Two articles: Phosphorus is a well know pollutant which is prompting Severn Trent trial removal technologies but it is also key to remember that it is a valuable resource and recycling is key element of European thinking highlighted by the SCOPE newsletter.

Severn Trent trials five technologies for phosphorous removal 

Severn Trent: Andrew Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire, has visited Severn Trent’s Packington Sewage Treatment Works to take a look at some of the ground breaking work the company is doing on phosphorus removal. Severn Trent is currently trialling five technologies at Packington, two of which are world firsts, to find out the best way to reduce the amount of phosphorus at treatment works in order to meet new legislation. “Sewage treatment is something that everyone takes for granted but it’s actually a very complicated job that Severn Trent carries out,” said Mr Bridgen. “It was especially eye opening to see all of the new technology being trialled at Packington as a result of the new legislation on phosphorus removal. The technology Severn Trent is looking at includes some real state-of-the-art activity and it’ll be interesting to see what ends up being added to works all over the Midlands.” Phosphorus is a normal part of domestic sewage but usual treatment processes only remove part of it.  New legislation has called for more to be removed in the future, leading to Severn Trent’s trials at Packington.

N° 123 of the SCOPE Newsletter is now online at http://www.phosphorusplatform.eu/

Under: SCOPE & News – Current Issue topics covered

• Phosphorus in the chemicals industry
• German Phosphorus Platform (DPP) fORUM
• Phosphorus Network announced by Nordic Council of Ministers.
• Pharmaceuticals in sewage biosolids
• Nutrient recycling via biochar
• Biochar research symposium
• Struvite field fertiliser tests and ecotoxicity
• Manure antibiotic adsorption to struvite
• Marketing of digestate and green fertilisers to home gardener

Netherlands approves Circular Economy 2050 strategy

On 5^th October, The Netherlands national Circular Economy programme to 2050 was presented to Parliament. The programme fixes an interim objective of 50% reduction in raw materials use (minerals, metals, fossil fuels) by 2030, and an objective of 100% sustainable, non polluting use of raw materials by 2050. ‘Biomass and food’ is one of the five priority areas identified in the programme. Under this priority, the programme indicates commitment to the Netherlands Nutrient Platform and to European action through ESPP (European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform). Actions specified to address the ‘Biomass and food’ priority include reducing food waste, sustainable agri- food- and biomass value chains, development of alternative protein sources, recycling of food industry residues, soil quality and increasing soil carbon, precision farming and closing the loop for nutrients.
“A Circular Economy in the Netherlands by 2050” Government-wide Programme for a Circular Economy, Netherlands Minister for Environment and Minister for Economic Affairs, 72 pages, launched 14^th September 2016 https://www.government.nl/documents/policy-notes/2016/09/14/a-circular-economy-in-the-netherlands-by-2050