A new campaign group, whose founders include the environmental activist and columnist George Monbiot, is taking the UK government to court over its failure to properly regulate the use of sewage sludge, which is used as fertiliser on farmland. The campaign is underpinned by the details of a once-secret Environment Agency report, obtained by an […]
The Environment Agency (EA) has published its strategy for safe and sustainable sludge use. The strategy sets out the purpose, principles and priorities for how the EA will enable safe and sustainable sludge use on land. It sets out how the EA will: enable safe and sustainable sludge use on land modernise and clarify the […]
Yorkshire Water and Fera Science Ltd are collaborating in early-stage research to explore and test the feasibility of using insect bioconversion to manage sewage sludge. Richard Kershaw, Waste Water Innovation Programme Manager, Yorkshire Water said: “Yorkshire Water is committed to exploring innovative approaches to dealing with the most challenging aspects of waste water management, including sewage sludge. The science […]
from Water Briefing Ofwat has opened a new consultation on proposals to require the water companies to publish more data as a means of supporting further market development for bioresources trading. Since 2018, the eleven water and sewerage companies in England and Wales are obliged to publish bioresources market information at least annually by the […]
This is worrying given new research which has demonstrated how plastic contamination can decimate the soil micro-fauna. Proceedings of the Royal Society B Guardian – Greenpeace ‘Sewage sludge containing human waste from the Netherlands has been passed for import to the UK, to be used on farmland as fertiliser, despite concerns over the safety of its […]
This report by Unearthed appeared in February but I missed it; then Covid came along. Lots of links and commentary. Unearthed is an investigative journalism organisation run by Greenpeace. Unearthed: A secret report obtained by Unearthed has revealed serious weaknesses in the Environment Agency’s controls on an industry that spreads millions of tonnes of sewage sludge on […]
Environment Agency strategy for safe and sustainable sludge use We reviewed the current regulatory regime for sludge treatment, storage and use. We looked at the advantages and disadvantages of 4 options. The option we selected will bring sludge and septic tank sludge into the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations (EPR). We aim to do […]
An exclusive in last week’s Guardian reported microplastic contamination has been found in tap water in countries around the world, leading to calls from scientists for urgent research on the implications for health. Scores of tap water samples from more than a dozen nations were analysed by scientists for an investigation by Orb Media, who […]