Promoting Beneficial Sewage Sludge Utilization in the People's Republic of China

Book excerpt: Over the last 15 years, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has made rapid and sustained progress in constructing and operating state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plants. However, this success has brought with it the new challenge of how to manage the ever-increasing volumes of sludge in a way that does not create secondary pollution. This report examines best international practices in sludge management, analyzes the current situation in the PRC relative to this best practice, and suggests a pathway for the PRC to modernize its approach to sludge management. In particular, it highlights the trend toward viewing sludge as a resource with opportunities for beneficial use that result in considerable environmental and energy-saving benefits.