Coalition agreement of the federal government of Germany November 2013: „We will face out the direct use of sewage sludge as a fertiliser on land and promote the recycling of Phosphorus and other nutrients“ Consequences for the use of municipal sewage sludge in agriculture and landscaping (Draft of the new sewage Sludge Ordinance) Ordinance on sewage sludge will include a prohibition to use sewage sludge as fertilizer (transition period of 10 years) exemptions for small WWT-plants (up to 10.000 PE) are on discussion

Consequences of the coalition- agreement after the transition period (10 years): Priority for recovery of P as fertilizer! ► No Co-Incineration of sludges containing certain amounts of nutrients ( 20 g of P per kg of sewage sludge dm) ► The ashes from sludges being treated in special sludge incinerators have to be recovered to fertilizer or ashes have to be storaged separately ► The transition period to realise this P- recycling concept is planned to be 10 years