An Assessment of the Drivers and Barriers for the Deployment of Urban Phosphorus Recovery Technologies: A Case Study of The Netherlands

Marissa A. De Boer, Anjelika G. Romeo-Hall, Tomas M. Rooimans and J. Chris Slootweg
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Marissa A. De Boer: Van’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, NL-1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Anjelika G. Romeo-Hall: Van’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, NL-1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Tomas M. Rooimans: Van’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, NL-1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
J. Chris Slootweg: Van’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, NL-1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 6, 1-19

Abstract: Phosphorus (P), being one of the building blocks of life, is essential for a multitude of applications, primarily for fertilizer usage. Sustainable management of phosphorus is becoming increasingly important in light of adverse environmental effects, ambiguous reserves, increasing global demand and unilateral dependence. Recovery of phosphorus from the biggest loss stream, communal wastewater, has the potential to tackle each of these problems. The implementation of phosphorus recovery technologies at wastewater treatment plants is not widespread, despite prolonged efforts primarily done by researchers over the past decade. This study aimed to assess the drivers and barriers of a phosphorus recovery transition. Several key stakeholders involved in this transition in The Netherlands were interviewed. The Netherlands was taken as a case study, since it serves as a frontrunner in the implementation of phosphorus recovery technologies. This study shows that the main barriers from the point of view of fertilizer companies are the different and unclear characteristics of the phosphorus recovery product struvite compared to common fertilizers. Moreover, the end-of-waste status of struvite is mentioned as a prominent barrier for a phosphorus transition, since it hinders free market trade. Many water boards indicate that the main barrier is the high investment cost with an uncertain return on investment for onsite struvite recovery processes. The specified main driver for water boards for onsite struvite phosphorus recovery technology is the reduction of maintenance costs, and for phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge ash, the low organic pollutant in the P recovery product.

Keywords: phosphorus recovery; wastewater treatment plant; drivers and barriers; circular nutrient economy; socio-technical transitions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:6:p:1790-:d:149612

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