Jeż-Walkowiak, J., Komorowska-Kaufman, M., Niedzielski, W., and Sozański, M. (2011). Sewage Treatment Plant Operator’s Guide, PZITS. [3rd ed.]. (In Polish).
2. Heindrich, Z. (2010). Criteria for Selecting the Method of Processing Sewage Sludge. Directions of Processing and Management of Sewage Sludge, Wydawnictwo Seidel-Przywecki Sp. z o.o. (In Polish).
3. Feasibility of Alternative Sewage Sludge Treatment Methods from a Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) Perspective10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119495 ↗
4. Review of Sewage Sludge Management: Standards, Regulations and Analytical Methods10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.11.031 ↗
5. Characterization of Sewage Sludge Generated from Wastewater Treatment Plant in Relation to Agricultural Use
6. Bień, J., and Wystalska, K. (2011). Sewage Sludge. Theory and Practice, Wydawnictwo Politechniki Częstochowskiej. [3rd ed.]. (In Polish).
7. Koc-Jurczyk, J., and Jurczyk, Ł. (2020). Sewage Sludge Management as a Tool for the Circular Economy. Międzynarodowa Konferencja Strategie Wdrażania Zielonego Ładu: Woda i Surowce, Instytut Gospodarki Surowcami Mineralnymi i Energią PAN. (In Polish).
8. Wastewater Sludge Characteristics, Treatment Techniques and Energy Production10.5937/ror2201009A ↗
9. Characteristics of Sewage Sludge Composition for Agricultural Use10.34659/eis.2023.85.2.609 ↗
10. Assessing the Quality of Sewage Sludge as an Agricultural Soil Amendment in Mediterranean Habitats10.1007/s40093-019-00310-x ↗
11. Potentiality of Sewage Sludge-Based Organo-Mineral Fertilizer Production in Poland Considering Nutrient Value, Heavy Metal Content and Phytotoxicity for Rapeseed Crops10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109283 ↗
12. Characterisation of Municipal Sewage Sludge as a Soil Improver and a Fertilizer Product
13. Microbiological Quality of Sewage Sludge after Digestion Treatment: A Pilot Scale Case of Study10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120101 ↗
14. Sampling, Pre-Treatment, and Identification Methods of Microplastics in Sewage Sludge and Their Effects in Agricultural Soils: A Review10.1007/s10661-021-08943-0 ↗
15. Evidence of Microplastic Accumulation in Agricultural Soils from Sewage Sludge Disposal10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.368 ↗
16. Improving the Control of Pharmaceutical Compounds in Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment Plants: Key Operating Conditions and Monitoring Parameters10.1016/j.jwpe.2023.103985 ↗
17. Bisphenols Emerging in Norwegian and Czech Aquatic Environments Show Transthyretin Binding Potency and Other Less-Studied Endocrine-Disrupting Activities10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141801 ↗
18. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Commercially Available Biosolid-Based Products: The Effect of Treatment Processes
19. Occurrence, Composition Profiles and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Municipal Sewage Sludge in China10.1016/j.envpol.2018.11.067 ↗
20. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Persistence, Bioavailability and Toxicity in Sewage Sludge- or Sewage Sludge-Derived Biochar-Amended Soil10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141123 ↗
21. Sewage Sludge Disposal Strategies for Sustainable Development10.1016/j.envres.2017.03.010 ↗
22. Wojciechowska, M. (2023). Statistical Analyses, Statistics Poland, Agriculture and Environment Department. (In Polish).
23. (2025, March 14). Act of 14 December 2012 on Waste (Journal of Laws, 2013, Item 21, Poland), Available online: https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20130000021/U/D20130021Lj.pdf.
24. (1986). Council Directive of 12 June 1986 on the Protection of the Environment, and in Particular of the Soil, When Sewage Sludge Is Used in Agriculture—86/278/EEC, European Union.
25. (1991). Council Directive of 21 May 1991 Concerning Urban Waste Water Treatment (91/271/EEC), European Union.
26. (2024). Directive (EU) 2024/3019 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2024 Concerning Urban Wastewater Treatment, European Union.
27. (2008). Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on Waste and Repealing Certain, European Union.
28. (1999). Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the Landfill of Waste, European Union.
29. (2025, March 14). Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of 11 May 2015 on the Recovery of Waste Out-Side Installations and Facilities (Journal of Laws 2015, Item 796), Available online: https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20150000796/O/D20150796.pdf.
30. (2025, March 14). Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of 20 January 2015 on the Recovery Process R10 (Journal of Laws 2015, Item 132), Available online: https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20150000132/O/D20150132.pdf.
31. (2025, March 14). Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of 6 February 2015 on Municipal Sewage Sludge (Journal of Laws 2015, Item 257), Available online: https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20150000257/O/D20150257.pdf.
32. (2025, March 14). Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of August 9, 2024, on the Implementation of Certain Provisions of the Act on Fertilizers and Fertilization (Journal of Laws 2024, Item 1261), Available online: https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20240001261/O/D20241261.pdf.
33. (2025, March 14). Act of 10 July 2007 on Fertilizers and Fertilization (Journal of Laws 2007,No 147, Item 1033, as Amended, Poland), Available online: https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20071471033/U/D20071033Lj.pdf.
34. (2025, March 14). Regulation of the Minister of Development of 21 January 2016 on the Requirements for Conducting the Process of Thermal Treatment of Waste and Methods of Handling Waste Gen-Erated as a Result of This Process (Journal of Laws 2016, Item 108), Available online: https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20160000108/O/D20160108.pdf.
35. (2025, March 14). Regulation of the Minister of Climate of 24 September 2020 on Emission Standards for Cer-Tain Types of Installations, Fuel Incineration Sources, and Waste Incineration or Facilities (Journal of Laws of 2020, Item 1860), Available online: https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20200001860/O/D20201860.pdf.
36. (2025, March 14). Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of 6 June 2016 on the Technical Conditions for Qualifying Part of the Energy Recovered from the Thermal Treatment of Waste (Journal of Laws 2016, Item 847), Available online: https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20160000847/O/D20160847.pdf.
37. (2025, March 14). Act of 20 February 2015 on Renewable Energy Sources (Journal of Laws. 2015, Item 478, as Amended, Poland), Available online: https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20150000478/U/D20150478Lj.pdf.
38. (2025, March 14). Act of 27 April 2001 on Environmental Protection Law (Journal of Laws, 2001, No 62, Item 627, Poland), Available online: https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20010620627/U/D20010627Lj.pdf.
39. (2025, March 14). Act of 20 July 2017 on Water Law (Journal of Laws, 2017, Item 1566, Poland), Available online: https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20170001566/U/D20171566Lj.pdf.
40. (2025, March 14). Resolution No. 96 of the Council of Ministers of 12 June 2023 on the National Waste Management Plan 2028, Poland, Available online: https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WMP20230000702/O/M20230702.pdf.
41. Long-Term Amendment of Spanish Soils with Sewage Sludge: Effects on Soil Functioning10.1016/j.agee.2012.05.016 ↗
42. Life Cycle Assessment of Processes for the Treatment of Wastewater Urban Sludge: Energy and Global Warming Analysis10.1016/j.jclepro.2004.02.022 ↗
43. P-Recovery versus Current Sewage Sludge Treatment Policy in the Czech Republic and Japan10.1007/s10098-023-02679-w ↗
44. Milieu Ltd, WRc, and RPA for the European Commission (2010). Environmental, Economic and Social Impacts of the Use of Sewage Sludge on Land Final Report Part I: Overview Report, European Commission.
45. Oleszkiewicz, J.A., and Kalinowska, E. (1998). Sewage Sludge Management: A Decision-Maker’s Guide, LEM. (In Polish).
46. Rynk, R. (2022). Chapter 16—Compost Use. The Composting Handbook, Academic Press.
47. Short-Term Effects of Composted Cattle Manure or Cotton Burr on Growth, Physiology, and Phytochemical of Spinach10.21273/HORTSCI11099-16 ↗
48. Goldan, E., Nedeff, V., Barsan, N., Culea, M., Panainte-Lehadus, M., Mosnegutu, E., Tomozei, C., Chitimus, D., and Irimia, O. (2023). Assessment of Manure Compost Used as Soil Amendment—A Review. Processes, 11.10.3390/pr11041167 ↗
49. A Combined Assessment of the Energy, Economic and Environmental Issues Associated with on-Farm Manure Composting Processes: Two Case Studies in South of Italy10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.04.111 ↗
50. (2025, January 30). Sewage Treatment Plant Słupsk, Poland—Sludge Composting. Available online: https://kompostownia.wodociagi.slupsk.pl/informacje-podstawowe/2/.
51. (2025, February 04). Sewage Treatment Plant Ełk, Poland—Sludge Composting. Available online: https://pwikelk.pl/technologia/oczyszczalnia-sciekow/.
52. (2025, February 04). Sewage Treatment Plant Piła, Poland—Sludge Composting. Available online: https://gwda.pl/o_spolce/informacje/kompostownia/.
53. Impact of Sewage Sludge Composition on the Content of Selected Metals and Their Fractions
54. Environmental & Economic Life Cycle Assessment of Current & Future Sewage Sludge to Energy Technologies10.1016/j.wasman.2013.08.024 ↗
55. Sewage Sludge-To-Energy Management in Eastern Europe: A Polish Perspective
56. Management of Municipal Sewage Sludge Using Thermal Methods
57. Directions of Sludge Management in Poland after 2013
58. Comparative Assessment of Municipal Sewage Sludge Incineration, Gasification and Pyrolysis for a Sustainable Sludge-to-Energy Management in Greece10.1016/j.wasman.2013.11.003 ↗
59. Recycling and Recovery Routes for Incinerated Sewage Sludge Ash (ISSA): A Review10.1016/j.wasman.2013.05.024 ↗
60. Sustainable and Innovative Solutions for Sewage Sludge Management10.3390/w3020702 ↗
61. Phosphorus recovery possibilities from leachates, sewage sludge and ashes after thermal treatment of sewage sludge10.12912/23920629/74978 ↗
62. Overview and Description of Technologies for Recovering Phosphorus from Municipal Wastewater10.1016/j.resconrec.2015.09.016 ↗
63. On Wet Chemical Phosphorus Recovery from Sewage Sludge Ash by Acidic or Alkaline Leaching and an Optimized Combination of Both10.1016/j.watres.2012.03.068 ↗
64. Possibilities of Recovering Phosphorus from Sewage Sludge
65. Phosphorus Recovery from Sewage Sludge with a Hybrid Process of Low Pressure Wet Oxidation and Nanofiltration10.1016/j.watres.2012.01.022 ↗
66. Phosphorus Recovery from Waste Methods Review10.2478/v10026-007-0027-6 ↗
67. Boutoussov, M. (2013). Thermal Process for Separating Heavy Metals from Ash in Agglomerated Form; 2009. (Office EP 2016203B1), European Patent.
68. Global Phosphorus Scarcity and Full-Scale P-Recovery Techniques: A Review10.1080/10643389.2013.866531 ↗
69. RecoPhos: Full-Scale Fertilizer Production from Sewage Sludge Ash10.1016/j.wasman.2012.07.009 ↗
70. (2025, February 04). PoFerAsh. Available online: https://ptt.arp.pl/bazy/polferash-polskie-nawozy-stałe-i-zawiesinowe-z-alternatywnych-surowców-fosforowych/.
71. Fertilisers Production from Ashes after Sewage Sludge Combustion—A Strategy towards Sustainable Development10.1016/j.envres.2017.01.002 ↗
72. Advances and Prospects for Biochar Utilization in Food Processing and Packaging Applications
73. Sewage Sludge-Derived Biochar for the Adsorptive Removal of Wastewater Pollutants: A Critical Review10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118581 ↗
74. Utilizing Sludge-Based Activated Carbon for Targeted Leachate Mitigation in Wastewater Treatment10.1016/j.envres.2024.118326 ↗
75. Application of Excess Activated Sludge as Waste Sorbent for Dyes Removal from Their Aqueous Solutions
76. Chemically Modified Excessive Sludge As an Adsorbent of Dyes
77. A Sustainable Reuse Strategy of Converting Waste Activated Sludge into Biochar for Contaminants Removal from Water: Modifications, Applications and Perspectives10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129437 ↗
78. Preparation of Adsorbents from Sewage Sludge by Steam Activation for Industrial Emission Treatment10.1205/psep.05161 ↗
79. Preparation of Sludge-Based Activated Carbon and Its Application in Dye Wastewater Treatment10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.08.011 ↗
80. Adsorption of Organic Stormwater Pollutants onto Activated Carbon from Sewage Sludge10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.04.011 ↗
81. Sludge-Based Activated Carbon from Two Municipal Sewage Sludge Precursors for Improved Secondary Wastewater-Treatment Discharge-Effluent10.1016/j.jece.2022.108704 ↗
82. Adsorption Removal of Cr(VI) with Activated Carbon Prepared by Co-Pyrolysis of Rice Straw and Sewage Sludge with ZnCl2 Activation10.1007/s11270-019-4305-8 ↗
83. Characteristics and Adsorption Study of the Activated Carbon Derived from Municipal Sewage Sludge10.2166/wst.2017.352 ↗
84. Dye Adsorption by Sewage Sludge-Based Activated Carbons in Batch and Fixed-Bed Systems10.1016/S0960-8524(02)00243-2 ↗
85. Tailoring the Porosity of Chemically Activated Carbons Derived from the HTC Treatment of Sewage Sludge for the Removal of Pollutants from Gaseous and Aqueous Phases10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118887 ↗
86. A Sustainable Paradigm of Sewage Sludge Biochar: Valorization, Opportunities, Challenges and Future Prospects10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122259 ↗
87. Sewage Sludge Derived Biochar for Environmental Improvement: Advances, Challenges, and Solutions10.1016/j.wroa.2023.100167 ↗
88. Utilization of Activated Sludge and Shell Wastes for the Preparation of Ca-Loaded Biochar for Phosphate Removal and Recovery10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135395 ↗
89. Adsorption of Sulfamethoxazole and Lincomycin from Single and Binary Aqueous Systems Using Acid-Modified Biochar from Activated Sludge Biomass10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120742 ↗
90. Characteristics and Applications of Biochars Derived from Wastewater Solids10.1016/j.rser.2018.02.040 ↗
91. (2025, January 30). Technology for Producing Granular Fertilizer Products from Stabilized Sewage Sludge. Available online: https://nawozysciekowe.gig.eu/.
92. Styszko, K., Durak, J., Kończak, B., Głodniok, M., and Borgulat, A. (2022). The Impact of Sewage Sludge Processing on the Safety of Its Use. Sci. Rep., 12.10.1038/s41598-022-16354-5 ↗
93. Sustainable Management of Sewage Sludge for the Production of Organo-Mineral Fertilizers10.1007/s12649-017-9942-9 ↗
94. Zawartka, P., and Kończak, B. (2019). Organic-Mineral Fertilizer and Method for Producing It. (PL 234676B1), Polish Patent, Available online: https://api-ewyszukiwarka.pue.uprp.gov.pl/api/collection/be34f12eb701e3b079c8977553eb728b#search=%22Spos%C3%B3b%20otrzymywania%20nawozu%20organiczno-mineralnego%20z%20ustabilizowanych%20komunalnych%20osad%C3%B3w%20%C5%9Bciekowych%20oraz%20naw%C3%B3z%20organiczno-mineralny%22.
95. Zawartka, P., and Kończak, B. (2019). Method for Obtaining Granular Fertilizer with Prolonged Release of Components. (PL 233663B1), Polish Patent, Available online: https://api-ewyszukiwarka.pue.uprp.gov.pl/api/collection/531efa418e9cf486d15eedc2e826647e#search=%22Spos%C3%B3b%20otrzymywania%20nawozu%20organiczno-mineralnego%20z%20ustabilizowanych%20komunalnych%20osad%C3%B3w%20%C5%9Bciekowych%20oraz%20naw%C3%B3z%20organiczno-mineralny%22.
96. Masłoń, A., and Czarnota, J. (2022). Method of Producing an Organic-Mineral Fertilizer and an Organic-Mieral Fertilizer. (PL 242576B1), Polish Patent, Available online: https://ewyszukiwarka.pue.uprp.gov.pl/search/pwp-details/P.435403.
97. Kominko, H., Gorazda, K., and Wzorek, Z. (2023). Multi-Component Organic-Mineral Fertilizer, Especially for Rapeseed. (PL 243440B1), Polish Patent, Available online: https://ewyszukiwarka.pue.uprp.gov.pl/search/pwp-details/P.438489.
98. Kominko, H., Gorazda, K., and Wzorek, Z. (2023). Multi-Component Organic-Mineral Fertilizer, Especially for Maize. (PL 243439B1), Polish Patent, Available online: https://ewyszukiwarka.pue.uprp.gov.pl/search/pwp-details/P.438488.
99. Kominko, H., Gorazda, K., and Wzorek, Z. (2023). Multi-Ingredient Organic-Mineral Fertilizer for Sunflower Cultivation. (PL 243441B1), Polish Patent, Available online: https://ewyszukiwarka.pue.uprp.gov.pl/search/pwp-details/P.438492.
100. Kominko, H., Gorazda, K., and Wzorek, Z. (2023). Method of Obtaining Granular Multi-Component Organic-Mineral Fertilizer. (PL 243442B1), Polish Patent, Available online: https://ewyszukiwarka.pue.uprp.gov.pl/search/pwp-details/P.438497.