ISO TR 20736-2021 PDF

Full title and description

ISO/TR 20736:2021 — Sludge recovery, recycling, treatment and disposal — Guidance on thermal treatment of sludge. This technical report provides recommended good practices for the thermal treatment of sludge (for example incineration and other thermal processes) arising from stormwater handling, night soil, urban wastewater collecting systems, urban wastewater treatment plants and industrial wastewater treated as urban wastewater; hazardous industrial sludges and dredged sludge are excluded.

Abstract

The report describes good practices applicable to the incineration and other thermal processes used to treat organic sludges. It excludes thermal conditioning and focuses on environmental, health and operational aspects of thermal treatment (process selection, design and operation, emissions and residuals management, energy recovery and monitoring). The document is intended to support operators, designers, regulators and other stakeholders involved in sludge thermal treatment.

General information

• Status: Published (International Technical Report).
• Publication date: 26 July 2021 (ISO publication stage: published July 26, 2021).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.030.20 — Liquid wastes. Sludge.
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (First edition, 2021).
• Number of pages: English version 90 pages; French version 96 pages (document page counts differ by language edition).

Scope

Applies to non-hazardous sludges originating from storm water handling, night soil, urban wastewater collection systems, urban wastewater treatment plants and industrial wastewaters assimilated to urban wastewater. The report covers guidance on thermal treatment options (including incineration and other organic-matter-focused thermal processes), operational and environmental considerations, emissions control, residuals (ash) management and energy recovery. It explicitly excludes thermal conditioning processes and hazardous industrial sludges and dredged material.

Key topics and requirements

• Overview of thermal treatment technologies relevant to sludge (incineration, thermal oxidation, related processes).
• Sludge characterisation requirements (physical, chemical and biological parameters) to inform treatment choice and control.
• Design and operational good practices for thermal systems, including feed handling, combustion control and safety.
• Emission control and monitoring guidance to manage air pollutants and protect public health.
• Energy recovery opportunities and considerations for efficiency and sustainability.
• Management of residues (ash) and guidance for safe handling, reuse or disposal.
• Environmental, health and regulatory considerations; risk assessment and mitigation measures.
• Recommendations on monitoring, reporting and record-keeping to demonstrate compliance and performance.

Typical use and users

Used by wastewater treatment plant operators, process and environmental engineers, plant designers, technology suppliers, environmental consultants, regulators and policy makers. Also useful to researchers, auditors and planners assessing thermal treatment options, emissions control strategies and residual management for municipal and similar industrial sludges.

Related standards

ISO/TR 20736:2021 is part of the ISO work on sludge recovery, recycling, treatment and disposal (ISO/TC 275). Related documents and standards include sampling and handling guidance such as ISO 5667-13 (Water quality — Sampling — Guidance on sampling of sludges) and ISO 5667-15 (preservation and handling of sludge/sediment samples), as well as other ISO/TC 275 deliverables addressing characterization methods, land application and validation protocols. These related standards support consistent sampling, analysis and characterization needed for appropriate selection and operation of thermal treatments.

Keywords

sludge, biosolids, thermal treatment, incineration, sludge recovery, recycling, wastewater treatment, emissions control, ash management, energy recovery, ISO/TC 275

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/TR 20736:2021 is a technical report providing guidance on the thermal treatment of sewage and similar sludges (incineration and other thermal processes), addressing good practices for design, operation, emissions and residuals management.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers recommended practices for thermal treatment technologies applied to sludges from stormwater, night soil, urban wastewater collection and treatment, and similar industrial wastewaters. It includes guidance on sludge characterisation, process selection, operational controls, emissions monitoring, ash/residuals management and energy recovery; it excludes thermal conditioning and hazardous industrial/dredged sludge.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Operators, process and environmental engineers, plant designers, technology suppliers, regulators, consultants, researchers and policymakers involved in sludge management and thermal-treatment projects.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The report was published on 26 July 2021 and is the first edition. As of its publication it is current; users should check for any subsequent revisions, national adoptions or related newer ISO/TC 275 publications when implementing requirements.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the ISO/TC 275 programme on sludge recovery, recycling, treatment and disposal; ISO/TC 275 produces a suite of deliverables addressing terminology, characterization, land application, thermal processes, dewatering and related topics. Refer to other ISO/TC 275 documents (for example standards on sampling and characterization) for complementary guidance.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: sludge; biosolids; thermal treatment; incineration; recovery; recycling; wastewater; emissions; ash; energy recovery; ISO/TC 275.