In the U.S., over 23,900 wastewater treatment plants process the wastewater generated by 267 million residents. A significant byproduct of this process is sewage sludge, which is further processed to become biosolids. As a result, utilities generate approximately 6.26 million dry metric tons of biosolids each year. Due to their high nutrient content, biosolids are used in various ways: They can be applied to farmland as a soil amendment, converted into commercial fertilizer, incinerated, or disposed of in landfills.
However, traditional disposal and reuse methods are facing increasing restrictions, leading to a fundamental transformation in the management of municipal biosolids. Growing public concern over contaminants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, is limiting land application, while aging incineration facilities require expensive upgrades or may be decommissioned. At the same time, rising hauling costs and landfill disposal fees are putting considerable economic pressure on utilities. These factors are prompting utilities to reevaluate conventional biosolids management approaches.
In this changing landscape, companies are reforming biosolids management by implementing more cost-effective treatment solutions, exploring innovative delivery models to enhance infrastructure capacity, and advancing new technologies that could reshape future disposal options.
This Insight Report provides a thorough analysis of the U.S. municipal biosolids management market, offering a comprehensive overview of market trends, forecasts, competitive dynamics, and profiles of leading companies.
Table of Contents
Section 1 – Drivers & Inhibitors for Biosolids Management
- Biosolids: An Output of Sludge Processing
- Biosolids Management Market Drivers
- Biosolids Management Pathways
- National Overview of U.S. Biosolids Management
- Regional Overview of U.S. Biosolids Management
- Agricultural Land Spreading is the Primary Biosolids Management Strategy
- Class A EQ Biosolids Production
- Diminishing Landfill Capacity Reduces Availability for Biosolids Disposal
- Steadily Rising Tipping Fees Increase Landfill Disposal Costs
- Incineration Provides a Regionally Significant Biosolids Outlet
- Digestion/Biogas Production—an Intermediate Beneficial Use for Biosolids
- Alternative Delivery Methods are Common for Biosolids Facilities
- Outsourcing Biosolids Management
- PFAS Currently Dominates Emerging Contaminants Concerns
- State Policy Overview – PFAS in Biosolids
- CERCLA Designation Further Complicates Biosolids Disposal
- Emerging Technologies for Biosolids Disposal
Section 2 – U.S. Biosolids Market Sizing & Forecasts
- Biosolids Management Market Model Structure
- Market Snapshot – Current Municipal Spend on Biosolids Management
- The Big Picture: Key Opportunities in the U.S. Municipal Biosolids Market
- Hot Spots – U.S. Municipal Biosolids Management Regional Forecasts
- Wild Cards – Potential Game Changers for Municipal Biosolids Management
Section 3 – Key Biosolids Market Players and Company Profiles
- U.S. Municipal Biosolids Management Vendor Value Chain
- Volume Reduction is Increasingly Important for Biosolids Management
- Vendor Portfolios: Sludge Dewatering and Drying Equipment
- Alfa Laval Group
- Cambi
- Casella Waste Systems Inc.
- Centrisys/CNP
- Denali Water Solutions
- GFL Environmental Inc.
- Komline
- Lystek International Ltd.
- Merrell Bros. Inc.
- Schwing Bioset Inc.
- Synagro Technologies Inc.
- Veolia Environment S.A.
- Waste Management Inc.
