Human Waste

Biosolids are nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from the treatmen

t of domestic sewage in a treatment facility. When treated and processed, these residuals can be recycled and applied as fertilizer to improve and maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth. Biosolids are usually used in land application for agriculture, land reclamation, topsoil manufacture and landfill cover.

Using biosolids as a fertilizer can be an effective method of disposal. It can also help improve crop growth and yield significantly. The nutrients found in biosolids like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, mang

anese, sulfur, and zinc are necessary for crop production and growth. It can also reduce farmer’s production costs and replenishes the organic matter that has been depleted over time. Soil structure can be improved through biosolids by increasing the soil’s ability to absorb and store moisture.

Additionally, biosolids have been used successfully at mine sites to establish sustainable vegetation. Mine sites have little to no topsoil so the biosolids can regenerate the abandoned mine sites. Rather than putting the biosolids in landfills, recycling it as agricultural fertilizer will decrease the amount of waste in the landf

ills.

Although biosolids may have their own distinctive odor, it can be just a slight musty, ammonia odor. When organic materials are decomposed into a nutrient-rich s

oil conditioner, odors are usually released naturally. The strong odor that is very disruptive is caused by compounds containing sulfur and ammonia, which are both plant nutrients. In composting, managers successfully control odors by maintaining aerobic conditions and directing process air through scrubbers and or biofilters in an enclosed process.

Organic compounds contain pesticides, solvents, and polychlorinated biphenyls are found in biosolids. which studies have found risk to be negligible. In 1988, EPA conducted a national survey of biosolids. They evaluated human health and environmental risks and found that the risks were very low. Toxic pollutants such as metals can enter waste water from industrial drains and metal pipes in homes. By using these biosolids as fertilizers, there can be a possibility of possible pollutants to can be transferred to crops.

Although there are still cons to using biosolids as agricultural fertilizer, I think they should keep recycling biosolids rather than throw it in landfills where waste will just gradually build up. I mean, human waste is natural waste, and anything natural is good right?

Works Cited:

http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/wastewater/treatment/biosolids/genqa.cfm

http://www.cwwa.ca/faqbiosolids_e.asp

http://www.biosolids.com/concerns.html

Blogs Commented On:

http://bridgettebioblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/biosolid-arity.html?showComment=1307498568062#c6897429607747924869

http://yay4bio.blogspot.com/2011/06/biosolids-as-sustainable-agricultural.html?showComment=1307498778971#c7792218561592028182