CEN/TC 308/WG 2 - Guidelines for good practice in the production, utilization and for disposal of sludges

This Technical Report describes good practice for the incineration and other organic matter treatment by thermal processes of sludges.
Thermal drying, thermal conditioning and thermal hydrolysis are excluded.
This Technical Report is applicable for sludges described in the scope of CEN/TC 308 specifically derived from:
-   storm water handling;
-   night soil;
-   urban wastewater collecting systems;
-   urban wastewater treatment plants;
-   treating industrial wastewater similar to urban wastewater (as defined in Directive 91/271/EEC);
but excluding hazardous sludges from industry.

This CEN Technical Report describes good practice for sludge dewatering and belongs to a series on sludge management options.
It gives guidance on technical and operational aspects of:
-   conditioning, thickening and dewatering processes.
Drying, which is another water content reduction process, is not dealt with in this document, but in CEN/TR 15473, Characterization of sludges - Good practice for sludges drying.
This report is applicable for sludges from:
-   urban wastewater treatment plants;
-   treatment plants for industrial wastewater similar to urban wastewater;
-   water supply treatment plants.
This document may be applicable to sludges of other origin.

This Technical Specification gives guidance for dealing with the production and control of sludge in relation to inputs and treatment and gives a strategic evaluation of recovery, recycling and disposal options for sludge according to its properties and the availability of outlets.
This Technical Specification is applicable for sludges from:
-   storm water handling;
-   night soil;
-   urban wastewater collecting systems;
-   urban wastewater treatment plants;
-   treating industrial wastewater similar to urban wastewater (as defined in Directive 91/271/EC [1]);
-   water supply treatment plants;
but excluding hazardous sludges from industry.

This Technical Report describes good practice for the use of sludges in agriculture (where national regulations permit).  It is applicable to all of the sludges described in the scope of CEN/TC 308 (and any of the forms in which they may be presented - liquid, dewatered, dried, composted, etc.) i.e. sludges from:
-   storm water handling;
-   night soil;
-   urban wastewater collecting systems;
-   urban wastewater treatment plants;
-   treating industrial wastewater similar to urban wastewater (as defined in Directive 91/271/EC [1]);
-   water supply treatment plants;
-   but excluding hazardous sludges from industry.
Such sludges may be used on land as a source of plant nutrients, and/or soil improver, and/or alkaline amendment for crop production. Despite differences in the statutory controls between sewage sludge and other sludges, the use of all types of sludge should follow good practice to maximise benefits for the crops or soils, to minimise potential risks of environmental contamination and adverse impacts on plant, animal and human health, and to ensure sustainability, energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Sludge producers should be aware that if a sludge is used as a fertilising or alkaline amendment, national or EU fertiliser or liming regulations may apply.
The document assumes that an evaluation of sludge utilisation has already been made, and a decision was taken that use of sludge within a land spreading policy is the best option.
For evaluation and decisions for use of sludges, other documents have been developed (see CR 13714, CR 13846).
Many countries and/or local administrations have regulations and/or standards and/or codes of practice applicable to the use of some of the types of sludge that are within the scope of this Technical Report, however it cannot, and does not, attempt to summarise or take account of these regulations, etc. because of their very wide range. It is thus essential that this Technical Report is read in the context of the

This CEN Technical Report gives information about principles to be followed in different sludge treatment processes to reach specified hygienic requirements.

This CEN Technical report describes good practices for sludge drying and it is one of a series on sludge management options. It gives guidance on
-   drying processes;
-   characteristics of dried sludge products;
-   recycling or disposal of dried sludge products.
from urban wastewater treatment plants.   
Sludges of other origin, like sludge from water supply or industrial treatment plants are not in the exact scope of this CEN Technical Report, however the handling of most of these sludges will comply to a large extent with the leads given in this CEN Technical Report.

This CEN Technical Report gives one of a series on sludge management options and describes good practice for the disposal of sludges and sludge treatment residues to landfill where national regulations permit.
This document is applicable to sludges described in the scope of CEN/TC 308 i.e. specifically derived from :
-   storm water handling ;
-   night soil ;
-   urban wastewater collecting systems ;
-   urban wastewater treatment plants ;
-   treating industrial wastewater similar to urban wastewater (as defined in Directive 91/271/EEC ) ;
-   water supply treatment plants;
-   water distribution systems;
but excluding hazardous sludges from industry.

This Technical Report gives indication on sludge utilisation within reclamation programmes of disturbed land.
This Technical Report is applicable to sludges described in the scope of CEN/TC 308; for example:
¾ storm water handling;
¾ urban wastewater collecting systems;
¾ urban wastewater treatment plants;
¾ treating industrial wastewater similar to urban wastewater (as defined in Directive 91/271/EEC [18]);
¾ water supply treatment plants;
¾ water distribution systems;
¾ sludge derived materials;
¾ but excluding hazardous sludges from industry.
NOTE   Because of the wide range of reclamation sites where sludge use as a soil ameliorate or source of plant nutrients is beneficial, and the different potential final uses of these sites, recommendations for application should be considered on a site-by-site basis. It is far beyond the scope of these guidelines to describe all the possible situations and the individual ways in which sludge could be used. The aim is to address, in a general qualitative way, the key issues which will determine in each particular case whether, how much and which type of sludge can be used.
Planning considerations (clause 5) are emphasised due to the fact that a general scheme can be adopted as a

This European standard defines terms for sludges described in the scope of CEN/TC 308: storm water handling; night soil; urban wastewater collecting systems; urban wastewater treatment plants; treating industrial wastewater similar to urban wastewater (as defined in Directive 91/271/EEC); water supply treatment plants; water distribution systems; but excluding hazardous sludges from industry.

This Technical Report gives guidance for dealing with the production and control of sludge in relation to inputs and treatment and gives a strategic evaluation of recovery, recycling and disposal options for sludge according to its properties and the availability of outlets.
This report is applicable for sludges from:
-   storm water handling;
-   night soil;
-   urban wastewater collecting systems;
-   urban wastewater treatment plants;
-   treating industrial wastewater similar to urban wastewater (as defined in Directive 91/271/EC [1]);
-   water supply treatment plants;
but excluding hazardous sludges from industry.

This CEN Report describes good practice for the use of sludges in agriculture (where national regulations permit).  It is applicable to all of the sludges described in the scope of CEN/TC 308 (and any of the forms in which they may be presented - liquid, dewatered, dried, composted, etc.) i.e. sludges from :
- storm water handling ;
- night soil ;
- urban wastewater collecting systems ;
- urban wastewater treatment plants ;
- treating industrial wastewater similar to urban wastewater (as defined in Directive 91/271/EC) ;
- water supply treatment plants ;
- but excluding hazardous sludges from industry.
Such sludges can be used on land as a source of plant nutrients, and/or soil improver, and/or liming material for crop production. Despite differences in the statutory controls between sewage sludge and other sludges, the use of all types of sludge should follow good practice to maximise benefits for the crops or soils, to minimise potential risks of environmental contamination and adverse impacts on plant, animal and human health, and to ensure sustainability and cost-effectiveness.
Sludge producers should be aware that if a sludge is used as a fertilising or liming material, national or EC fertiliser or liming regulations may apply.
The document assumes that an evaluation has already been made and a decision taken that use of sludge within a land spreading policy is the best option for the sludge in question.
NOTE   For evaluation and decisions for use of sludges, other documents are currently in development (see CR 13174).
Many countries and/or local administrations have regulations and/or standards and/or codes of practice applicable to the use of some of the types of sludge that are within the scope of this report, however it cannot, and does not, attempt to summarise or take account of these regulations, etc. because of their very wide range. It is thus essential that this report is read in the context of the conditions that prevail locally.

This CEN Report gives indication for dealing of the combined incineration treatment of sludge and household waste.
This European standard is applicable to sludges described in the scope of CEN/TC 308 i.e. specifically derived from :
- storm water handling ;
- night soil ;
- urban wastewater collecting systems ;
- urban wastewater treatment plants ;
- treating industrial wastewater similar to urban wastewater (as defined in Directive 91/271/EEC ) ;
but excluding hazardous sludges from industry.
Annex A gives information on various systems to input sludge into a household waste incineration plant.

This CEN Report describes good practice for the incineration of sludges with and without grease and screenings.
This CEN Report is applicable for sludges described in the scope of CEN/TC 308 specifically derived from :
- night soil ;
- urban wastewater collecting systems ;
- urban wastewater treatment plants ;
- treating industrial wastewater similar to urban wastewater (as defined in Directive 91/271/EC) ;
but excluding hazardous sludges from industry.
This European standard is not applicable to co-incineration of sludge and other wastes, (either urban or hazardous) (see CR 13768) and to the use of sludge in cement kilns.
Annex A gives tables of data for different typical parameters for sludge, furnace, ash, etc..