Biogas and compost from biowaste and sewage sludge water
About this good practice
This good practice is an example of industrial symbiosis between Sewage treatment plants, local industries, waste managers and farmers.
Through the process of anaerobic co-digestion of sludge with some organic waste or by-products, the following benefits are achieved:
• Energy self-sufficiency of wastewater treatment plants.
• Recovery of waste with a high organic matter content
• Obtain compost for agricultural soil improvement
The treatment of wastewater in sewage treatment plants produces a large quantity of by-products known as sludge, which must be properly managed and which represent a high percentage of the operating cost associated with sewage treatment plants.
The process can be resumed in this way:
• Sludge from water-treatment plants + organic wastes = Biogas + digested sludge
The Biogas feeds combustion engines and generate energy
• Digested sludge + Biomass = Compost for agricultural soil improvement
Main Beneficiaries:
• WWTPs
• Professionals from the sector involved in the management and exploitation of wastewater treatment processes.
• Food industries in the area
• Sludge managers from wastewater treatment
• Farmers
Expert opinion
Across the European Union, somewhere between 118 and 138 million tons of bio-waste are generated every year, of which currently only about 40% is effectively recycled into high-quality compost and digestate. As up to 50% of municipal solid waste is organic, the bio-waste fraction plays an important role in the transition to circular economy and contributes significantly to meeting the overall recycling target of 65% by 2035. Treating biowaste and sludge with anaerobic digestion process harvests the renewable biogas and the remaining material (digestate) can then be composted. This process provides the added value of renewable gas generation in addition to the material recovery aspect given with composting. This good practice presents a solution for waste water treatment plants, local agro industries and waste management companies. It can be inspirational to other EU regions.
Resources needed
1 skilled person
Evidence of success
Potential for learning or transfer
The company makes a transfer by conducting training courses about co-digestion, also participation in conferences giving dissemination to their experience.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
EMASESA