Background Since the implementation of the 91/27³/EEC Directive on Urban Waste Water Treatment, the amount of sludge generated in the EU has increased dramatically. This trend is expected to continue, with sludge output rising from 7 million tonnes/yr to 20 million tonnes/yr in the next decade. The general principles for the management of sewage sludge are stated in many national and European laws. These principles are based on the privileging, as far as possible, of actions of treatment, valorisation and recovery of the matter. Furthermore, these should not present a threat to human health or the environment. This is in line with sustainable development policy. Current processes of elimination or treatment of the sewage sludge – which include incineration, burial and spreading - are no longer adequate to deal with its constantly increasing volume. Objectives Research into matter cycles and matter re-use needs to develop a new, environmentally friendly industrial process of elimination, treatment and valorisation of sewage sludge. To this end, FINAXO has developed a new process for heat treatment and energy recovery of organic waste by pyrogasification - Pyrobio. This LIFE project aims to develop the patented Pyrobio process at an industrial scale. It seeks to build on laboratory work and previous tests with the residual liquors resulting from the distillation of beets to demonstrate its adaptability and transferability to other organic waste - sewage sludge. The project hopes to show that the Pyrobio system fulfils the requirements of sustainable development and integrated management of resources. Part of this will be the re-use of gas produced from the heating process as energy in a closed circuit. The main objectives of the project are: A 20% reduction in the cost of the treatment, elimination or valorisation of sludge coming from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP); To reduce polluting emissions from treatment processes and totally eliminate CO2 through the complete digestion of treated organic materials; A 20% reduction in residual waste from coke; A 10% reduction in residual waste from tar; and To achieve energy self-sufficiency for the process – an estimated increase in energy production of 20-30%. Finally, the project will work to increase the awareness of citizens on the treatment and valorisation of sludge from WWTP so that there is better acceptance of these plants. Similarly, work will be undertaken with WWTP managers to increase their knowledge of this new process.