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Potential for Sewage Sludge Co‐Combustion in the UK Based on German Experience
Author(s) -
Barber W. P.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-6593.2002.tb00415.x
Subject(s) - biosolids , incineration , sewage sludge , waste management , capital expenditure , agriculture , legislation , combustion , capital cost , environmental science , engineering , business , sewage treatment , environmental engineering , finance , ecology , chemistry , electrical engineering , organic chemistry , political science , law , biology
Increasingly strict legislation, escalating costs and external pressures are causing the water industry to look for alternative strategies to agricultural recycling for the disposal of biosolids. Although the development of the ‘safe sludge matrix’has encouraged agricultural recycling, negative press has hampered this outlet and public perception is seen as a major threat. Accordingly, many water companies are looking towards thermal‐reduction technologies and have invested in thermal dryers and sludge incinerators; however, such technology has high capital costs and complex maintenance and operator requirements. An alternative method, i.e. co‐combustion, is becoming more popular in mainland Europe. Unlike incineration/drying, the capital expenditure is low and operator/maintenance risks are minimised. This paper (i) discusses a case study in which 40 000 dry tonnes of sludge per annum have been successfully combusted since 1996, and (ii) explores how this experience could be applied in a UK situation.