Roadmap for Australian wastewater nutrient recovery – Towards a sustainable circular economy

Abstract

Tapping into wastewater for nutrient recovery is largely missing from water policy and circular economy (CE) conversations, and in particular, its incorporation of machine learning (ML). Past nutrient roadmap studies have either ignored or largely unaccounted for advancements in AI and ML for CE wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). This nutrient roadmap paper provides technology and ML evaluation guidance, data collection practices to prime the industry for smarter treatment processes, financial opportunities and assessments, social acceptance drivers, and guidance on navigating the current environmental and regulatory landscape for the implementation of ML CE WWTPs. Finally, further policy improvements are needed surrounding CE WWTPs to incentivise local production and recycling of critical nutrients (i.e. phosphorus) which would support the creation of new economic growth opportunities, meet environmental targets while securing and stabilising food supply chains