Sewage sludge compost: Vorarlberg plans strict ban on soil protection!

Sewage sludge compost: Vorarlberg plans strict ban on soil protection!

Vorarlberg, Österreich - In Vorarlberg, the use of sewage sludge compost in agriculture is increasingly restricted. Since January 1, 1999, the spreading of sewage sludge has only been allowed in the form of sewage sludge fertilizer, and since January 1, 2019, such an application has only been permitted after prior composting. The figures speak volumes: In 2023 only around 0.2 percent of the annual sewage sludge in Vorarlberg was spread as a sewage sludge compost, which underlines the constant return in this area, as New law takes into account environmental protection

The tightening of the rules is directly related to the pollutants found in sewage sludge and compost products. The authorities had alerted important chemical contaminants such as PFAs, heavy metals and microplastics. In order to avoid an additional burden on the soil, a draft law is now being examined that strives for a complete ban - with some exceptions for special hardship cases, as the country reports. By January 10, 2025, decision -makers have time to make statements about this draft law.

In addition, the use of sewage sludge compost in agriculture is allowed under strict requirements. Areas that can be used for the application must be able to show a soil investigation. According to Vorarlberg.at , a total of about 2,100 m³ of sewage sludge compost was used as a fertilizer, which corresponds to about 15,400 kg phosphate to 270 hectares. Despite these figures, the controls show that the mineral oil hydrocarbons in arable soils, which were fertilized with sewage sludge compost in the long term, are worryingly high. At five locations, limit value crossings were found, which underlines the need for strict monitoring.

Compliance with the user of sewage sludge guidelines is crucial for the protection of the soil and the environment in the region, and continuous monitoring by the environmental institute is considered essential to secure the given standards.