Germany has officially launched construction on its first full-scale phosphorus recovery plant, marking a major step toward a more self-sufficient and sustainable Europe. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 26 May 2025 in Schkopau, Saxony-Anhalt, where the new facility will produce RevoCaP—a clean phosphorus product derived from sewage sludge using EasyMining’s Ash2Phos technology.
Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for agriculture, yet Europe remains almost entirely reliant on imports, particularly from countries like Russia and Morocco. By recycling phosphorus domestically, the Schkopau plant is set to strengthen food security and reduce external dependency, while supporting the EU’s transition to a circular economy.
The Ash2Phos process enables recovery of over 90% of the phosphorus from sewage sludge ash. It also captures other useful substances such as iron, aluminium chemicals—used again in sewage treatment—and sand. Unlike methods that simply immobilise or dilute pollutants, this technology efficiently extracts them from material cycles.
"If we are serious about creating a sustainable society, we need to reuse the resources we have already extracted over and over again. This is especially true for critical raw materials, such as phosphorus," said Ragn-Sells Group CEO Lars Lindén.
It will be the world’s first phosphorus recovery facility operating with Ash2Phos technology
The European Commission recently approved RevoCaP for use in organic farming. It can also serve as a conventional fertiliser, meeting the purity standards for animal feed. However, EU regulations dating back to the BSE crisis still prohibit the use of recycled phosphorus in feed, despite the risk being eliminated by modern treatment. In the Ash2Phos method, sludge is incinerated, destroying all pathogens before the phosphorus is extracted.
Germany is the first country in Europe to legally mandate phosphorus recovery. From 2029, sewage treatment plants will be required to reclaim most of the phosphorus in sewage sludge. The Schkopau facility is expected to play a key role in meeting this requirement and could become a model for large-scale nutrient recovery across the EU.
"With this investment, we’re closing the loop on one of agriculture’s most vital resources. The Schkopau plant will reduce Europe’s reliance on imports and contribute to more sustainable and independent food production," added Jan Svärd, CEO of EasyMining.
The plant is being built by Phosphorgewinnung Schkopau (PGS), a joint venture between EasyMining—part of the Ragn-Sells Group—and German infrastructure and utility company Gelsenwasser. Located on the DOW ValueParks site, the plant will process 30,000 tonnes of sewage sludge ash annually and is slated to begin operations in 2027.
It will be the world’s first phosphorus recovery facility operating with Ash2Phos technology. A second plant using the same process is already planned for Helsingborg, Sweden, with an expected launch in 2028.
