#Biosolids

[plethoraworldatlas]

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What Are Biosolids?

“Biosolids” is the word waste treatment industry marketers came up with to rebrand sewage sludge, the solid byproduct of wastewater treatment processes. The reason the industry needed to rebrand sewage sludge was because they planned on marketing and selling the nutrient-rich waste to farmers and home gardeners as cheap fertilizer and compost products.

But biosolids aren’t just rich in nutrients. Biosolids can contain high levels of toxic PFAS “Forever Chemicals” (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) that aren’t removed during the waste treatment process. And neither are the phthalates, pesticides, PCBs, antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals, microplastics, heavy metals, and innumerable other harmful substances that have been found in biosolids.

Applications of biosolids contaminate the soil with toxic PFAS and other chemicals, which are then taken up by crops grown in that soil. PFAS also migrates to contaminate groundwater and surface waters. The meat, milk and eggs of livestock become contaminated when the animals consume adulterated crops and water.

The biosolids industry and the commercial fertilizer and compost companies that use biosolids continue to claim that the products are safe and non-toxic. Even municipalities have been giving out biosolids fertilizer and compost to farmers, community gardens, and home gardeners for free, without warning about the dangers.

Unfortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), though aware of the problem, still allows the commercialization of toxic biosolids. Just as alarming, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) actively promotes the use of biosolids as fertilizer to commercial farmers. We suspect this is due to the revolving door and corporate capture of our regulatory agencies and the resulting collusion, favoring corporate profits over human or environmental health.

In 2022, Sally Brown, Research Professor at the University of Washington and veteran biosolids industry lobbyist, was selected by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to serve on USDA’s inaugural Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture.

Sally Brown once called environmental activists “ecoterrorists” for a successful protest on March 4, 2010, that stopped the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission from giving away sewage sludge as “organic biosolids compost” for home and school gardens.

As you’ll soon read, it’s Sally Brown that is the ecoterrorist for promoting biosolids.

Biosolids Poisoning Farms and Farmers Across America

The practice of using biosolids as fertilizer on conventional farms has been happening for decades but has, more recently, turned into a national catastrophe, creating a crisis for farmers and ranchers across the country.

Although the use of biosolids as fertilizer is prohibited in organic agriculture, even organic farms have been hit hard.

March 22, 2022, The Guardian reported:

Maine organic farmers Johanna Davis and Adam Nordell bought Songbird Farm in 2014. By 2021 the young family with their three-year-old son were hitting their stride, Nordell said. But disaster struck in December. The couple learned the farm’s previous owner had decades earlier used PFAS-tainted sewage sludge, or “biosolids”, as fertilizer on Songbird’s fields. Testing revealed their soil, drinking water, irrigation water, crops, chickens and blood were contaminated with high levels of the toxic chemicals. The couple quickly recalled products, alerted customers, suspended their operation and have been left deeply fearful for their financial and physical wellbeing. “This has flipped everything about our lives on its head,” Nordell said. “We haven’t done a blood test on our kid yet and that’s the most terrifying part. It’s f#####g devastating.” Ironwood Organic Farm, about six miles from Songbird Farm, tested its water and found high levels suspected to have migrated from a neighbors’ sludge-packed field. The small produce farm pulled its products, halted operations and is nervously awaiting more test results. “I spent my entire adult life building this farm,” said Nell Finnigan. “Everything is at stake for us, and this is a tragedy for anyone who comes up with a high [groundwater] well test.” Stoneridge Farm, a small dairy operation more than 100 miles south of Songbird Farm, discovered in 2016 that sludge and paper mill waste used as fertilizer had probably contaminated its cows and milk. Stoneridge killed most of its livestock in 2019. Co-owner Fred Stone was denied federal assistance for his tainted milk because one of its milk tests came in just below the state’s limit, but Stone didn’t feel comfortable selling it. Now his family of four, which believes PFAS is behind their health ailments from thyroid disease to reproductive problems, survives on welfare and friends’ and family’s generosity. Stone said he could have continued to sell contaminated food: “This is the cost of having a moral compass and doing the right thing.” “I don’t know how we are going to get debts paid,” he added. “I don’t know how the Christ we are going to live. I don’t know how we’re going to survive.”

...

March 11, 2024, KCUR reported:

“This is a hundred-year-old operation,” Jason Grostic said. “My grandpa milked cows, my dad milked cows, I milked cows, (then) got into the beef industry. It’s in my blood.” But Grostic may be at the end of the line. Two years ago, he was blindsided when the state of Michigan ordered him to shut down his farm, citing high levels of PFAS in both his beef and soil. Grostic had been using biosolids, a treated byproduct from wastewater plants, to fertilize his crops, which he then fed his cattle. But what he thought was a cost-effective fertilizer, turned out to be laden with PFAS. It’s a risk, Grostic said, no one warned him about — and now his 400-acre farm has been deemed unusable. “I took a fertilizer source that was recommended and was EPA-approved, and the government dropped the ball by not testing it and assuring it was a clean product,” he said.

We encourage you to watch the VICE Special Report, “The Hidden Chemicals Destroying American Farms,” a year long investigation featuring Jason Grostic and his experience with biosolids and PFAS. It will shock you.

[lady13willow]

https://toxinfreeusa.org/biosolids-based-fertilizers-are-harming-farmers-and-eaters-across-america/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=f9caa587-c51d-4a70-9575-d31827b12fcc

[fairfieldmarketreports]

Mexico Biosolids Market Growth and Share 2021-2025 [ 2023 UPDATE Available – Forecast 2023-2030*]

The global biosolids market is witnessing exponential growth as it offers an effective solution for reusing waste material and addressing the challenges of wastewater treatment. According to recent statistics, the market was valued at US$1.4 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach US$1.9 billion by 2025, growing at a healthy rate of 4.7% between 2021 and 2025.

Access Full Report: https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/report/global-biosolids-market

With over 35 million tonnes of biosolids produced globally in 2018, this industry is gaining momentum worldwide.

In 2018, Europe accounted for more than 25% of the global biosolids consumption, while the United States emerged as the largest producer in North America, primarily utilizing biosolids for land application. However, countries in the Asia Pacific region, such as China and India, are making significant investments in sludge management strategies and exploring alternative treatment and disposal methods to mitigate the adverse environmental impact. As a result, China is expected to surpass North America in the near future, supported by its substantial investments in wastewater treatment technologies.

Biosolids are organic materials derived from the treatment of domestic and industrial sewage sludge. They offer a valuable resource for agriculture as wastewater sewage contains nutrients that can be used for agricultural purposes. Class A and Class A (EQ) biosolids, which are pathogen-free and meet stringent standards set by regulatory bodies, are gaining popularity among customers. It is estimated that together they will account for more than 50% of the total biosolids market by the end of the forecast period.

Agriculture constitutes the largest application segment for biosolids, accounting for over 60% of the market in 2018. Biosolids are rich in micro and macro nutrients, making them an excellent source of fertilizers, soil replacement products, and soil conditioners. Additionally, biosolids find applications in forestry and landscaping, land reclamation, construction materials, and heat generation.

Governments around the world are actively supporting biosolids management programs as part of the circular economy. Strict regulations on wastewater and waste disposal, along with the phasing out of landfilling and incineration, are driving the demand for biosolids. Recycling biosolids into agriculture offers benefits such as carbon recycling and the nourishment of vegetation for CO2 capture. The United Kingdom government and the European Union recognize the recycling of biosolids into agriculture as the best environmental option.

Despite the numerous benefits of biosolids, challenges persist in terms of malodour and effective management. Odor issues have created negative publicity in recent years, necessitating public support and awareness to ensure the success of biosolids programs. Furthermore, transportation costs and capital limitations for new plants pose challenges to market growth.

Leading companies in the global biosolids market, including Cleanaway, SUEZ, Veolia, and Thames Water, have integrated their business operations and are offering comprehensive solutions in their respective regions. These companies are also exploring partnerships with fertilizer companies to develop new application avenues. The industry is witnessing the emergence of disruptive technologies, with companies like Aries Clean Energy receiving approvals for large-scale biosolids gasification plants, which convert waste into renewable energy and biochar.

As the global biosolids market continues to grow, it is evident that this industry offers an effective and sustainable solution for reusing waste material. By harnessing the potential of biosolids, we can address the challenges of wastewater treatment, reduce dependency on commercial fertilizers, and promote a circular economy.

Web: https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/Email: sales@fairfieldmarketresearch.com

[researchinsights]

The global biosolids market size was valued at USD 2,321.8 million in 2023 and is poised to grow at a significant CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast period 2024-30. It also includes market size and projection estimations for each of the five major regions from 2024 to 2030.

[futuretonext]

The Middle East Biosolids Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 6% during the forecast period, i.e., 2022-27. The majority of the market expansion would be backed by the mounting public awareness about the benefits of biosolids, i.e., portraying their mounting utilization in different applications like agricultural, forest crop, land reclamation, landscaping, recreational fields, heat generation, incineration & gasification, oil & cement production, domestic & commercial uses, etc.

[turtlesandfrogs]

Started the day by reading this article from the NY times, and I'm frankly, disturbed.

Some highlights:

"For decades, farmers across America have been encouraged by the federal government to spread municipal sewage on millions of acres of farmland as fertilizer. It was rich in nutrients, and it helped keep the sludge out of landfills."

Which I knew, and I knew that there were concerns about contaminants from like, the medications people were on. But human waste is part of the nutrient cycle, and it always made sense to me that it should be throughly composted and returned to agricultural lands, and I assumed that people in general were taking the steps necessary to make it safe.

But here's what I didn't know:

"The 1972 Clean Water Act had required industrial plants to start sending their wastewater to treatment plants instead of releasing it into rivers and streams, which was a win for the environment but also produced vast new quantities of sludge that had to go somewhere."

Which, yay, no longer polluting bodies of water, but now that means we're applying industrial waste water to agricultural lands. And have been since 1972. Which leads to this situation, among many others, I'm sure:

"The sludge that allegedly contaminated the Colemans’ farm came from the City of Fort Worth water district, which treats sewage from more than 1.2 million people, city records show. Its facility also accepts effluent from industries including aerospace, defense, oil and gas, and auto manufacturing. Synagro takes the sludge and treats it (though not for PFAS, as it’s not required by law) then distributes it as fertilizer."

So here's what some states are doing:

"In Michigan, among the first states to investigate the chemicals in sludge fertilizer, officials shut down one farm where tests found particularly high concentrations in the soil and in cattle that grazed on the land. This year, the state prohibited the property from ever again being used for agriculture. Michigan hasn’t conducted widespread testing at other farms, partly out of concern for the economic effects on its agriculture industry.

In 2022, Maine banned the use of sewage sludge on agricultural fields. It was the first state to do so and is the only state to systematically test farms for the chemicals. Investigators have found contamination on at least 68 of the more than 100 farms checked so far, with some 1,000 sites still to be tested.

“Investigating PFAS is like opening Pandora’s box,” said Nancy McBrady, deputy commissioner of Maine’s Department of Agriculture."

This is fun:

"The E.P.A. is currently studying the risks posed by PFAS in sludge fertilizer (which the industry calls biosolids) to determine if new rules are necessary.

The agency continues to promote its use on cropland, though elsewhere it has started to take action. In April, it ordered utilities to slash PFAS levels in drinking water to near zero and designated two types of the chemical as hazardous substances that must be cleaned up by polluters. The agency now says there is no safe level of PFAS for humans...

It’s difficult to know how much fertilizer sludge is used nationwide, and E.P.A. data is incomplete. The fertilizer industry says more than 2 million dry tons were used on 4.6 million acres of farmland in 2018. And it estimates that farmers have obtained permits to use sewage sludge on nearly 70 million acres, or about a fifth of all U.S. agricultural land."

There's more, but I wanted to condense it at least a little bit. I am glad we're raising awareness, and I'm glad we're starting to regular the amount in our drinking water, and I hope that we'll find a way to actually deal with PFAS. I am so frustrated that people are exposed in the first place, and in nigh inescapable ways.

Also, to all those people who were like, oh, organic isn't at all healthier for consumers? Guess what the organic standards don't allow to be applied?

[pad-wubbo]

Good [crackalackin] news, my [Homeslices].

I have authored a [way to the promised land].

The [promised land] is available when you click on this [Hyperlink]:

https://github.com/wubmush/woomyband

It will [slice and dice] new combinations of [biosolids] that your eyes have never sizzled befizzle, fo' sure daaaawg!

[contremineur]

Biosolid fertiliser ready for farmland at Depden Green (Suffolk) — April 2016

[mintmatcha]

I was reading a thing about how a lot of states don't allow biosolid compost to be used in farming because our shit is contaminated by micro plastics and pfas......... I think it's so disturbing that our feces is now bad for the planet.....

[guerrillamydreams]

@v8pontiacgirl hates that I use this as an excuse to say, "Time to drink my biosolids!"

[tsmom1219]

USDA convenes stakeholders to tackle PFAS contamination from biosolids

Read the full story at Waste Dive. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is developing a “research roadmap” to address PFAS in agriculture and prevent so-called “forever chemicals” from contaminating food production. The department’s Agricultural Research Service held a three-day workshop bringing together more than 150 interagency researchers, universities and state partners to identify key…

[livewalksite]

Biosolids Technology Hub: New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission Announces PFAS Information Clearinghouse - JD Supra - https://live-walk.site/2024/10/biosolids-technology-hub-new-england-interstate-water-pollution-control-commission-announces-pfas-information-clearinghouse-jd-supra/

[bonnie131313]

underbugeted

adult alternative

biosolid

I'm stealing this from Twitter

Here's the link

I am a high-definition gateway drug body double!

[traqua123]

Top 10 Benefits of Sewage Treatment Plant

Here are the Top 10 Benefits of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP Plant):

1. Protecting Public Health

Sewage treatment plants are fundamental in preventing the spread of waterborne diseases. By treating wastewater before it is released into the environment, STPs remove harmful pathogens and pollutants that could otherwise contaminate drinking water supplies and recreational waters. This helps to significantly reduce the risk of illnesses such as cholera, dysentery, and hepatitis.

2. Safeguarding the Environment

Untreated sewage can be detrimental to the environment, leading to pollution of rivers, lakes, and oceans. STPs play a crucial role in minimizing this impact by breaking down organic matter and removing harmful chemicals. This treatment process helps preserve aquatic ecosystems, maintain water quality, and protect wildlife habitats.

3. Enhancing Water Quality

By removing contaminants, sewage treatment plants improve the quality of water that is eventually released back into natural water bodies. Treated water is generally cleaner and less polluted, which supports healthier aquatic life and reduces the risk of algae blooms that can result from nutrient overloads in untreated sewage.

4. Recovering Valuable Resources

Modern sewage treatment plants are equipped with technologies that allow for the recovery of valuable resources. For instance, biosolids (the solid by-products of the treatment process) can be converted into fertilizers, and methane gas generated during treatment can be harnessed as a renewable energy source. This not only reduces waste but also contributes to sustainability efforts.

5. Supporting Sustainable Urban Development

As cities grow, the demand for efficient waste management systems increases. STPs enable sustainable urban development by providing the infrastructure needed to handle large volumes of wastewater. This ensures that growing populations can be accommodated without compromising environmental standards or public health.

6. Reducing Pollution and Odors

Sewage treatment plants help mitigate pollution and unpleasant odors associated with raw sewage. Through advanced treatment processes, STPs can significantly reduce the concentration of pollutants and eliminate foul smells, leading to a cleaner and more pleasant environment for nearby communities.

7. Promoting Economic Development

A well-managed sewage treatment plant is an asset to any community, fostering economic growth. It creates jobs, supports local businesses, and attracts investment by ensuring that urban areas are equipped with reliable waste management solutions. Additionally, the treated water can sometimes be used for non-potable purposes, such as irrigation, which can reduce costs for local industries and municipalities.

8. Complying with Regulations

Regulations regarding wastewater treatment are stringent in many countries. STPs help municipalities and industries comply with environmental laws and standards, avoiding legal penalties and contributing to overall regulatory adherence. Compliance ensures that communities meet the required environmental quality benchmarks and promotes responsible waste management practices.

9. Mitigating Climate Change

Some sewage treatment plants incorporate technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, capturing methane from the treatment process for energy production helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Additionally, advancements in treatment technology continue to improve the energy efficiency of these facilities, further supporting climate change mitigation efforts.

10. Educational and Research Opportunities

Sewage treatment plants serve as valuable sites for research and education. They provide real-world examples of complex environmental processes, offering insights into waste management, water conservation, and sustainable technologies. Educational programs and research initiatives centered around STPs help advance our understanding and drive innovation in environmental protection.

Conclusion

Sewage treatment plants are far more than just facilities for disposing of waste — they are critical components of modern infrastructure that provide extensive benefits for public health, environmental protection, and sustainable development. By ensuring effective wastewater management, STPs help create healthier, cleaner, and more resilient communities, underscoring their indispensable role in our increasingly interconnected world.

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