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SummaryIn December 2011, the innovation partnership for use of phosphorus from wastewater and sewagesludge was established. The initial meeting was attended by approx. 60 players, includingwastewater utilities, fertilizer manufacturers, producers of phosphorus precipitants, suppliers ofenvironmental technology, consultants, research institutions, and authorities. The partnership wascreated as part of the government’s environmental technology action plan (2010-2011), “EnvironmentalTechnology – for the benefit of the environment and growth”.The purpose of the partnership is to create a new platform for strategic cooperation concerning therecovery and utilization of phosphorus in waste with a special emphasis on phosphorus inwastewater and sewage sludge. For a start, the partnership has focused on the following main activities:• Development of technology, including identification of the need for further development ofexisting technologies and development of new technologies etc.• Market development, including establishment of a basis for assessing the market potentialfor existing direct phosphorus recycling and for alternative technologies. Furthermore, thepurpose of this activity is to identify barriers and promote the conditions for developmentof the market.• Development of regulation, including feasibility study of setting the goals for an increasedrecycling of phosphorus resources from wastewater and sewage sludge. This includes theidentification of environmental and health related as well as regulatory barriers and thepromotion of conditions for recycling of phosphorus from wastewater and sewage sludge.In December 2011, a kick-off meeting was held for the partnership during which the participantsdefined the vision and goals of the partnership. In connection with the kick-off meeting, three workinggroups were set up – technology development, market development, and regulatory development– and the scope and activities of each group were subsequently defined.Technology DevelopmentThe participants in the group for Technology Development have compiled a list of technologies forrecovery/utilization of phosphorus from wastewater and sewage sludge. The list includes technologiesfor wastewater and reject water that are used in treatment plants, and it includes existing andwell-established treatment technologies for organic waste, including sewage sludge. In addition, anoverview has been prepared of new and emerging technologies for recovery of phosphorus fromwastewater and sewage sludge comprising new Danish and foreign as well as existing foreign technologies.There are also suggestions for technological development needs that may help promoting the recyclingof phosphorus. If focus is only on the optimal use of phosphorus, it would be beneficial toremove phosphorus from wastewater by means of biological methods and avoid the use of chemicals.If chemicals are used, it should be iron (not aluminum) and in the lowest possible quantities. Itis estimated that there is a need for development of holistic solutions ensuring optimal opportunitiesfor utilization of the phosphorus reserve in both wastewater and sludge, where the wastewaterand sludge treatment as well as the subsequent sludge handling and agricultural application areincorporated. It should be established where most of the phosphorus is found and where it can berecovered.Innovationspartnerskab for anvendelse af fosfor fra spildevand og spildevandsslam fra spildevandsforsyninger 13