On the agricultural use of sewage sludge in Romania

Abstract

The construction of new waste water treatment facilities in Romania, especially in rural areas, increases the production of sewage sludge. European Commission recommends the reuse of wastes and since sewage sludge is a byproduct of waste water treatment, sustainable approach must be taken into consideration for the proper management and disposal. Sewage sludge contains high amounts of organic matter and nutrients and thus the reuse in agriculture is very important. This can be achieved following secondary treatment of the sewage sludge (biosolids) and depends also on the local conditions. Because the use of sewage sludge in agriculture is limited in Romania in accordance with its potential, the aim of the current paper is to emphasize the benefits of reusing this waste.