FEAD position on the Commission proposal revision of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive
FEAD has always supported the principles of prevention and source separation in waste management because proper upstream intervention has benefits on downstream treatment.
We welcome the provisions of sludge to be treated, recycled, and recovered, whenever appropriate in accordance with the waste hierarchy, as a means to further contribute to the circular economy and to soil health, returning nutrient elements. In this regard, mainstreaming control at source of harmful pollutants is a prior condition for sustainable sludge management. A systematic monitoring of the input would lead to optimise treatment processes, both to improve the final quality of treated water and sludge, but also to avoid unnecessary treatments, thus increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
Therefore, Member States shall have sufficient leeway to comply with Article 20 of the proposal, taking into consideration the local conditions and infrastructure.
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