Waste water treatment plant

The phosphorus revolution begins in our sewers

How can what we flush down the drain make the global food system more sustainable? The answer can be found in the small German town of Schkopau, where the world’s first Ash2Phos-plant will recover phosphorus by turning sewage sludge ash into valuable agricultural nutrients.

03 Jun 2025
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Phosphorus is an essential part of our food system, used as a nutrient in both animal feed and crop fertiliser.

– In a few decades, the world will be home to 10 billion people. To feed a growing planet, we need a stable supply of phosphorus. But today, phosphorus production leaves a huge environmental and climate footprint. That’s why we need to look down our drains for alternative sources, says Anna Lundbom, Managing Director of PGS.

Traditionally mined from phosphate rock, the production of phosphorus causes large emissions and is often linked to environmental and human rights challenges. With only one single phosphorus mine within its territory, Europe also relies on importing phosphorus from countries like Russia.

– Our sewers offer a rich supply of phosphorus. With our Ash2Phos technology, we can recover this precious nutrient from wastewater and provide farmers with high-quality phosphorus, but without unnecessary climate emissions, says Anna.

The Ash2Phos technology, a patented innovation developed by EasyMining, extracts phosphorus from incinerated sewage sludge. The Ash2Phos plant in Schkopau is the result of Phosphorgewinnung Schkopau GmbH, a joint venture between EasyMining and the German infrastructure and utility company Gelsenwasser, supported in part by investment from the European Commission’s Just Transition Fund.

"The Ash2Phos plant in Schkopau represents a true paradigm shift in phosphorus production.”

Anna Lundbom,
Managing Director of Phosphorgewinnung Schkopau (PGS)

Detailed planning of the facility and procurement of equipment is now in full swing, with operations scheduled to begin in early 2027.  Once up and running, the plant will have the capacity to produce 15,000 tonnes of calcium phosphate per year.

– The Ash2Phos technology allows us to produce phosphorus of higher quality than the same product from traditional mines, but at a lower environmental cost and without the supply risks and price volatility associated with import dependency, says Anna. 

The process of extracting phosphorus from sewage sludge ash also generates marketable by-products such as ferric chloride, sodium aluminate, and silica sand, making the Schkopau plant a sustainable source of valuable raw materials for a wide range of applications.

– A circular future is best shaped together. We are very happy to be on this journey together with Gelsenwasser. The Ash2Phos plant in Schkopau represents a real paradigm shift in phosphorus production, says Anna Lundbom.  


This article was originally published in Ragn-Sells Group Sustainability Report 2024.

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