Toolbox

2026 • VA Strategi Sverige AB; Svenskt Vatten; Tillväxtpunkten AB; & Envira Miljökonsult Uppströmsportalen (The Upstream Portal)

Uppströmsportalen (The Upstream Portal) is a membership-based digital knowledge hub that supports systematic upstream work to reduce pollutants at source in Wastewater systems. By providing structured guidance, templates, methodological support, and advisory services, the portal helps water utilities and environmental authorities prevent hazardous substances from entering sewer systems. This upstream pollution control is a core prerequisite for REVAQ-compliant sludge management and directly enables safer recovery and reuse of Nutrients and other resources from Wastewater and sludge. REVAQ is a system for certification of the quality of sludge from Wastewater treatment plants in Sweden.

Recovered Materials & Products

Waste Streams

Confirmed countries

Get the Tool

The portal is accessible at the link below. Detailed materials in the portal are available only to registered members.
https://uppstromsportalen.se/

Technologies

Themes

Case studies

In depth analyses of real-world initiatives and projects related to resource recovery.

Faecal sludge

The mixture of human excreta and any other materials (e.g. flushwater, cleansing materials, menstrual hygiene products and greywater, solid waste) collected in onsite sanitation systems.

Audio

Sound-only content conveying relevant information on resource recovery.

Datasets

Structured collections of data related to resource recovery.

Frameworks

A system of rules, concepts or methodologies used to guide action.

Games

Interactive tools employing a playful approach to learning and capacity building.

Guidelines and manuals

Documents that offer guidance into achieving specific resource recovery objectives by providing a set of directions, recommendations, or instructions.

Knowledge hubs

Platforms that aggregate and curate a series of interconnected resources (e.g. tools linked to a same project, application, dataset etc.).

Software

A set of instructions, data, or programs that tells a computer's hardware how to perform a task. Software-based resources in this Toolbox require the user to interact with a computer through data input and output.

Standards and certification

Rules that establish authoritative benchmarks or criteria for resource recovery, and accreditation processes that certify compliance.

Training materials

Educational resources designed to provide a learning experience for the user, building skills and knowledge.

Videos

Visual content conveying relevant information on resource recovery.

Wastewater

Used water from any combination of domestic, industrial, commercial or agricultural activities, surface runoff/ stormwater, and any sewer inflow/infiltration.

Urine

Urine is the liquid produced by the body to rid itself of urea and other waste products. With the exception of some rare cases, Urine is sterile when it leaves the body.

Greywater

Total volume of domestic or office used water generated from sources other than toilets (e.g. washing food, clothes and dishware, as well as water bathing and showering).

Organic solid waste

Biodegradable material primarily derived from plant or animal sources, commonly generated by households, industries, agriculture, and food systems.

Electricity

Form of energy from charged elementary particles, supplied as electric current through cables, wires, etc.

Solid fuel

Combustible materials, such as pellets or biochar, produced from organic waste and used for heating or industrial applications

Heat

Thermal energy recovered from waste processing that can be used for heating

Biogas

A renewable energy source composed of methane and carbon dioxide, produced through anaerobic digestion of sludge and other organic matter, often used for electricity, heating, or vehicle fuel.

Nutrients

Recovered substances that enrich soil and support plant growth, derived from organic waste streams.

Fertilizer

Any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soil to supply one or more of the essential nutrients needed for plants to grow.

Compost

Soil-like substance resulting from controlled aerobic degradation of organic material in, e.g., co-composting facilities. Used to enhance soil stability and fertility.

Digestate

The material remaining after the anaerobic digestion of any feedstock. The feedstock can consist of food waste, agricultural or industrial organic wastes, sludge or wastewater fractions.

Soil conditioner

Material which measurably improves specific soil physical characteristics or physical processes (e.g., soil structure, water infiltration), indirectly affecting plant growth.

Materials

The organic and inorganic substances recovered from waste streams as reservoirs of energy and nutrient products.

Feed

Nutrient rich resources which are (typically) repurposed for animal nutrition.

Composting

Controlled process in which organic waste is broken down by microorganisms under aerobic conditions to produce nutrient-rich compost.

Anaerobic digestion

Biological process that breaks down organic material in the absence of oxygen.

Incineration

Controlled combustion of waste producing heat which can be recovered as an energy source in district heating systems or for electricity and heat production utilizing steam turbines.

Struvite precipitation

Chemical process used to recover phosphorus from either urine or concentrated wastewater. The resulting product is predominantly a phosphorus fertilizer containing magnesium and nitrogen and can be used as a slow-release fertilizer.

Ammonia stripping

Chemical process to remove ammonia from wastewater. The process causes ammonia to volatilize as a gas, which can then be captured and used.

Pyrolysis

Thermochemical conversion of biomass into biochar, bio-oil, and syngas (a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and other gases) in anaerobic conditions.

Gasification

Process that converts organic materials into syngas by reacting them with oxygen and steam at high temperatures.

Torrefaction

Mild pyrolysis process that heats biomass at low temperatures in anaerobic conditions to produce a dry, energy-dense material with improved combustion properties.

Fermentation

Biological process where microorganisms convert organic materials, such as sugars or starches, into biofuels, biochemicals, or other products under anaerobic conditions.

Transesterification

Chemical process that converts fats or oils into biodiesel and glycerol by reacting them with an alcohol in the presence of a catalyst.

Hydrothermal liquefaction

Process that uses high temperature and pressure to convert wet biomass into bio-crude oil, which can be further refined into fuels and chemicals.

Reverse osmosis

Process of water purification that uses a semipermeable membrane to remove contaminants from water by applying pressure to force water molecules through the membrane.

Ultrafiltration

A membrane filtration process that separates suspended solids, bacteria, and large molecules from liquids while allowing smaller molecules, such as water and dissolved salts, to pass through.

Microfiltration

A low-pressure membrane filtration process that removes particles and microorganisms larger than 0.1 microns from liquids, commonly used for water treatment.

Electrocoagulation

Process that uses electrical currents to remove suspended solids, emulsified oils, and other contaminants from wastewater.

Microbial electrolysis cells

A technology that uses microorganisms to catalyze the production of hydrogen or methane from organic waste in an electrochemical system under anaerobic conditions.

Hydrothermal carbonization

Process of thermal decomposition of wet biomass at high temperatures without oxygen. The organic inputs are transformed into a solid carbon material resembling charcoal that is commonly referred to as biochar.

Assessment

Activities that evaluate the current status, performance, impact etc. of systems, technologies or processes.

Design

Initial stage of a process or an infrastructure project, where features, activities and function are planned and laid out.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

Activities that track progress, measure effectiveness, and derive lessons from implemented projects or processes to improve future outcomes and ensure accountability.

Capacity development

Processes that support the development of skills, knowledge, infrastructure, and resources

GHG emissions

The releases of greenhouse gases—such as CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O—into the atmosphere as a result of human activities (e.g., fossil fuel combustion, agriculture, waste management) or natural processes.

Financing and investment

Allocation of financial resources to specific goals, projects, products etc.

Business models

The representation of the value logic of an organization in terms of how it creates and captures customer value.

Technologies

Practical applications of scientific knowledge, typically specific infrastructure or services.

Operation and maintenance

Ongoing activities required to ensure systems, technologies, or processes continue to function efficiently and effectively throughout their lifecycle.

Policy and regulation

Laws and authoritative frameworks established by governments and international organizations to govern specific matters.