Summary
Do you manage a wastewater treatment plant and want to recycle the sludge that comes from it?
Do you manage a post-treatment and dewatering centre for sludge from various wastewater treatment plants?
A valid certificate of use for sewage sludge is mandatory for recovering your sewage sludge. Apply for your certificate, or renew an existing certificate, at the SPW ARNE (Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment). This process is free of charge.
A CERTIFICATE OF USE TO TEST THE USE OF SEWAGE SLUDGE IN AGRICULTURE
Waste sludge from wastewater treatment plants has a high organic matter and nutrient content (such as nitrogen and phosphorus) that is very useful for enriching agricultural land. However, this sludge also contains heavy metals and organic contaminants that can be toxic to plants and humans if present in the soil in excessive quantities.
The regulatory framework defines concentration limits for these metals and organic contaminants that must not be exceeded in soil and sludge. The SPW ARNE ensures that these limit values are respected when sewage sludge is spread and applies the legally prescribed control measures. To this end, it issues a certificate of use to any entity wanting to recover the sewage sludge it produces.
The certificate of use is valid for a limited period not exceeding five years. It will be renewed on request.
FEDERAL MARKETING AUTHORISATION IS REQUIRED
Like any fertilizer or soil enricher placed on the market, sewage sludge used as such in agriculture must also be subject to marketing authorisation issued by the FPS Public Health.
This federal authorisation is a prerequisite for your certificate of use to be valid.
See the procedure below to apply for a sewage sludge certificate of use, or to renew an existing certificate that has expired.
Key points
The certificate of use is only for sewage sludge intended for agricultural use. This document does not concern dredging sludge or sediments.
In detail
The producers of sewage sludge, namely the:
• managers of urban or industrial wastewater treatment plants on site
• sludge dewatering or post-treatment centres independent of wastewater treatment plants
Have authorisation to market sewage sludge issued by the FPS Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment.
The approach explained below concerns:
• new applications for certificates of use
• the renewal of an existing certificate of use
1. PREPARE YOUR APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF USE FILE
The content of the application file is detailed on the Soil and Waste in Wallonia website.
Please note: an application must be for only one treatment plant or one treatment centre AND one type of sludge. Prepare as many files as you have facilities and types of materials involved.
Do you have federal authorisation to market your sewage sludge?
If you do not, apply at the same time by following the procedure (see "Useful links"). You must include proof that the application is in progress with your certificate of use application file.
2. SEND YOUR APPLICATION TO THE ADMINISTRATION
• Preferably by email to the following address: secretariat.protection.sol@spw.wallonie.be
• If you send your application by mail, please send one copy to:
SPW ARNE – Soil and Waste Department
Soil Protection Directorate
Avenue Prince de Liège15, 5100 Namur
3. PROCESS FOR THE ANALYSIS AND GRANTING OF THE CERTIFICATE OF USE
In general, the administration checks the admissibility and completeness of your file. Additional information may be requested.
For the renewal of an existing certificate, the administration takes into account the annual reports that you were required to submit in the context of the current certificate of use, when evaluating your application.
The SPW ARNE will inform you of its findings within 30 days of your application.
The certificate is issued within three months of the notification of the eligibility of your application. Its validity period is mentioned on the document (usually five years).
******* Please note: the above-mentioned deadlines may be extended until you have sent the requested information or received federal authorisation.
4. APPEALS
Are you not satisfied with the SPW ARNE's decision? You can submit an appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court of Belgium.
- Walloon Government Decree of 12 January 1995 regulating the use on or in soil of sewage sludge or sludge from septic tank sludge treatment centres -
- Arrêté du Gouvernement wallon du 12 janvier 1995 portant réglementation de l'utilisation sur ou dans les sols des boues d'épuration ou de boues issues de centres de traitement de gadoues de fosses septiques