The main objective of the project is the effective, reasonable and mutually beneficial co-operation between the Slovak and Hungarian research institutes and universities for the sake of high-quality education and the solution of the important issues of environmental protection. Reaching this target enhances the improvement of the effectiveness of the economic and social integration along the border, which is in line with the strategic aims of the programme. The issue to be examined within the frame of the project is to handle the growing quantity of the sewage-sledges, its disposal and utilisation, and to reduce the related cost, and to use the sewage-sludge for the remediation of contaminated soil. Specific aims: 1. To continue the years of mutually beneficial co-operation between the University of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava and the University of Western Hungary, and to extend their common activities with the involvement of the Research Centre for Growing Plants in Piestany and the Energy Agency Public Nonprofit Ltd.2. To strengthen the research activity of the co-operating partners, to increase efficiency, to utilise the already existing instrument infrastructure and the scientific know-how together, to improve the technical facilities of the co-operating institutions, to increase the competitiveness on both sides of the border.3. To solve the scientific issues the project examines.4. To involve the students pursuing MSc and PhD studies into the research, solving certain tasks of the project in the form of exchange practices. The implementation of the programme enhances the realisation of both priority aims of the call for tenders. Mainly with the realisation of the programme section "Strengthening of the economic competitiveness of the border region" in the priority target field "Economy and society", and with the realisation of the aim "Protection of natural values" within the priority area "Environmental and nature protection, availability". Achievements: The increasing amount of waste in the form of sludge - especially sludge generated by the wastewater treatment plants – represents a serious and growing environmental problem in both partner countries. The intensification of agricultural production in the past led to the utilization of pesticides containing heavy metals and the disposal of sludge by means of adding it to agricultural land as a supplementary fertilizer is limited by the presence of fluctuating quantities of these toxic metals. The aim of the project was to create an effective and useful cooperation of Slovak and Hungarian researchers and university institutions in order to address this significant problem of environmental protection. The specific scientific task set by the cooperating project partners was to examine the reduction of the cost for eliminating the high and ever increasing quantity of sludge generated from wastewater treatment, and its use for the remediation of polluted soils.