8. Conclusion

Sewage sludge management lies at the intersection of environmental, economic, and social considerations.

Given the wide variety of sources and characteristics of sludge, there is no one-size-fits-all solution: each disposal or recovery method has its own advantages, constraints, and limitations, which require an approach tailored to each region and regulatory context.

The development of innovative solutions — —such as energy recovery, reuse in agriculture under strict conditions, and advanced processing methods — —opens up promising avenues for reducing the environmental impact of sludge and promoting its integration into material and energy cycles.