Environmental toxin

Sewage sludge must be incinerated in Austria

The regulation affects sewage treatment plants that serve more than 20,000 people.(Bild: stock.adobe.com)

The incineration of sewage sludge will be mandatory in Austria from 2033. The Climate Protection Ministry published a corresponding decree in the Waste Incineration Ordinance on Monday. All sewage treatment plants that serve more than 20,000 inhabitants will be affected.

The affected plants generate 85 percent of the sewage sludge volume in Austria.

What the ministry says
According to a statement from the ministry, these sewage sludges contain a concentration of hazardous pollutants - such as hormones, pharmaceutical residues, heavy metals, microplastics and nanomaterials. Incinerating the sewage sludge destroys the environmental toxins concentrated there.

The goal is: no more microplastics on our soils.

Klimaschutzministerin Leonore Gewessler (Grüne)

"The goal is: no more microplastics on our soils. This is because microplastics and environmental toxins can have far-reaching consequences for our health and nature. We must therefore prevent them from entering the environment in an uncontrolled manner," said Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens).

Two to three additional incineration plants are needed in Austria for the new sewage sludge treatment. However, the transitional period until January 1, 2033 offers "sufficient time to cope with the need for adaptation associated with the future sewage sludge treatment", according to the ministry.