Waste activated sludge thickening is a critical process that influences anaerobic digester loading, HRT, biogas production and downstream biosolids management costs. Cell lysis technologies have been designed to increase the availability of organic matter for digestion whilst also improving sludge rheology and thickening performance. At the time of writing this, United Utilities are beginning a 4-week trial on Liverpool Wwtw using a Hiller DecaThick Lysate unit. The containerised trial rig combines centrifugal thickening with mechanical cell disruption, aiming to reduce sludge viscosity, increase achievable thickened dry solids and enhance the transfer of organic material to anaerobic digestion. The main drivers for the trial are to reduce polymer usage and improve dewaterability as the sludge from Liverpool Wwtw is 80% WAS and notoriously difficult to dewater. The trial will evaluate the operational performance of the Lysate unit against the existing WAS drum thickeners. Key parameters being measured include thickened sludge dry solids, polymer usage, biomethane potential, dewaterability, volatile solids and filtrate COD. The study will also investigate potential benefits associated with increases in digester HTR, volatile solids destruction and biogas production. Results from the trial will provide the UK wastewater industry with practical evidence regarding the applicability of mechanically enhanced sludge thickening through cell disruption as a means of improving biosolids processing efficiency, reducing operating costs and supporting energy-positive treatment.