Recycling biosolids benefits society and the environment.
Throughout the U. S. and Canada, biosolids (treated and tested sewage sludge), septage, paper mill residuals, composts, and other organic residuals are commonly recycled to soils. This recycling does amazing things:
enhances soil health
recycles nutrients
sequesters carbon (mitigating climate change)
reduces fertilizer & pesticide use
strengthens farm economies (thousands of farmers choose to use biosolids, because they work)
restores vitality to degraded lands
puts to productive use residuals that every community has to manage.
(Wastewater treatment is a vital public health service, and it creates residual solids that have to be managed!)
Sustainability & healthy soils require recycling organic residuals.
Biosolids are the nutrient-rich organic byproducts resulting from wastewater treatment. Biosolids have been treated and tested and meet strict federal and state or provincial standards for use as fertilizers and soil amendments. Biosolids provide plant nutrients and organic matter to soils. They can also be used to produce renewable energy through digestion and production of methane ("biogas") or by drying and thermal processing.
WATCH: Benefits of Biosolids - June 12, 2020 “Lunch & Learn” Webinar, presenter: N. Beecher
Video:
Biosolids: Naturally Sustainable
(in English / en français)
Water clean?
Plants & energy green?
That's biosolids recycling. TM
There are two classes of biosolids defined by regulations: Class B and Class A.
Class B biosolids still contain some pathogens (but less than untreated animal manures, for example) and must, therefore, be managed at sites with little public contact, in accordance with regulations. Site permits for use of Class B biosolids are required in New England, New York, and eastern Canadian provinces.
Words on Water covers biosolids: WEF podcasts & videos include biosolids experts explaining…
benefits & safety (podcast #37),
biogas & renewable energy (#42),
biosolids & climate change (#45),
communicating biosolids (#99),
science of PFAS in water treatment (#123),
biosolids in uncertain times (#125).
These podcasts are the fine work of Travis Loop at WEF. Listen….
WEF Biosolids Position Statement, Sept. 2020
Most Class B biosolids are used on farms, in highly-managed forestry/silviculture, and/or for land reclamation work on sites with little public contact. These uses of Class B biosolids are safe, because further reductions in pathogens are achieved by natural forces in the environment - sunshine, competition with other bacteria, and weather conditions - that kill off remaining pathogens.
Class A biosolids are virtually free of pathogens, and some - such as cured composts and heat-dried biosolids pellet fertilizers – can be used anywhere. Class A products also include manure-like products that have been highly treated but may still be odorous and best used and managed like Class B biosolids.
For more about biosolids regulations, the history of Part 503, etc., see "Regulations" here.
See:
Biosolids - Naturally Sustainable (superb introduction to biosolids by WEAO, in English/en français)
The U. S. EPA biosolids website - excellent information & presentation (Jan. 2018)
WEF Biosolids Position Statement, Sept. 2020
Introduction to Land Application of Biosolids - click "Training" tab (2014, Virginia Tech University webinar, 3 parts)
Fertilizing with Biosolids, February 2015, guidance from Pacific NW Extension (WA State, OR State, & Univ. of ID)
DETAILED 3-PART SLIDESHOW - developed by the National Biosolids Partnership (Dec. 2012):
Part 1 - Federal & State Regulations
Part 2 - 40+ Years of Research & Experience
Part 3 - Trends & Drivers: Focusing on Resource RecoveryBiosolids Beneficial ReUse Fact Sheet, Vermont Department of Natural Resources / Dec., 2015
Biosolids 101, October 2012. Slides from a National Biosolids Partnership webinar & workshop.
Options for Biosolids Use or Disposal in New England & Eastern Canada, April 2011. Summarizes pros and cons of various biosolids beneficial use & disposal options.
Biosolids FAQ (a detailed discussion of commonly asked questions)
WEF Fact Sheet: Land Application & Composting of Biosolids
Biosolids Management fact sheets by NEIWPCC (including land application, composting, & incineration)
U. S. EPA Biosolids Webinar Series, 2019 - 2020
Webinar 1: EPA Biosolids Program and 40 CFR Part 503, October 23, 2019
Webinar 2: Pathogen Reduction & VAR Regulations, November 13, 2019
Widespread experience with biosolids use:
The majority of wastewater solids (sewage sludges) produced in the U. S. and Canada are treated, tested, and recycled to soils as biosolids. Many are also used to generate renewable energy.
U.S. wastewater solids used & disposed, 2004:
7.18 million U. S. tons (dry weight)
Recycled to soils: ~55%
See:
A National Biosolids Regulation, Quality, End Use & Disposal Survey (NEBRA et al., 2007)
Appendices A, B, C
Appendix D - State-by-State Data
Comments to USDA National Organic Program (2020)
Enabling the Future: Advancing Resource Recovery from Biosolids (2013)
Charting the Future of Biosolids Management (2011)
New England Water Environment Association (NEWEA) Statement on Renewable Energy from Wastewater (January 2012)
Water Environment Federation (WEF) Biosolids Policy Statement (December 2011)
Historic U. S. EPA Biosolids Documents:
Canada wastewater solids produced, 2004:
860,000 metric tonnes (dry weight)
Recycled to soils: ~33%
See:
Biosolids use & disposal in the NEBRA region:
See:
“You have to take my sludge!” - NEWEA Journal, Fall 2016.
Current Biosolids Use, Regulatory Trends, and Public Perceptions in New England, 2012
Saving Soil: Biosolids Recycling in New England, 2001
See:
Petite histoire du recyclage des biosolides municipeaux au Québec, partie 1: de 1967 à 2004. Marc Hébert, M.Sc., agr.
Petite histoire du recyclage des biosolides municipeaux au Québec, partie 2: de 2005 à aujourd'hui. Marc Hébert, agr.
Wastewater Solids Management - Atlantic Canada Perspective (Doucette/CBCL, 2013)
40+ years of research forms the scientific basis:
Modern biosolids recycling policy and practice rests on a body of scientific research, review, and debate conducted for more than 40 years. A large proportion of government and university scientists working with biosolids have come to believe that biosolids recycling in accordance with current laws and best management practices represents "negligible risk" (this is the finding of the 1996 National Research Council review of the federal biosolids program).
Still, there continues some discussion regarding new angles in the practice of recycling biosolids and other residuals. We at NEBRA believe that this robust scientific analysis and debate will lead to even better practice and policy.
There are several key documents that provide an overview of the scientific basis for biosolids management. These include the U. S. EPA risk assessment and two reviews by expert panels of the National Research Council of the U. S. National Academies of Science. These summary reviews represent the scientific consensus on this topic.
Univ. of Rhode Island research on use of biosolids composts for roadside turf grasses, c. 2011
Checking out the Halifax, NS biosolids product during a tour of the NViro-operated facility.
“biosolids: plural noun: organic matter recycled from sewage especially for use in agriculture”
“biosolid n. (1990): solid organic matter recovered from a sewage treatment process and used especially as fertilizer — usually used in plural”