Belgian Wastewater Company Turns Sludge into Carbon-Capturing Biochar

Belgian Wastewater Company Turns Sludge into Carbon-Capturing Biochar

By
Robin Walker

Publish Date:January 22, 2026

CLICK TO
SUBSCRIBE

follow follow
Impactful Ninja is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Learn more .
Affiliate Disclosure

Hey fellow impactful ninja ?

You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.

  • Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.

  • But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.

Why do we add these product links?

First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.

And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.

What do these affiliate links mean for you?
  1. First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.

  2. When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.

  3. And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.

What do these affiliate links mean for us?
  1. When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.

  2. When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).

  3. And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.

What does this mean for me personally?

You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.

Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.

Stay impactful,

At Impactful Ninja, we curate positive and impactful news for you. Add Impactful Ninja as a preferred source on Google or sign up for our free newsletter to get these delivered straight to your inbox—just like our expert roundup below!

📰 The quick summary: Belgian wastewater treatment company Aquafin is developing a biochar project that will convert wastewater sludge into biochar, reducing over 2,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions annually.
📈 One key stat: The project will process more than 5,000 tons of sludge annually, equivalent to offsetting the heating emissions of 880 Flemish households.
💬 One key quote: “We’re seeing serious economic costs of climate change,” Barclay Rogers, Graphyte CEO

Illustration of a ninja with a newspaper with one big news

1️⃣ The big picture: Belgian wastewater specialist Aquafin has secured funding from the Helios Foundation to launch an innovative biochar project at their RWZI Menen water treatment facility. The initiative will convert sludge byproducts from wastewater treatment into carbon-rich biochar through a new drying and pyrolysis plant. This collaborative effort with partners Ebema, D-CRBN, and Stadsbader Group aims to process over 5,000 tons of sludge yearly, producing approximately 600 tons of biochar. Beyond creating a valuable product, the project represents a significant step toward sustainable waste management and carbon reduction in Belgium’s water treatment sector.

2️⃣ Why is this good news: The biochar project tackles two environmental challenges simultaneously by transforming waste into a valuable carbon-sequestering resource. Once operational, it will reduce over 2,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually while capturing an additional 640 tons of CO2 in the biochar itself – equivalent to what a 25-tree forest absorbs yearly. The local value chain created through partnership with three companies ensures the biochar will have practical applications beyond carbon reduction. Aquafin’s initiative demonstrates how existing infrastructure can be adapted to advance climate goals while maintaining essential public services in wastewater management.

3️⃣ What’s next: The biochar produced at the Menen site will be made available to interested buyers in the region. Aquafin and its partners will also deploy pilot projects to test the biochar’s applications across their respective operations. These efforts aim to create a sustainable local value chain that maximizes the environmental and economic benefits of the project.

Illustration of a ninja holding up a newsletter with many good news

Read the full story here: Carbon Herald – Belgian Wastewater Treatment Expert Aquafin To Develop A Biochar Project

Photo of author
Did you like this article?

Get the 5-minute newsletter that makes reading impactful news enjoyable—packed with actionable insights to make a positive impact in your daily life.

Newsletter Form - After Content
0