Recycling Food Waste: Biosolids

While undergoing treatment at a capable wastewater facility, organic wastes found in wastewater are broken down by bacteria and other microorganisms into simpler components.

Once this "digestion" process is complete, the remaining organic matter is then treated and tested to ensure it meets strict federal regulations and quality standards. The resulting nutrient-rich material is known as biosolids.

A beneficial resource, containing essential plant nutrients and organic matter, biosolids can be converted into fertilizer or soil conditioner for use in farming, home gardening—even golf courses. This helps reduce the need for commercial fertilizers that are energy-intensive to produce and may present quality and environmental issues.

Did You Know?

In 2009 alone, American farmers will likely fertilize their fields with 4 million dry tons of biosolids.

The National Biosolids Partnership: A Guide to Understanding Biosolids Issues

Biosolids recycling is a safe practice when done in accordance with guidelines established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as state requirements that are often stricter. Studies performed by the EPA, the Water Environment Research Foundation, and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies have demonstrated that use of biosolids poses a negligible risk to human health and is becoming consistently and increasingly safer.
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