KANGS BIO BLOG: Human Waste as Fertilizer!

Biosolid is basically sewage waste which is monitored and treated to regulatory requirements where it is safe to use for the environment. Wastewater treatment facilities have the technology to remove hazardous contaminants from solids leaving water as a result. The solids contain nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter as well as essential micro-nutrients such as copper, iron, molybdenum and zinc, all of which are necessary for crop growth and reproduction.

Land applications for sewage biosolids being used as crop fertilizers have been regulated in Ontario since the early 1970’s. A new framework has been brought under the Nutrient Management Act as of January 1, 2011. The regulation under this Act outlines the strict requirements and standards that must be met to use sewage biosolids as a nutrient source in a farm.

Farmers see biosolids as a free source of fertilizer. Not only is it free, it also can reduce farmer production costs and can replenish farm land by increasing the soils solubility and its moisture. Biosolids are beneficial to the type of fertilizers farmers use for their crops. In effect, farmers reduce the need of chemical fertilizers and are able to maintain productive soil. As well biosolids can reduce the pollution within groundwater of farms and water elsewhere.

It is an environmental problem when sewage waste is dumped into water systems or landfills. Landfills pollute the environment and create a foul odour. These factors can be easily avoided since biosolids are able to be recycled and composted. Biosolids are used in agriculture and for soil restoration in an area. Biosolids can be used to accumulate mine sites. The dry and damp ground which is left over by mine factories can be re-established with biosolids. Toxic material can be found on the top soil of the mine site. With the rich nutrients and the organic material that the biosolids contain, it can regenerate the soil of the mine site back to a stable condition. Biosolids can also be used in forestry to promote rapid timber growth allowing more harvest for natural resource. Biosolids can also be used for gardening and compost even in your front garden.

Scientist Mitsuyuki from Okayama Laboratory in Japan proved that biosolids can be healthy and safe for the body to eat. He has created the first artificial meat ever created from human waste. It sounds disgusting, but Mitsuyuki has found a safe and prominent way to produce meat out of our own feces!

With all the positive effects that biosolids bring to the table, there has to be a catch. What’s in biosolids that makes western society squirm? The fact that biosolids is sewage waste is already enough. Residents in the city of New York have reported becoming ill connected to farmers’ use of biosolids. When biosolids are not taken care of and treated improperly, chemicals and contaminants can reside. Although there has not been scientific evidence that biosolids are harmful to public health. Even so, the Environmental Protection Agency found more than 100 toxins in its January 2009 Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey. Luckily, amongst these toxins none pose a serious health risk.

It’s not just the effects that biosolids have on human health it’s also the physical attributes it contains. Biosolid can have its own natural odour and sometimes can smell profusely foul. The land application refuses farmers using biosolids to produce their crops near residences or cities due to the smell.

I think that society should continue the use of biosolids and work more towards farms using it more often. I don’t see any harm to such a natural substance coming from our own very bodies.

Article References:

Japanese Scientists Create Meat From Poop. News Corp Australian Papers. Fox News. June 17, 2011. July 11, 2011.