Bavaria’s groundbreaking plant turns sewage sludge into premium phosphorus fertilizer

From waste to wealth: How one German plant is revolutionizing farming with recycled phosphorus. The EU’s strict rules could soon make this the norm.

, and Administrator

2025 December 1 . 1:04 PM

1 min read

In this image, I can see soil with the tiny particles. In the bottom left corner of the image,... — In this image, I can see soil with the tiny particles. In the bottom left corner of the image, there are leaves.

Bavaria’s groundbreaking plant turns sewage sludge into premium phosphorus fertilizer

A new plant in Upper Bavaria has become the first in Germany to turn sewage sludge into high-quality phosphate fertilizer on an industrial scale. The facility, run by Emter GmbH in Altenstadt, will produce 15,000 tons of fertilizer each year—cutting reliance on foreign imports.

The plant processes up to 50,000 tons of dried sewage sludge annually. Using a thermochemical method, sodium carbonate is added to the sludge before treatment, converting phosphorus into a form plants can absorb. The final product, named R-Rhenania phosphate, complies with Germany’s updated Sewage Sludge Ordinance, which will require phosphorus recovery from all sludge by 2029.

The plant will supply 15,000 tons of phosphorus fertilizer yearly to Bavarian farmers. Its process meets upcoming legal requirements and reduces the need for foreign phosphate. Registration under EU rules and organic certification will determine its broader market availability.