Increasing use of biosolid fertilizers is becoming more prevalent and concerning given that it is not a closely regulated process. The terms biosolids and sewage sludge are frequently used interchangeably and typically refer to solid wastes that are left over as a result of wastewater treatment. Biosolids are disposed of in three ways: spreading the biosolids on farmland, incineration and landfilling.

According to the Pennsylvania Budget and Legislative Finance Committee, in Pennsylvania, 46% of biosolids are used in landfills, 38% are land-applied, and roughly 15% are incinerated. Land application is the least expensive option while incineration is the most expensive solution, typically costing twice as much as land application.

Regardless of whether biosolids are land applied or sent to landfills, they need to be treated to reduce pathogens. Eighty percent of the biosolids used by Pennsylvania farmers are Class-B biosolids. Class-B sludge is allowed to have significantly higher pathogen and pollutant levels than Class-A products, and can contain PFAS chemicals that are toxic to humans. Due to harvesting regulations, Class-B biosolids are used almost exclusively for animal feed crops.

In 2018, East Penn Township filed an injunction against the Cunfer Farm’s proposed use of biosolid fertilizers. The Cunfer Farm is near Lizard Creek not far from its confluence with the Lehigh River near Bowmanstown. The farm’s owners are legally permitted to use Class-B biosolids as long as they comply with guidelines. However, according to the EPA, “inadequate monitoring of sources of waste used to create sludge and ineffective enforcement of existing regulations leaves the EPA unable to assess the impact of hundreds of unregulated pollutants in land-applied biosolids on human health and the environment.”

In Maine, the testing of 44 fields containing biosolids consistently found alarming PFAS levels in the ground, cows and farmers’ blood. They also discovered deer that ate crops grown with waste water sludge had meat that was too contaminated to eat. After the deer meat testing, Maine wildlife officials issued “do not eat” advisories for deer harvested in the affected areas. Several other states have reported similar problems that resulted from the use of biosolid fertilizers.

Stephen R. Chuckra

Lehighton