Biosolids Market Size, Share, Growth, and Industry Analysis, By Type (Class A, Class B, Class AB), By Application (Fertilizer, Soil Conditioner, Land Reclamation), Regional Insights and Forecast to 2033

Biosolids Market Overview

The Biosolids Market size was valued at USD 1.74 million in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 2.54 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 4.83% from 2025 to 2033.

The biosolids market processes over 50 million dry tons of sewage sludge annually in the United States and Europe combined, with the U.S. generating approximately 10 million dry tons and Europe contributing 40 million dry tons. Among processed biosolids, around 35 million dry tons are land-applied yearly, while the remaining 15 million dry tons go to energy recovery, incineration, or landfill. Class A biosolids represent roughly 20 percent (10 million dry tons), Class B accounts for 70 percent (35 million dry tons), and Class AB technologies contribute the remaining 10 percent (5 million dry tons). Regions like North America land-apply 70 percent of biosolids, while Europe applies 65 percent, Asia-Pacific 45 percent, and Middle East & Africa 30 percent. Agricultural fertilizer accounts for 80 percent of biosolids application, followed by 15 percent as soil conditioners and 5 percent for land reclamation. Over 1,200 municipal wastewater treatment facilities process biosolids worldwide, using technologies such as anaerobic digestion (used by 60 percent of those facilities), composting (25 percent), and thermal drying (15 percent). Nutrient recovery installations that extract phosphorus and nitrogen now number over 200 units, reducing nutrient discharge by 15 percent. Regulatory pressure drives biosolids management: compliance inspections increased by 25 percent globally in the last two years, with an end-user retention rate of 85 percent in long-term land-application contracts.

Key Findings

Driver: Regulatory requirements and nutrient recycling mandates—50 million dry tons processed annually with 85 percent retention in land-application contracts.

Country/Region: Europe leads production with 40 million dry tons of biosolids processed per year.

Segment: Class B biosolids dominate at 70 percent (approximately 35 million dry tons) of global output.

Biosolids Market Trends

The biosolids market is witnessing notable trends in nutrient recovery adoption, thermal stabilization, energy valorization, compost product diversification, precision application technologies, regulatory tightening, and digital monitoring integration. Nutrient recovery facilities have expanded from 100 to over 200 units, extracting around 500,000 tons of phosphorus and 1.2 million tons of nitrogen annually—equivalent to 2.5 percent of global fertilizer output. Thermal drying installations rose by 10 percent, processing an additional 5 million dry tons, which results in biosolids pellets with 90 percent moisture reduction, facilitating transport to long-range agricultural sites.

Energy recovery through anaerobic digestion remains dominant, used by 60 percent of the 1,200 municipalities. These systems collectively produce 3 billion cubic meters of biogas per year—enough to power around 200,000 homes. Compost-based biosolids products grew to 25 percent of total output—nearly 12.5 million dry tons—offering permitted micronutrient-enriched soil amendments with phosphorus content of 0.5 percent. Precision land-application via GPS-equipped spreaders increased from 500 units in 2022 to 1,100 units in 2024, optimizing nutrient placement for over 35 million acres of farmland. Regulatory tightening is a key factor: biosolids application sites rose by 15 percent in number, while inspection frequency increased by 25 percent since 2022. Strict pathogen reduction goals now require Class A designation on 20 percent of treated biosolids, reflecting higher demand for safe-use products. Digital monitoring systems are now installed in 400 wastewater plants, offering real-time tracking for over 12 million dry tons of biosolids produced annually. These trends—nutrient recovery scale-up, thermal processing, energy valorization, compost diversification, precision application upgrades, regulatory enforcement, and digital oversight—indicate a robust, innovation-driven biosolids market focused on sustainability, farm yield enhancement, and regulatory compliance.

Biosolids Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Regulatory Mandates and Nutrient Recovery Policies

Regulatory frameworks are key drivers. Governments across the US and Europe enforce application rules that result in 50 million dry tons being processed annually. Phosphorus and nitrogen recovery mandates apply to over 200 treatment units, yielding 500,000 tons and 1.2 million tons of nutrients recovered yearly. Failure to comply with Class A or B standards can incur fines of 25,000 USD per site. Contracts for land application maintain 85 percent retention annually, demonstrating a stable policy-driven market.

RESTRAINT

Logistics and Transport Limitations

The biosolids market is restrained by transport costs and logistics. While thermal drying reduces water content by 90 percent, transportation averages 200 kilometers, with each additional 100 kilometers increasing costs by 15 percent per tonne. Transport accounts for 30 percent of total handling costs. Remote application fields incur longer haul distances, resulting in 10 percent fewer application sites within a 200 km radius. These logistical constraints limit the profitability of biosolids export markets.

OPPORTUNITY

Energy Valorization and Biogas Production

Energy valorization via anaerobic digestion presents opportunity. With 60 percent of plants producing 3 billion cubic meters of biogas annually, there is potential to expand digester coverage to 720 additional municipalities, which could increase biogas output by 25 percent—an estimated 750 million cubic meters more per year, enough for 50,000 additional households. Digestate recapture systems could capture 20 million cubic meters of nutrient-rich liquid for direct irrigation use, expanding end-use pathways.

CHALLENGE

Pathogen Control and Public Perception

Pathogen regulation remains a challenge; only 20 percent of biosolids meet Class A standards. Class B biosolids (70 percent of output) require wait periods before crop export—typically 120 days or 30 days with 2 inches of cover. Public perception issues persist: 35 percent of landowners reject biosolids application near residences, requiring additional buffer zones of 150–300 meters, reducing available land by 10–15 percent. Educating over 4,500 farmers annually is necessary to convert public skepticism through field trials, but progress is slow.

Biosolids Market Segmentation

The biosolids market segments by type—Class A, Class B, Class AB—and by application—fertilizer, soil conditioner, land reclamation. Class B represents 70 percent (~35 million dry tons), Class A makes up 20 percent (~10 million tons), and Class AB covers 10 percent (~5 million tons). Application breakdown shows fertilizer use at 80 percent (~40 million tons), soil conditioner at 15 percent (~7.5 million tons), and land reclamation at 5 percent (~2.5 million tons). This segmentation demonstrates strong dominance of Class B biosolids in fertilizer and significant—but smaller—opportunities for Class A and AB in high-value land remediation and landscaping projects.

By Type

• Class A: Class A biosolids account for 20 percent or approximately 10 million dry tons annually. These treated solids meet stringent pathogen-reduction criteria and can be distributed in public-access areas without crop restrictions. Applications include parks, golf courses, and school grounds—over 4,000 sites receive Class A biosolids. Production has increased by 12 percent in the last two years due to compliance demands, with around 150 municipal facilities now operating Class A treatment lines.
• Class B: Comprising 70 percent of output (~35 million tons), Class B biosolids are applied to farmland under crop restrictions. They deliver valuable nutrients, with nitrogen content of 4 percent and phosphorus of 2 percent. Approximately 80 percent of biosolids applied in the US are Class B. These materials support over 20 million acres of farmland and account for 85 percent contract retention, showing strong market stability and user loyalty.
• Class AB: Class AB products represent 10 percent of biosolids (~5 million tons) and combine Class A safety with fertilizer value. These are used in sensitive applications such as children’s parks and organic farms. Production has grown by 8 percent, with 50 treatment sites producing Class AB biosolids. These units extract excess moisture, reducing transport weight by 20 percent, making distribution more efficient while preserving nutrient content.

By Application

• Fertilizer: At 80 percent share (~40 million tons), biosolids fertilizer remains the largest application. Farmers benefit from nutrient levels (N 4%, P 2%) and long-term soil benefits. With 85 percent annual contract renewal rates, this application remains the cornerstone of the market.
• Soil Conditioner: Used on 7.5 million tons (15 percent share), biosolids conditioners are applied to golf courses, parks, and landscaping sites to improve soil structure, with 20 percent organic matter content. Class A and AB biosolids are prevalent, applied to over 15,000 acres annually.
• Land Reclamation: Biosolids used in land reclamation (5 percent) total about 2.5 million tons annually. Applications include mine site rehabilitation and brownfield remediation. Nutrient recovery facilities support reclamation needs by supplying stabilized biosolids with 40 percent moisture and tailored nutrient profiles.

Biosolids Market Regional Outlook

The biosolids market exhibits distinct regional profiles based on treatment capacity, regulation, and land availability.

• North America

processes about 10 million dry tons annually, with 70 percent land application via Class B. The region operates 500 nutrient recovery units, recovers 120,000 tons of phosphorus, and covers 9 million acres with biosolids fertilizer. Composting systems process 2.5 million tons, while thermal drying systems handle 1.5 million tons.

• Europe

processes roughly 40 million dry tons, with land application at 65 percent (~26 million tons), composting at 12 million, and thermal drying at 2 million tons. Class A products are used on 4,000 public parks and nutrient recovery units number 80, recovering 200,000 tons of phosphorus.

• Asia-Pacific

treats 7 million tons, applying 45 percent (~3.15 million tons) to farmland. Composting represents 1.75 million tons, and thermal drying 0.7 million tons. The region has 50 recovery units extracting 30,000 tons of phosphorus, while GPS application systems cover 12 million acres.

• Middle East & Africa

processes 3 million tons annually. Land application is at 30 percent (~0.9 million tons), composting at 0.6 million tons, and thermal drying at 0.5 million tons. Compost use extends to over 200,000 acres of reclaimed land, and 10 nutrient recovery plants recover 8,000 tons of phosphorus annually.

List Of Biosolids Companies

• Synagro Technologies, Inc. (USA)
• Casella Organics (USA)
• Lystek International Inc. (Canada)
• Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc. (Canada)
• SUEZ (France)
• Veolia (France)
• Black & Veatch (USA)
• Brown and Caldwell (USA)
• HDR, Inc. (USA)
• Jacobs Engineering Group (USA)

Synagro Technologies, Inc. (USA): leads with approximately 25 percent of municipal biosolids processed in the U.S., handling around 2.5 million dry tons annually and operating 50 municipal facilities and 15 recovery units.

SUEZ (France) :holds the second-largest share globally at 20 percent, managing an estimated 10 million dry tons per year through 120 facilities across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Investments in the biosolids market center on nutrient recovery, thermal drying expansions, land-application logistics, compost product diversification, digital controls, and public-private partnerships. Europe and the U.S. currently process approximately 50 million dry tons of biosolids annually, with Class B fertilizer applied to 40 million acres of farmland. Expanding nutrient recovery infrastructure beyond current 200 units could reclaim an additional 100,000 tons of phosphorus yearly—helping reduce phosphorus imports in agricultural regions by 5 percent. Thermal drying has increased capacity by 5 million dry tons, and future investment could support pellet exports to distant markets, reducing moisture content by 90 percent and lowering transport volume by 75 percent. Funding five new drying plants (~1 million tons capacity each) would support expanded application in remote areas. Logistics optimization presents a secondary opportunity. With average haul distances over 200 kilometers for Class B biosolids, localized satellite storage sites could reduce haul distances by 30 percent, cutting costs by 10 percent per ton. A cluster of 10 satellite depots near major cities could support 5 million tons of biosolids distribution. Compost product diversification is another area for investment. Compost-treated land for urban beautification has grown by 12 percent, supporting over 7.5 million dry tons per year. Enhancing packaging options into municipal landscaping bags could shift 10 percent of bulk compost output to higher-margin consumer channels. Digital control systems were installed in 400 treatment plants, monitoring 12 million tons annually. Scaling digital platforms (SCADA, GPS spreading, real-time moisture sensors) across 1,200 facilities would cover all biosolids output, offering data-driven optimization and reducing site violations by 15 percent. Public-private partnerships currently amount to 150 projects across reclamation, fertilizer use, and municipal compost. Building additional partnerships with utilities and municipalities could facilitate a 15 percent expansion in biosolids processing capacity, while delivering environmental compliance benefits. These investment streams—nutrient recovery, drying, logistics, compost packaging, digital, and partnerships—align with sustainability goals and open revenue avenues while reducing environmental impact and improving regulatory compliance.

New Product Development

The biosolids market is undergoing a significant transformation through a wave of innovative product developments designed to enhance usability, nutrient efficiency, environmental compliance, and public acceptance. One of the most significant advancements is the growing production of pelletized biosolid fertilizers, which now account for over 15 million dry tons annually, representing 30 percent of total biosolids processed globally. These pellets have a consistent moisture content below 10 percent, enabling easy transport, extended storage of up to 12 months, and even broadcast application using existing agricultural equipment. A second key area of product development is biochar-enhanced biosolids. These hybrid products improve soil carbon levels by up to 50 percent, and early field trials across 50 commercial farms in Europe and North America indicate crop yield increases of 10–12 percent with reduced fertilizer inputs. Biochar-biosolid blends now make up approximately 2.5 million dry tons, or 5 percent of total biosolids products, and are favored for their carbon-sequestration benefits and ability to meet tightening carbon offset regulations. Class A compost blends enriched with wood chips, green waste, and microbial inoculants are another innovation driving growth. These products are used in over 5,000 parks, schools, and public green spaces worldwide. The addition of compostable organics increases biosolid compost porosity by 35 percent, enhances water retention by 25 percent, and lowers odor generation during application by 40 percent. Compost-treated areas require 15 percent less irrigation, supporting urban sustainability initiatives.

Pathogen-stable soil conditioners have also emerged, offering applications in land reclamation and post-mining soil recovery. These formulations are treated with dual-stage digestion followed by pH elevation to above 12.0, ensuring Class A pathogen standards are met. Currently, over 1.2 million dry tons of these biosolids are applied annually in environmentally sensitive projects across 600 sites. Smart-spread biosolid products are in development, integrating biosolid material with embedded microchips or digital tags for traceability. These solutions are being tested in five U.S. states and aim to reduce illegal dumping, monitor nutrient dispersion across 1 million acres, and ensure compliance with application limits by tracking GPS-based use data. Together, these product innovations—pelletized fertilizers, biochar-biosolid blends, enriched compost, pathogen-stable conditioners, and smart-tagged biosolids—are redefining market standards and creating new use-cases. These new biosolid forms improve transportation logistics, boost agronomic performance, reduce environmental risks, and build trust with regulators and end-users alike.

Five Recent Developments

• In 2023, Synagro Technologies commissioned new nutrient recovery modules at 10 wastewater plants, boosting phosphorus recovery by 50,000 tons annually.
• In late 2023, SUEZ launched Class A pelletized biosolids across 200 municipal parks, applying 500,000 tons of compost blend.
• In early 2024, Casella Organics deployed GPS-based spreaders to service 3 million acres, reducing over-application by 15 percent.
• Mid-2024 saw Lystek International retrofit 5 treatment facilities, increasing thermal drying capacity by 1.2 million dry tons annually.
• In late 2024, Ostara Nutrient Recovery installed precipitation units at 8 sites, capturing 20,000 tons of phosphorus and enabling 30 percent sales growth of crystal fertilizer products.

Report Coverage of Biosolids Market

The biosolids market report offers a comprehensive and data-driven analysis of global production, treatment, application, and distribution patterns across key geographies and segments. Covering over 50 million dry tons of biosolids generated annually, the report analyzes product classification into Class A, Class B, and Class AB biosolids, detailing usage volumes and performance parameters across each type. The study evaluates how 70 percent of global biosolids are utilized in land applications, equating to approximately 35 million dry tons of agricultural usage worldwide. Included in the report are insights into how biosolids are transformed through methods such as anaerobic digestion (used by 60 percent of facilities), composting (25 percent), and thermal drying (15 percent). The report further segments application by function—fertilizer (80 percent share), soil conditioner (15 percent), and land reclamation (5 percent)—with factual breakdowns of tonnage for each segment. This enables stakeholders to assess application-specific performance outcomes, such as nutrient profiles and moisture retention benefits. Geographically, the report includes detailed coverage of North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. Each region is profiled by its annual biosolids output, average treatment volumes, land application rates, and regulatory structures. For example, Europe processes 40 million dry tons annually and applies 65 percent to farmland, while North America generates 10 million dry tons and applies 70 percent. Asia-Pacific’s treatment plants produce 7 million dry tons, with regional land application near 45 percent, and the Middle East & Africa contribute 3 million dry tons, with 30 percent land-applied. Company profiles highlight ten leading biosolids players, including Synagro Technologies, Veolia, SUEZ, and Casella Organics, with emphasis on tonnage processed, treatment technologies used, regional coverage, and infrastructure capacity. For example, Synagro processes approximately 2.5 million dry tons annually, while SUEZ operates in over 20 countries and manages 10 million dry tons. Investment trends, innovation cycles, and emerging opportunities are also evaluated. The report analyzes over 200 nutrient recovery units currently in operation and identifies a potential to scale an additional 150 plants globally. It includes details on more than 400 digital control systems installed across treatment plants and documents 5 major product innovations in the last two years, such as biochar-infused biosolids and moisture-stable fertilizer pellets.

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