Other Regulations

Circular economy and phosphorous recovery

The Commission’s stakeholder consultation on the sustainable use of phosphorus closed on 31 December 2013 and received replies from a wide range of stakeholders. INCOPA was one of the stakeholders providing input.  During the consultation, some respondents questioned whether technologies such as flocculation with iron coagulants are sustainable, arguing that they do not deliver the best product in terms of potential re-use in agriculture. Others listed a number of advantages of this technology, not least its effectiveness (as compared with other technologies) in removing phosphorus from water.

The European Commission through the Joint Research Center developed a report which now includes not only product criteria for struvite but for all phosphorous salts.  The report is now more balanced, but INCOPA will continue to advocate for acceptance for Al and Fe salts.