What are municipalities doing with their municipal sludge? Understanding the current practices and the cost associated with municipal sludge disposal with case studies

Abstract

In 2010, just after the Guidelines for Utilisation and Disposal of Wastewater Sludge were updated, onsite disposal was most widely used by South African municipalities, and beneficial use of sludge was limited (Snyman, 2010). In 2024, this reality remains largely unchanged. While understanding and awareness of the Guidelinesis widespread due to the regulatory requirements to follow them, the gap between policy and implementation remains. This is evidenced by the results of the 2022 Green Drop assessment, which found that approximately 80% of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in South Africa were either stockpiling or storing their sludge in lagoons (i.e., on-site disposal).

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