Optimizing the use of sludge treatment facilities at municipal WWTPs

Sludge treatment and disposal are very important cost factors in the scope of municipal wastewater treatment. Therefore ways should be sought to reduce the sludge treatment costs and/or to increase the benefit of the treatment facilities by using them for other applications. This paper gives an overview of possible pathways of sludge treatment including disposal or reuse, particularly with respect to costs. Finally, the benefits and constraints of optimizing the use of anaerobic digesters as production plants for energy (as biogas), also by means of co-fermentation of organic wastes will be explained.