Due to the steady increase in wastewater volumes as a result of strong urbanisation, stricter legal requirements for wastewater treatment and greater awareness of the need to protect water resources, Slovenia and globally are facing an increase in the generation of wastewater sludge from sewage treatment plants. This sewage sludge is generated in the wastewater treatment process, raising the need to treat and dispose it appropriately. Three key objectives are set in the sewage sludge treatment phase: stabilisation, mineralisation and hygienisation. These processes achieve a state of sewage sludge that can be safely used or disposed of. The construction sector represents one of the sustainable uses of waste sludge, where a circular economy and efficient resource management are being established. In terms of a sustainable approach to the management of sewage sludge, various uses are opening up, one of which is its use in geotechnical composites. This represents an innovative solution that not only reduces the waste burden but also contributes to building sustainable constructions aimed at reducing the environmental footprint and promoting responsible resource management. The thesis comprehensively deals with the origin of waste sludge, its properties and its treatment in wastewater treatment plants. It focuses on the complex challenge of sewage sludge management and highlights its potential applicability in civil engineering, in particular in the design of geotechnical composites, and the legislative framework for the use of such materials in Slovenia.
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