Editing Sewage sludge (section)

==== Sewage Sludge Directive ====
The EU's Sewage Sludge Directive (86/278/EEC) sets out regulations to pursue the dual purpose of promoting the use of sewage sludge as an agricultural fertilizer, while ensuring environmental protections and human health.<ref>{{Citation |title=Council Directive of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture (86/278/EEC) |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:01986L0278-20220101 |access-date=2024-10-17 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=Using sewage sludge in farming {{!}} EUR-Lex |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1600338376127&uri=LEGISSUM:l28088 |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=eur-lex.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref> These rules include sludge treatment requirements, as well as limits on the time and place of sewage sludge applications, depending on the type of food crop.<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":2">{{Citation |title=COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture |date=2023 |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2023:158:FIN&qid=1684830815132 |access-date=2024-10-18 |language=en}}</ref>  This is intended to protect human health while maintaining the ecological health of the soil and water.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last1=Gianico |first1=Andrea |last2=Braguglia |first2=Camilla |last3=Gallipoli |first3=Agata |last4=Montecchio |first4=Daniele |last5=Mininni |first5=Giuseppe |date=2021 |title=Land Application of Biosolids in Europe: Possibilities, Con-Straints and Future Perspectives |journal=Water |language=en |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=103 |doi=10.3390/w13010103 |doi-access=free |issn=2073-4441}}</ref> The directive explicitly regulates the allowable levels of seven heavy metals (cadmium, copper, nickel, lead, zinc, mercury, and chromium) in soil and sludge, and regulates any application of sewage sludge that would cause levels of these heavy metals in soil to exceed those limits.<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":4" />

EU member states are tasked with implementing and enforcing the Directive within their borders, as well as monitoring and reporting on sludge production, treatment, characteristics, and use.<ref name=":03">{{Cite web |title=Using sewage sludge in farming {{!}} EUR-Lex |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1600338376127&uri=LEGISSUM:l28088 |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=eur-lex.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite journal |last1=Verlicchi |first1=P. |last2=Zambello |first2=E. |date=2015-12-15 |title=Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in untreated and treated sewage sludge: Occurrence and environmental risk in the case of application on soil — A critical review |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0048969715306100 |journal=Science of the Total Environment |volume=538 |pages=750–767 |doi=10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.08.108 |pmid=26327643 |bibcode=2015ScTEn.538..750V |hdl=11392/2335213 |issn=0048-9697|hdl-access=free }}</ref> Member states are allowed to set more stringent limits for heavy metals than set out in the Sewage Sludge Directive, and can set limits for other pollutants.<ref name=":22">{{Citation |title=COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture |date=2023 |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2023:158:FIN&qid=1684830815132 |access-date=2024-10-18 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":42">{{Cite journal |last1=Gianico |first1=Andrea |last2=Braguglia |first2=Camilla |last3=Gallipoli |first3=Agata |last4=Montecchio |first4=Daniele |last5=Mininni |first5=Giuseppe |date=2021 |title=Land Application of Biosolids in Europe: Possibilities, Con-Straints and Future Perspectives |journal=Water |language=en |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=103 |doi=10.3390/w13010103 |doi-access=free |issn=2073-4441}}</ref><ref name=":12" />  As of 2021, more than half of the EU member states had stricter limits for mercury and cadmium than required under the Directive.<ref name=":42" />

Member states are also allowed to limit or promote the use of sewage sludge for agriculture as they choose, meaning that some countries prohibit the use of sludge in agriculture, while some use up to 50% of the sludge they generate in agriculture.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2014-04-18 |title=Ex-post evaluation of certain waste stream Directives: Final Report |url=https://ec.europa.eu/environment/pdf/waste/target_review/Final%20Report%20Ex-Post.pdf |access-date=2024-10-19 |publisher=European Commission - DG Environment}}</ref> Spain, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom (while it was still part of the EU) have particularly promoted the use of sludge in agriculture.<ref name=":42" /> Each of [[Federal states of Austria|Austria's federal states]] has its own regulations for the use of sewage sludge in agriculture, including different limits for heavy metals.<ref name=":45">{{Cite journal |last1=Gianico |first1=Andrea |last2=Braguglia |first2=Camilla |last3=Gallipoli |first3=Agata |last4=Montecchio |first4=Daniele |last5=Mininni |first5=Giuseppe |date=2021 |title=Land Application of Biosolids in Europe: Possibilities, Con-Straints and Future Perspectives |journal=Water |language=en |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=103 |doi=10.3390/w13010103 |doi-access=free |issn=2073-4441}}</ref> For example, Tyrol has banned the use of sludge on agricultural lands, while in Salzburg it is only allowed under certain conditions.<ref name=":45" />

Since the Directive's passage, there has been the substantial decrease in heavy metal residues in agricultural soils over time (well below the limits set), though it is not possible to determine what proportion of the decrease is due to the Directive itself, as opposed to other national and EU legislation.<ref name=":23">{{Citation |title=COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture |date=2023 |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2023:158:FIN&qid=1684830815132 |access-date=2024-10-18 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite web |date=2014-04-18 |title=Ex-post evaluation of certain waste stream Directives: Final Report |url=https://ec.europa.eu/environment/pdf/waste/target_review/Final%20Report%20Ex-Post.pdf |access-date=2024-10-19 |publisher=European Commission - DG Environment}}</ref>

The Sewage Sludge Directive has been evaluated several times under EU proposals to build a circular economy through the reduction and reuse of wastes.<ref name=":43">{{Cite journal |last1=Gianico |first1=Andrea |last2=Braguglia |first2=Camilla |last3=Gallipoli |first3=Agata |last4=Montecchio |first4=Daniele |last5=Mininni |first5=Giuseppe |date=2021 |title=Land Application of Biosolids in Europe: Possibilities, Con-Straints and Future Perspectives |journal=Water |language=en |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=103 |doi=10.3390/w13010103 |doi-access=free |issn=2073-4441}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Circular economy action plan - European Commission |url=https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/circular-economy-action-plan_en |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=environment.ec.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref> In 2014, a European Commission evaluation of the Sewage Sludge Directive suggested it was appropriate for its goals, and did not need revision.<ref name=":33">{{Cite web |date=2014-04-18 |title=Ex-post evaluation of certain waste stream Directives: Final Report |url=https://ec.europa.eu/environment/pdf/waste/target_review/Final%20Report%20Ex-Post.pdf |access-date=2024-10-19 |publisher=European Commission - DG Environment}}</ref><ref name=":43" /> In 2023, as part of the [[European Green Deal]] and [[Circular Economy Action Plan]], the EU re-evaluated the Sewage Sludge Directive, and found that it should be maintained – as the use of sewage sludge as fertilizer aligns with circular economy goals and potentially reduces the EU carbon emissions – but that the potential pollutants and contaminants regulated under the Directive should be reviewed and potentially revised.<ref name=":24">{{Citation |title=COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture |date=2023 |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2023:158:FIN&qid=1684830815132 |access-date=2024-10-18 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-27 |title=Sewage sludge - European Commission |url=https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/sewage-sludge_en |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=environment.ec.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref> This evaluation noted that, as of 2023, the original Directive had not been seriously updated since its original passage in 1986, even though in the intervening decades there had been many developments in both environmental policy, expectations, and research, as well as member states' national policies around sewage sludge.<ref name=":24" /> The evaluation particularly emphasized concerns about methane emissions, microplastic contamination, and antibiotic resistances.<ref name=":24" />

The Sewage Sludge Directive has not yet set limits for other contaminants, such as organic pollutants, pathogens, microplastics, pharmaceutical residues, and personal care product residues.<ref name=":25">{{Citation |title=COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture |date=2023 |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2023:158:FIN&qid=1684830815132 |access-date=2024-10-18 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite journal |last1=Verlicchi |first1=P. |last2=Zambello |first2=E. |date=2015-12-15 |title=Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in untreated and treated sewage sludge: Occurrence and environmental risk in the case of application on soil — A critical review |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0048969715306100 |journal=Science of the Total Environment |volume=538 |pages=750–767 |doi=10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.08.108 |pmid=26327643 |bibcode=2015ScTEn.538..750V |hdl=11392/2335213 |issn=0048-9697|hdl-access=free }}</ref> With the identification of these new contaminants in sludge since the Sewage Sludge Directive originally passed, several researchers have suggested that the EU should consider revising the Directive to address their potential risks to health and environment.<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":44">{{Cite journal |last1=Gianico |first1=Andrea |last2=Braguglia |first2=Camilla |last3=Gallipoli |first3=Agata |last4=Montecchio |first4=Daniele |last5=Mininni |first5=Giuseppe |date=2021 |title=Land Application of Biosolids in Europe: Possibilities, Con-Straints and Future Perspectives |journal=Water |language=en |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=103 |doi=10.3390/w13010103 |doi-access=free |issn=2073-4441}}</ref>