Getting to Grips With Grit: Opportunities For Circular Economy in Scotland

Grit recovery in wastewater treatment offers an opportunity to realise additional value from wastewater residuals and an important opportunity to introduce Circular Economy in bioresources and residuals recovery - recognising global finite resources of mineral sands and the social, economic, environmental and carbon costs of extraction. The benefits of reusing grit are of increasing interest in Europe, in particular given increasing disposal costs, tightening regulation on organics to landfills and carbon impact of the current predominant landfill disposal route. This paper provides a case study from Scotland, United Kingdom where reuse options for grit from wastewater treatment are evaluated. It reviews current practice in beneficial grit reuse and presents outcomes for potential reuse opportunities and considerations, presenting case study cost and carbon impacts and regulatory framework considerations. Recommendations and opportunities for recognising the grit value chain are provided for the case study in context of the emerging Circular Economy.