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Sewage Sludge: How Do We Cope With It?

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Report Type Reports and Testimonies
Report Date Sept. 25, 1978
Report No. CED-78-152
Subject
Summary:

About 5 million tons of sludge are produced each year and the amount is increasing at a rapid rate. Sludge disposal options are limited. Federal and state environmental regulations have restricted such options as landfill and incineration and ocean dumping is being phased out because of dangers to human and marine life.

The nutrient content of sludge could make it valuable as a fertilizer and it also has potential as an energy source. However, its bacterial and toxic content limit its agricultural use and its feasibility for energy use has not been proven. In spite of these problems, the use of sludge as a resource is still the most viable solution to dealing with this substance. However, this has not been done because such use has not been encouraged by federal and state authorities, guidance has been lacking, and there has been no comprehensive national sludge disposal policy.

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