e-Digest Statistics about: Waste and Recycling
Sewage sludge
Tables 11 and 12 show arisings and disposal of sewage sludge in the UK. This data has been taken from the Water UK publication Water Facts [8] and some of the historical data has been revised to match that previously published in 'Water Facts'. Since 1989/90 the level of arisings has increased to 1.4 million tonnes as a result of the UWWT Directive requiring more treatment. Around 0.9 million tonnes of this waste is disposed of on farmland and the next largest disposal route until recently has been sea disposal primarily in Liverpool Bay, the Thames Estuary, off north east England and the Clyde Estuary. However, the amount of sewage disposed of at sea decreased by 41 per cent between 1997/98 and 1998/99 and disposal of sewage at sea ceased at the end of 1998. Incineration is now the second largest disposal route. Further details on the sewage sludge disposed of at sea, such as metal content, are given in the Coastal and Marine Waters chapter.
The treatment and disposal of sewage sludge is governed by various legislation. Two that are particularly pertinent are the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive which directs both the treatment and disposal, and banned the disposal at sea of sewage sludge from the end of 1998; another is the Sludge (use in agriculture) Regulations 1989 (as amended) which regulates the land spreading of sewage sludge. There is also a voluntary agreement known as the 'Safe Sludge Matrix' which ensures that sludge is only recycled to certain crops and vegetations.
In Detail:
- Total Annual Waste
- e-Digest: Coastal and marine waters Dumping of wastes at sea
Further Information:
- Key Facts:
- Total Annual Waste
Data Tables:
| Table
No. |
Title | Download
file type |
| 11 and 12 | Sewage sludge arisings and management 1986/97 - 2005 |
- References, further reading and links to other resources:
- [8] Water UK. Waterfacts, 1998. Water UK, London
- Internet Links:
- Water UK
- Office of the Director General for Water Services (OfWat)
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Page last modified: 26 October 2006
Page published: 26 October 2006