Lords call for multi-sector action to cut nitrogen pollution

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee has called on the Government to produce a holistic nitrogen strategy within the next two years, after its inquiry found that a piecemeal approach to nitrogen management and regulation has led to an ineffective regulatory framework, with poor enforcement.

The peers argued there are “dangerous health, environmental and economic impacts of nitrogen pollution in England caused mainly by agriculture, sewage, transport and industry”. They recommended a circular economy approach to nitrogen management be promptly implemented.

As far as the wastewater sector specifically is concerned, the Committee called for:

• Collaboration between wastewater and agriculture to implement upstream catchment-based and nature-based approaches, while exploring further opportunities for innovative waste management.

• Better monitoring and reporting of emissions to air and water from wastewater treatment plants, including nutrient loads from storm overflows. This should be teamed with nitrogen reduction targets to increase the accountability of stakeholders. 

• Clarified roles and responsibilities for those involved in nutrient management in wastewater.

• Support for the expansion of nutrient recovery technologies, including as part of infrastructure upgrade spending over 2025 to 2030.

The Lords’ report, Nitrogen: time to reduce, recycle, reuse, made separate recommendations for agriculture, transport and industry.