INTERNATIONAL SLUDGE MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS AND PRACTICES / Slamhantering i ett internationellt perspektiv
This paper is based on a literature survey concerning current regulations and general practices of sludge use and disposal in the United States, European Union (in particular Sweden) and Chile.
Almost all regulations analysed in this paper require relatively similar hygienisation procedures. Besides being based on the hygienisation method applied, some restrictions are related to the type of agricultural soil used for final disposal.
On the other hand, the regulations differ significantly concerning allowed pollutant contents. From the analysis, it was evident that basically two different approaches had been used. One approach, which is mainly represented in the U.S. standards, is a risk assessment approach. I he other approach aimed at restricting the contaminant level in the soil to its background level. Another variation of this approach is to require pollutant levels equal or less than the pollutant levels present in artificial fertilisers.
The paper discusses these approaches, its background and practical consequences. Additionally, conditions for sustainable sludge management arc also taken up in the paper.