Market Forecast: Sludge Treatment Worth $5.8 B in 2013

According to a report, "Sludge Treatment: The Global Market" from BCC Research, the global market for sludge treatment technology is expected to be worth $4.6 billion in 2008. This will increase to more than $5.8 billion in 2013, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6 percent.

The market is broken down into the North American sludge treatment segment, the international sludge treatment segment, the North American odor control market, and the international odor control market. The international sludge treatment segment has the largest share of the market, worth an estimated $2.1 billion in 2008. This should increase to $2.6 billion in 2013, for a CAGR of 4.5 percent.

International odor control is the next largest segment, generating an estimated $1.2 billion in 2008. This is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5 percent to reach $1.5 billion in 2013.

The North American odor control segment is the third largest, worth an estimated $750 million in 2008 and $968.2 million in 2013, for a CAGR of 5.2 percent. The North American sludge treatment segment generated an estimated $600.0 million in 2008. This should increase to $733.8 million in 2013, for a CAGR of 4.1 percent.

Sludge is produced during the treatment of wastewater either onsite through septic tanks or off-site through activated sludge plants. Untreated sludge, stored for a long time, produces offensive odors that require treatment.

The quantity of wastewater being treated and the quality of wastewater treatment results in increasing amount of sludge. The treatment requirements concerning sludge neutralization and storage are growing worldwide. As a result of these increasing requirements, sludge treatment, management and sludge reuse technologies are in increasing demand. Years of negligence and poor sludge management have caused wastewater treatment facilities to cope with huge amounts of sludge or to treat sludge to meet the required standards and regulations. In response to this need, wastewater treatment facilities are becoming more technologically advanced.

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