LIFE RE-Fertilize

The project was completed in December 2022, with the main objective of proving that EasyMining’s technology could provide a more sustainable approach to nitrogen management by recovering valuable nutrients instead of allowing them to be lost as waste.

The technology was tested through demonstration trials in real operational environments at two different locations: BIOFOS’s Lynetten wastewater treatment plant in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Ragn-Sells’ Högbytorp facility near Stockholm, Sweden. These trials successfully showed that the process could remove approximately 95% of ammonium nitrogen from wastewater.

The recovered nitrogen was converted into ammonium sulphate, which was evaluated as a fertiliser product. Testing confirmed that the recovered material had effective agronomic properties and could be used as a valuable nutrient source in agriculture.

Addressing a linear and unsustainable nitrogen system

The project addresses a major sustainability challenge linked to today’s nutrient management system. Nitrogen is an essential element for plant growth and is one of the most important nutrients used in agriculture. However, the current system is largely linear: nitrogen is produced through energy-intensive fertiliser manufacturing, used in food production, consumed by humans and animals, and eventually released through wastewater. This process leads to significant nutrient losses and environmental impacts.

The accumulation of nitrogen and other nutrients in water bodies contributes to eutrophication, which damages aquatic ecosystems. At the same time, conventional nitrogen fertiliser production and wastewater treatment require large amounts of energy and chemicals and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and ammonia emissions, which can cause further environmental problems such as acidification.

From wastewater to a circular fertiliser resource

The LIFE RE-Fertilize project demonstrated the potential of a circular approach, where nitrogen from wastewater can be recovered and reused as a fertiliser resource. By recycling nutrients back into agriculture, the technology could help reduce dependence on traditional mineral fertilisers, lower environmental impacts, and support a more sustainable nutrient cycle.

Project results and legacy

The successful completion of the project was officially approved in June 2023 by CINEA, the governing body responsible for managing projects under the EU LIFE Programme. The results of LIFE RE-Fertilize demonstrate the potential of nitrogen recovery technologies to contribute to more sustainable wastewater treatment and resource management.