**Wastewater sludge handling in Europe*(review of foreign publications)***

Summary

A review of foreign literature on wastewater sludge treatment and utilization is presented. Regulatory requirements to wastewater treatment facilities operation in EC countries are given. Total characteristic of wastewater sludge is given together with sludge treatment methods (chemical stabilization, anaerobic and aerobic digestion, dewatering, thermal drying etc.), ways of utilization (storage, incineration, agricultural use, pyrolysis, gasification, wet oxidation etc.)

Key words

sludge , activated sludge , sewerage treatment facilities , heavy metals , organic substances , sludge utilization