This study aims to bring forward a preliminary assessment of policy options for a possible review of the Sewage Sludge Directive. The main problem identified is that current sludge management is not fully aligned with current EU policy objectives, particularly on environmental and human health protection and circular economy.

Two policy options were evaluated in detail: (i) monitoring and control of sludge, or derived materials thereof, returned to agricultural land complemented by targets for the return of the critical raw material phosphorus to agricultural land; and (ii) environmental and health protection through the mandatory transformation of sewage sludge into EU fertilising products that classify as phosphorus fertilisers, presently mostly following sludge incineration.

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