Part A: Sanitization and use of sewage sludge in soil Technical Note 3 - Sludge sanitization by composting

Abstract

The final disposal of sludge is one of the major drawbacks in the management of sewage treatment because of its production and accumulation, demanding systematic discharge. Landfilling, sludge-toenergy recovery methods and agricultural use are some alternatives of final destinations. For agricultural purposes, the sludge should undergo an sanitization. Composting can be used for sanitization and the resulting compost contains stabilized organic matter and nutrients that are useful for plants and soil conditioning. This Technical Note (TN) was prepared by consolidating knowledge of researchers and practical specialists, as well as information from specialized literature. Basic concepts, design criteria and operational techniques were sought with the aim of enabling sewage sludge transformation via composting, not only to produce a quality product, such as fertilizer, but also to benefit the environment.