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

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.