Circular approaches to phosphorus: research to deployment

Circular approaches to phosphorus recovery and recycling from wastewater, sludge, and manure are explored in a European Commission workshop held in Berlin on 4 March 2015. The event, co-organised by the European Commission, ESPP, and P-REX, brought together 80 participants and showcased 28 EU-funded projects under FP7, LIFE+, and InterReg. Key initiatives include PHORWater, which demonstrated struvite recovery at a pre-industrial scale in Spain, and RecoPhos, developing thermal processes to extract phosphorus from sludge ash. Projects like BioEcoSIM and ManureEcoMine focused on nutrient and energy recovery from livestock manure using pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion, and struvite precipitation. The END-O-SLUDG and ROUTES projects assessed sludge quality and contaminant risks, finding low environmental impact at standard application rates. Economic challenges persist, as recycled phosphates often fail to cover recovery costs, though high-value outputs like pure phosphoric acid offer alternatives. Research needs include phosphorus flow analysis, social science input, and full-scale demonstrations. Policy support is critical, with calls for revised EU fertiliser regulations and clear end-of-waste criteria. The P-REX policy brief highlights the need for realistic recovery targets and coordinated implementation. Regional approaches and national cost-sharing mechanisms are essential for scaling up. The workshop concluded with recommendations for enhanced coordination between research, innovation, and policy to advance a circular nutrient economy in Europe.