Biosolids soon to be in our backyards? Economic advantages or Environmental concern

In other parts of the world, biosolids (human waste) from sewage treatment plants are treated and used as sustainable agricultural fertilizer. Research the pros and cons of this method and take a stand as to whether this can be a realistic alternative to our current agricultural practices. Who are the potential stakeholders in this issue? Are we influenced by the western view of human waste as an unsanitary and disgusting nuisance?

Biosolids are simply nutrient-rich organic materials that are basically human waste. When these biosolids are transferred through the domestic sewage and then into a treatment facility, they are carefully extracted. They process and treat these residuals as they can be recycled and applied as fertilizer for maintaining our plant soils and plant growth. Often, people refer biosolids as sewage sludge. There is a great different between the two is that biosolids are monitored and are treated as explained above.

The practice of treating sewage biosolids being used on agricultural land in Canada for more than 30 years! As well as in the United states and in Europe.Biosolids use in agriculture is that they are used to mainly fertilize fields for raising crops. Apparently across Canada about 50% are being recycled to land and less than one 1% of the nation's agricultural land. There are standards in where the agricultural use of biosolids need to meet the criteria. This criteria and application rates need to have good history in the improvement of crop growth. Biosolids contain very effective nutrients of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements such as calcium, copper iron, magnesium, manganese, sulfur and zinc. For farmers when they use biosolids for their crops this reduces the need to add any chemical fertilizers. When farmer`s use biosolids in the production of crops, it reduced the cost of production and also revives the matter that has been depleted. The organic matter improves soil structure by increasing the soil's ability to absorb and store moisture.

The pros:

- Improve crop production seasonally

- Enrich soil and nutrients

- Reduce farmer`s production costs (free fertilizers)

- Land reclamation

- Composting

- Promote rapid timber growth

- Creates jobs

- Reduces emissions from transportation to landfills

- Gain Economically

Cons:

- With regards to the 2001 report that the risks are low, biosolids can still be a potential hazard to our health.

- Could decrease property value of a farm.

- There is a distinctive odour depending on the type of treatment it had been through.

- May contain dangerous chemicals

Since fruits and vegetables have become less abundant during the seasons, I definitely believe that biosolids could be a great solution to this concern. Also this reduces the cost for other dangerous chemicals that are used to rapidly increase the growth of plants. These dangerous chemicals may become a danger for our crops and also our environment. Also, our vegetables and fruits that we see that are abnormally large and plump are the cause of these chemicals. We can finally have the real stuff is we stick to biosolids.

The human view of biosolids for hundreds of years is that it is disgusting and unsanitary.

I think that it is up to us to break this taboo. According to Canadian Water and Waste Water Association, they have proven that the practiced of preserving and treating biosolids are completely safe. In the complrehensive report in 2001, it indicated that the practices are performed in Ontario are sufficiently conservative and followed properly (if followed) shows no significant risk to the environment or human health. I think that biosolids should be practiced so that we can avoid and possibly learn about the effects of biosolids and master it. Also, economically we can save billions of dollars.

References:

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/nm/nasm/info/brochure.htm - Sewage Biosolids: Managing Ubran Nutrients Responsibility for Crop Production

http://www.biosolids.com/benefits.html - Biosolids Benefits

http://www.synagro.com/recycling/use.html - Biosolids use Regulations

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/nm/nasm/info/brochuref1.jpg - sewage

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r140/Jazzie-May27/tablebiosolids.jpg - Table: Metals found in biosolids

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/nm/nasm/info/brochuref8.jpg - Sewage Biosolids: From generation to beneficial reuse

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/nm/nasm/info/brochuref7.jpg - Biosolids transportation