Group A:

Boosting the market for recycled fertilizer products

Group A will elaborate on various alternatives to accelerate the supply and demand for fertilizer products from recycled and recovered bio-based sources.
The group may consider the following aspects:

  • economic incentives for i) processing nutrient-rich biomasses into recycled fertilizer products and ii) use of recycled fertilizer products
  • creation of viable business models e.g. through integration with bioenergy production
  • information and communication needs: to whom, what kind and by whom

Group B:

Cooperation towards a sustainable phosphorus strategy in the BSR

Group B will discuss crucial steps on the way towards a holistic and sustainable phosphorus strategy and management in the Baltic Sea Region.
The group may consider the following aspects:

  • development of national phosphorus and nutrient recycling strategies, taking into account the spatial variation in biomass flows, nutrient balances and soil P contents within the BSR countries
  • need for stronger regional cooperation to develop more harmonized norms for phosphorus fertilization and joint soil P-index model
  • opportunities of overarching transnational BSR strategies (HELCOM, EUSBSR) to serve as a pilot for improved phosphorus management in the implementation of EU Green Deal

Group C:

Reducing pollutants in sewage sludge and ensuring the safety of recovered nutrients

Group C will focus on risk management concerning sewage sludge and nutrient recovery processes. As the direct use of sewage sludge compost is becoming more and more challenging due to different heavy metals, organic micropollutants, and microplastics, how should nutrient recovery look in the sector in the near future? The group will discuss both measures to reduce the amount of pollutants in the wastewater and future technological approaches to nutrient recovery.
The group may consider the following aspects:

  • new and upcoming legislation severely limiting possible technologies used in the wastewater treatment
  • organic micropollutants and microplastics in wastewater – environmental risks, origins, and treatment
  • risk-assessment of nutrient recycling technologies and the need for thorough life-cycle analysis for recovered fertiliser products