Sludge, also known as biosolids, are a mixture of treated human and industrial waste that can be used to fertilize land where animal feed is grown. It does not smell like roses.
These days sludge is also creating a political stink — in the Central Valley. One third of California’s sludge is sent to fertilize land in Kern County even though the county only generates 2% of that total. It is an imbalance that has local politicians and citizens’ groups battling the source of much of that offal: Southern California’s sanitation districts.
At issue is whether the sludge is a health risk or just unpopular. And, ultimately, what is the best solution for disposing of all our waste.
An earlier version of this story first aired September 9, 2005.
- Report to the Kern County Water Resources Committee Regarding the Land Application of Kern County Class A-Eq Biosolids and Groundwater Issues, Kern County Water Resources Committee (PDF)
- State Senator Dean Florez, Senate District 16
- Sanitation Districts Of Los Angeles County Fact Sheet, Joint Administration Office of the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (PDF)
- Biosolids Technology Fact Sheet: Land Application of Biosolids, Office of Water, United States Environmental Protection Agency (PDF)
- Letter to Mr. Wayne Verrill, Management Practices Support Unit, Division of Water Quality State Water Resources Control Board, by the Kern Food Growers Against Sewage Sludge (PDF)
- “Does Anybody Want Orange County Sanitation District’s 230,000 tons of Biosolids?,” Orange County Grand Jury (PDF)
- “Kern County May Bar Southland Sludge,” Los Angeles Times via the Sludge Watch listserv
- National Biosolids Partnership, “The goal of the National Biosolids Partnership (NBP)…is to advance environmentally sound and accepted biosolids management practices.”
- Sludge/Dairy Watch, Kern County Democratic Party
- Kern protests becoming Los Angeles’ Toilet Bowl, BoiFromTroy
- Hooooowdy-ho! Canada’s poo mascot, Mr. Floatie, BoingBoing.net
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