Effective and Sustainable Treatment of Municipal andIndustrial Sludges Using Advanced Anaerobic Digestion: APolish Case Study

Rzepecki, T., Mukawa, J., Traa, L. P., Sahu, A. K. 

The 19th IWA Conference on Sludge Management Toward material cycle and low carbon society (2025)

Abstract

The Tarnów wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Poland has adopted advanced anaerobic digestion (AAD) incorporating thermal hydrolysis (THP) and lower thermophilic digestion to sustainably manage municipal and industrial sludge. The installation of CambiTHP enabled the facility to reduce sludge volume, increase biogas production, and improve biosolid quality, allowing for safe land reclamation. Following operational challenges with mesophilic digestion and cooling limitations, the plant transitioned in 2022 to lower thermophilic digestion (43-48°C) in series, a change that has since become standard. Tarnów now serves as a regional sludge treatment center, accepting sludge from over 77 WWTPs and 41 municipalities. Energy recovery covers over 50% of electricity demand and 100% of thermal needs. This paper presents a full-scale, operational case study highlighting how process upgrades and strategic changes can enhance sustainability, capacity, and community acceptance in sludge management. 

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