SNB signs Phosphate Recycling Chain Agreement

On 4 October 201, Slibverwerking Noord-Brabant (SNB) co-signed the Ketenakkoord Fosfaatkringloop (Phosphate Recycling Chain Agreement) with 19 other parties. The other signatories included the Unie van Waterschappen, LTO Nederland and the national government, represented by Minister of State Atsma. In the agreement the parties agreed to ensure that as much phosphate as possible is recycled in an environmentally responsible manner. After all, phosphates are an important raw material for food production.

Dutch sewer sludge contains more than 11000 tons of valuable phosphates. SNB processes 27% of this. SNB wants to use all of its incineration ash for the reclamation of phosphates within three years. The remnants of the sludge incineration can be used again, for example for the production of artificial fertiliser, asphalt and foods. Where SNB, as a waste processor, was initially at the end of the line, it hereby becomes a chain player that returns raw materials to the economic and ecological cycle.

The signing took place during the Innovatie-Estafette (innovation relay) in the Van Nelle design factory in Rotterdam. This Chain Agreement links the various ‘Green Deals’ – national joint ventures geared to promoting sustainability – which had been made a day earlier.
The Chain Agreement involves various sources of phosphate flows: from industry, households, livestock farming (fertiliser) to the water sector (sewers and water purification).

Waste water chain
N.V. Slibverwerking Noord-Brabant fulfils an active role as a partner in the complete waste water chain by constantly processing treatment sludge at the lowest chain costs and with minimum emissions into the environment and reclaiming the maximum quantity of energy and raw materials. SNB has proven that it offers a high quality, environmentally friendly and economically attractive solution for the processing of a ‘difficult’ waste product.