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 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?
For over 30 years, Ontario has used its biosolids as fertilizers on farmlands. Biosolids, also referred to as sewage sludge, is a term used to discribe, as the city of Toronto puts it, "digested sewage soilids". What does this mean exactly?
Well, the water you send down your toilets, drains and showers travels through underground pipes to one of the city's four water treatment facilities. When this domestic waste water is treated, the solid material is filtered out of the water. The water goes through watever process and blah blah blah ..its safe...we drink it. Now back to that "material". Its sent to (as T.O says) "digester tanks". These tanks conatin microrganisms that consume the solids and produce the famous BIOSOLIDS. These biosolids are high in organic content, contain notrients that are valuble to plants, and because the material has been "consumed" by microrganisms the solids are then less likely to support further microbial activity (they're pretty much sanitary).The city then has do decide what its going to do with this stuff. As seen below, these biosolids are sent to a lot of different places.
As you can see, the majority of the biosolids are sent to landfills (41%) or are incinerated (23%). So why is soo much of this valuble material and FREE FERTILIZER being dumped into landfills or burned in incinerators creating pollution? In many counrties using this material as fertilzers is commonplace. So why aren't we doing the same? Let's take a look at the pros and cons of the situation.
Okay, I always think it's good to start with the CONS (then the pros cheer you up!)
- a potential health hazard
- odor
- the smell decreases propperity value
-chemicals may be put onto our foods via the sewage
And the PROS
- its FREE
- biosolids contain nutrients etc. that help lants grow
- saves the space these biosoils otherwise take up in our landfills
-better than burning the solids (as 23% of them are in Toronto) and subsiquently pollute our air
- jobs are created
Now what? Well the jobs created and the money brought in from the province selling these biosolids I think basically is worh the loss in property value. And when we're talking about jobs, we're not just talking about shipping the biosolids. There's manufacturing the solids into pellets, which is what's used as a fertilizer, and ther's marketing this product as well. 
Then there's the fact of the odor. Yes it smells bad, but face it, so does cow manure. And which would you rather, a foul smell, or that material being bured and put into the air that we breathe! Then ofcourse you have to take into consideration the point that this is fairly new technology, not much is known about if the lsudge might conatin any toxins in it and what affect this would have on the food it fertalizes. However, did you know that many farmers in Florida use biosolids to fertalize their crops. The famous Florida oranges are fertilized
A farmer shows the "sludge pellets" also known as biosolids used to fertilze his crops. with biosolids. Have any of you ever eaten a Florida orange? Any side effects? I've eaten plenty and I'm perfectly fine. Infact, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, biosolids "...can be safely recycled and applied as fertilizer".
A farmer shows the "sludge pellets" also known as biosolids used to fertilze his crops. with biosolids. Have any of you ever eaten a Florida orange? Any side effects? I've eaten plenty and I'm perfectly fine. Infact, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, biosolids "...can be safely recycled and applied as fertilizer".
So why aren't we using biosolids more often? Well, its really up to us. I think that we are too easly swayed by the western veiw that human waste is unsanitary. So amny counries use biosolids. It just amkes sense to use somthing that otherwise would just be dumped in a landfill. Maybe its just the F.O.B. comming out in me, but don't you think it's such a waste to through away all of this perfectly clean and valublbe fertilizer just because you think its kind of gross? We have this resource, its safe (for all we know...and hey "innocent until proven guilty"!) and its FREE. Let's use it!
sources
http://www.thestar.com/article/459085
http://www.toronto.ca/health/hphe/pdf/bio_soilds_chp6.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/biosolids/
Hey Anj,
ReplyDeleteI don't think you're being too F.O.B. lol.. I totally agree with you I mean it's free why shouldn't we put it to good use? I really liked your blog, I especially liked how you put the pros and cons in point-form because it made it easy to follow your blog. There were a few grammar errors, but it's okay we all make them :) Also, I learned a lot of neat stuff, like how Florida oranges are grown in biosolids, that is soo cool. Those oranges are the best.. making me crave one.. Anyways good job on your last bio blog for the year :) YEAHH !
Hey Anji,
ReplyDeleteThis is my last bioblog comment ever :). I don't think your being F.O.B. either lol. I'm some what on the same page as you. Sure it's free, but as soon as I start thinking that what I'm about to eat has been fermenting in someone's waste, then I'm not too sure. But as long as no one tells me, go right ahead and use biosolids as fertilizer. I liked the point form too, it just stated the facts clearly. I never would have guessed that Florida oranges are grown in biosolids, that was definitely surprising. I bet lots of people don't know that and their opinion on biosolids would change. Your bioblog was very good and informative, great job!
Laura :)
hey anji! :D
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I'd like to say that I agree with your entry. Biosolids are a realistic method to harvest our crops. I think we can get over the smell just fine, I mean people fart in public once in a while and at first we're like "ew" but then after we totally forget about it! Plus, it's free! And who doesn't like free thing?! :p
I like how you brought up the example of the biosolids being used in Florida. To be honest, although I support the use of biosolids and I'm all for it, I'm still afraid of what it might do to the food I eat. But I eat tons of Florida oranges! And knowing that those farmers actually USE biosolids, gives me comfort to know that maybe it isnt that bad to have poop frow our food!
Great blog! :D