On October 16, 2025, the phosphorus recycling plant of the RePhoR joint project R-Rhenania was officially inaugurated in Altenstadt (Upper Bavaria). Around 200 guests, including high-ranking representatives from science, politics, and industry, attended the celebration hosted by Emter GmbH.

The facility operated by Emter GmbH implements for the first time on an industrial scale the process developed within the R-Rhenania project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education, Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). It processes up to 50,000 tonnes of dried sewage sludge per year and produces 15,000 tonnes of phosphate fertilizer. The product R-Rhenania Phosphate already meets the requirements of the Sewage Sludge Ordinance, which from 2029 onwards will make phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge mandatory in Germany.

The thermochemical R-Rhenania process, based on the AshDec® technology developed by the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), converts poorly soluble phosphorus into a plant-available form. At the same time, pollutants such as cadmium, lead, and mercury are removed and safely separated. The high fertilizing efficiency of the recycled product has been confirmed in pot and field trials, including under organic farming conditions.

In his welcoming address, Bavarian Minister of Science Markus Blume emphasized the importance of the plant for resource security: “Turning waste into resources – the Altenstadt plant demonstrates how high-tech and sustainability can go hand in hand. Phosphorus is an indispensable nutrient that we will now be able to recover regionally.” The Tagesschau reported on the event (link), and additional media coverage appeared on Bayerischer Rundfunk, EUWID, and other outlets.

The accompanying program included presentations and guided tours of the new facility, focusing on topics such as phosphorus recycling in Germany, life cycle assessment, fertilizer effectiveness, and REACH registration.