Nutrient Recovery System Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Centralized System, Decentralized System), By Technology (Struvite Precipitation, Biogas Production, Composting, Membrane Separation, Ion Exchange), By End User (Agriculture, Fertilizer Industry, Mining Industry, Water Treatment Plants, Food & Beverage Industry), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 8.44 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	13.89%
Fastest Growing Segment	Centralized System
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 18.42 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Nutrient Recovery System Market will grow from USD 8.44 Billion in 2025 to USD 18.42 Billion by 2031 at a 13.89% CAGR. Nutrient recovery systems are advanced technological processes designed to extract and concentrate valuable minerals, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, from waste streams such as municipal wastewater and agricultural manure. The global market for these systems is being propelled by stringent environmental regulations aimed at mitigating water body eutrophication and a growing emphasis on circular economy principles to reduce reliance on finite mined resources. This transition is further supported by the fluctuating costs of conventional fertilizers which encourages the adoption of sustainable alternative sources.

According to the American Biogas Council, in 2025, the United States biogas sector recorded 125 new projects in the preceding year which amounted to over 3 billion dollars in new investments. Despite such positive investment trends, the widespread expansion of the market faces a significant impediment due to the high initial capital expenditure and technical complexity associated with retrofitting these systems into existing waste treatment infrastructure.

Key Market Drivers

The Implementation of Stringent Environmental Discharge Regulations acts as the primary catalyst for the nutrient recovery system market, compelling wastewater treatment facilities to upgrade their infrastructure. Governments worldwide are enforcing tighter limits on nitrogen and phosphorus discharges to combat water body eutrophication, thereby necessitating the deployment of advanced extraction technologies. This regulatory pressure effectively transforms waste treatment from a disposal challenge into a resource recovery opportunity, driving substantial capital allocation toward compliance-focused projects. For instance, according to the European Commission, in January 2025, the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive entered into force, which is projected to deliver financial benefits of approximately €6.6 billion per year through improved water quality and resource circularity.

Concurrently, the Growing Scarcity of Finite Phosphate Rock Reserves and the subsequent demand for sustainable fertilizers are significantly accelerating market growth. As geopolitical tensions and depleting mines threaten the stability of conventional fertilizer supply chains, agricultural sectors are increasingly pivoting toward recovered nutrients to ensure food security. This shift is further intensified by economic volatility in the raw materials market, which incentivizes the adoption of circular economy models. According to the World Bank, in November 2025, global fertilizer prices were forecast to surge by 21% by the end of the year, underscoring the urgent need for alternative sources. Highlighting this commercial momentum, Veolia reported in May 2025 that it had secured over $750 million in new water technology contracts, reflecting the surging industrial demand for resilient and sustainable treatment solutions.

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Key Market Challenges

The substantial initial capital expenditure and the technical complexity associated with retrofitting severely impede the growth of the Global Nutrient Recovery System Market. Unlike basic filtration upgrades, implementing nutrient recovery requires the integration of engineered crystallization reactors and precision chemical dosing infrastructure, which are inherently expensive to procure and install. Furthermore, integrating these systems into legacy wastewater treatment plants presents a logistical hurdle; many existing facilities lack the physical footprint or hydraulic profile necessary to support new recovery loops without extensive, costly civil engineering modifications. This complexity increases the financial risk for utility operators, often causing them to defer adoption in favor of traditional, lower-cost disposal methods.

The magnitude of the financial commitment required for these nutrient-focused infrastructure upgrades is substantiated by recent industry data. According to Water UK, in 2024, the water industry confirmed a capital investment program that allocated 6 billion pounds specifically for nutrient pollution upgrades and related asset improvements to meet statutory environmental standards. This massive funding requirement highlights the economic barrier facing the market, as the high cost of compliance and retrofitting drains budgets that could otherwise support the wider deployment of sustainable recovery technologies.

Key Market Trends

Municipal wastewater treatment plants are increasingly rebranding and retrofitting as Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRFs). This trend represents a paradigm shift from mere waste disposal to the active production of clean water, renewable energy, and recovered nutrients, placing nutrient recovery systems at the core of modern plant design. Utilities are channeling substantial capital into these holistic upgrades to convert legacy infrastructure into revenue-generating assets that support circular economy goals while ensuring compliance. Highlighting this sector-wide transformation, according to Smart Water Magazine, October 2025, in the article 'Pennsylvania announces record-breaking $547 million investment to modernize water systems', the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority was awarded $160 million to upgrade the Blue Rock Water Resource Recovery Facility, specifically funding capacity expansion and advanced nutrient removal infrastructure.

Concurrently, there is a growing market preference for decentralized and modular nutrient recovery systems over massive, centralized infrastructures. These flexible units allow smaller municipalities, industrial facilities, and individual farms to implement on-site nutrient recovery, reducing transportation costs and enabling localized fertilizer application. The agricultural sector, in particular, is adopting these scalable technologies to manage waste streams at the source while producing valuable byproducts like vermicompost and cleaner water. For instance, according to Pulse 2.0, November 2025, in the article 'BioFiltro: $35 Million Funding Raised To Expand Regenerative Wastewater Technology', the company secured a $35 million strategic investment to deploy its modular vermifiltration units across the dairy and food processing industries, underscoring the commercial viability of distributed recovery solutions.

Segmental Insights

The Centralized System segment is currently recognized as the fastest-growing category within the Global Nutrient Recovery System Market due to its high efficiency in processing large volumes of wastewater. This rapid expansion is primarily driven by the increasing demand from municipal wastewater treatment plants that require scalable solutions to manage nutrient loads from growing urban populations. Furthermore, stringent environmental mandates regarding nutrient discharge limits, such as those enforced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, compel facility operators to implement these robust infrastructures to ensure compliance and optimize resource recovery on a mass scale.

Regional Insights

North America leads the Global Nutrient Recovery System Market, driven by stringent environmental regulations and a mature infrastructure for wastewater management. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) actively enforces rigorous standards under the Clean Water Act, mandating significant reductions in nitrogen and phosphorus discharge to prevent water pollution. This regulatory pressure compels municipalities and industries to integrate efficient recovery technologies into their operations. Additionally, the region’s agricultural sector increasingly prioritizes sustainable fertilizer alternatives, fostering a strong circular economy that further accelerates the adoption of nutrient recovery systems across North America.

Recent Developments

• In August 2025, a cleantech company launched its first industrial-scale nutrient recovery demonstration unit at a biogas facility in Turkey. The system utilized a membrane stripping technology to recover nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater streams, producing ammonium sulfate and calcium phosphate for fertilizer use. This launch validated the technology's scalability and energy efficiency, as it operated without the need for heating or pressure. The project addressed critical supply chain challenges by providing a domestic source of essential fertilizers, directly supporting the expansion of the Global Nutrient Recovery System Market and reducing the environmental impact of agricultural waste.
• In May 2025, a groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of construction for the world’s first commercial phosphorus recovery plant utilizing Ash2Phos technology in Schkopau, Germany. Established through a joint venture between a nutrient recovery innovation company and a major water management firm, the facility was designed to process 30,000 tonnes of sewage sludge ash annually. The plant aimed to recover high-purity phosphorus, reducing dependence on mined phosphate rock. This development represented a significant step in the Global Nutrient Recovery System Market, ensuring a local supply of recycled nutrients and valuable co-products like ferric chloride and sodium aluminate.
• In December 2024, a developer of advanced waste treatment technology announced the successful completion of testing for its Ammonia Recovery System. Independent laboratory results confirmed that the system effectively isolated and stabilized ammonia from digester effluent, converting it into a high-value organic nitrogen fertilizer. The technology demonstrated superior recovery efficiencies and economic performance compared to initial models. This achievement signaled the company's readiness to deploy full-scale commercial systems, offering a scalable solution for recovering volatile nutrients from livestock waste and contributing to the circular economy within the Global Nutrient Recovery System Market.
• In February 2024, a US-based biotechnology company received a funding boost to advance a novel biological solution for phosphorus removal from wastewater. This breakthrough research, conducted in collaboration with a university, utilized engineered biocatalysts to eliminate phosphorus without relying on traditional metal-based coagulants. The technology was designed to recover nutrients as reusable salts, creating a secondary value stream for fertilizer production. The initiative was supported by a share of a £4.5 million fund aimed at accelerating innovations in the water sector, highlighting the industry's shift towards sustainable nutrient management and circular economy principles within the Global Nutrient Recovery System Market.

Key Market Players

• Clearas Water Recovery, Inc.
• Centrifuge-Systems, LLC
• NuReSys NV
• Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc.
• Paques BV
• Trident Processes LLC
• Veolia Water Technologies

By Type	By Technology	By End User	By Region
Centralized System Decentralized System	Struvite Precipitation Biogas Production Composting Membrane Separation Ion Exchange	Agriculture Fertilizer Industry Mining Industry Water Treatment Plants Food & Beverage Industry	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Nutrient Recovery System Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Nutrient Recovery System Market, By Type:

• Centralized System
• Decentralized System

• Nutrient Recovery System Market, By Technology:

• Struvite Precipitation
• Biogas Production
• Composting
• Membrane Separation
• Ion Exchange

• Nutrient Recovery System Market, By End User:

• Agriculture
• Fertilizer Industry
• Mining Industry
• Water Treatment Plants
• Food & Beverage Industry

• Nutrient Recovery System Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE