Would You Like Your Food With Or Without Sewage Sludge?

by Long Island Attorney Paul A. Lauto, Esq.

The disposal of America’s waste and garbage is a growing problem with limited solutions. Landfills are filling up across our country, waste is turning up in our waters and Americans still tend to be lazy when it comes to recycling. So what are we to do with all of our waste and in particular our sewage? Our government’s answer in part, is to return it to the food supply.

As absurd as the title question to this article sounds, it is a question that perhaps we all need to ask ourselves before buying our food. The use of treated sewage or biosolids to fertilize crops, has long been accepted and approved in the United States by the FDA, EPA and USDA. In fact the sewage sludge used in agriculture is regulated under the Clean Water Act. Fertilizers are actually made from treated domestic septage and sewer sludge and called biosolids.

According to the epa.gov, “Once the wastewater reaches the plant, the sewage goes through physical, chemical and biological processes which clean the wastewater and remove the solids. If necessary, the solids are then treated with lime to raise the pH level to eliminate objectionable odors. The wastewater treatment processes sanitize wastewater solids to control pathogens (disease-causing organisms, such as certain bacteria, viruses and parasites) and other organisms capable of transporting disease.” Our government maintains that the use of sewage fertilizers in our food, is safe and presents a “negligible risk” to consumers. Further, that it helps prevent our landfills from filling up and is good for the environment.

Read the full article at

http://www.liattorney.com/scales-of-justice/would-you-like-your-food-with-or-without-sewage-sludge