Biosolids : Pros & Cons

What are Biosolids?

Biosolids is a term used for digested sewage solids, when treated and processed the sewage sludge becomes biosolids which can be safely recycled and applied as fertilizer to sustainably improve and maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth.

Biosolids has good benefits especially in agricultural uses like fertilizers; but many has concerns on whether this practice is actually beneficial. 

Pros and Cons 

the pros:

• Biosolids are rich in nutrients, which most are essential for plant growth. Some include nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. There may be traces of copper, calcium , magnesium , iron and many other minerals.
• Biosolids have been studied and shown great improvements on crop growth in agriculture
• It reduces emissions from transportation to landfills
• Improves soil fertility
• Possibly create more jobs for workers in that trade
• It reduces production costs on farmers and replenishes the organic matter that has been depleted over time

the cons:

• There are health concerns to Biosolids if not treated right, because of the presence of pathogens
• Biosolids smell, which can be very problematic to the public and others
• Biosolids decrease property value
• The effects they have is inevitable 
• Biosolids can be contaminating due to the deposits of industrial wastes

We are very influenced on the western view of Biosolids, from further research I learned many countries use this as a common practice. Western society is dismissing this act because they view it unsanitary and unethical; but they easily forget the benefits to it and how safe biosolids as fertilizers can be.

I believe using Biosolids is a pretty realistic alternative to our current agricultural practices, it has many benefits to it like being able to reduce the use to commercial fertilizer that saves money for both farmers and the city. People may argue it's unethical due to the reason it's associated with human waste, but in a perspective the process to produce biosolids cannot harm anyone to eats the food. It's a form of recycling in a way and gives us an opportunity to put our waste in productible use. 

Works Cited

"The Pros and Cons of Biosolids in Cumberland County." The Sentinel. 2 Mar. 2013. Web. 28 May 2015. <http://cumberlink.com/news/local/the-pros-and-cons-of-biosolids-in-cumberland-county/article_61c7886a-8377-11e2-a4b9-0019bb2963f4.html>.

 "About Biosolids." Home. Water Environment Federation. Web. 28 May 2015. http://www.wef.org/Biosolids/page.aspx?id=7513&ekmensel=c57dfa7b_127_0_7513_2

"Sewage Biosolids: A  Nutrient Source." Sewage Biosolids: A Valuable Nutrient Source. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2015.Valuable

"Water - Services - Living In Toronto | City of Toronto." Water - Services - Living In Toronto | City of Toronto. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 June 2015.