Washington state farmers spread thousands of tons of fertilizer each year from human waste to thousands of tons of fertilizer each year, but there are major blind spots when it comes to potential pollutants.
Fertilizers made from human waste are fairly common throughout the country. Depending on who you ask, they are called “biosolids” or “sludges” and can be considered frontiers or health hazards of the agricultural world. More and more, there are new specters in the industry. It is a slate of toxic chemicals known as cancer and PFAS (PFA that causes cancer and other health problems). The pollution is Very bad In some places Connecticut and main The use of biosolids on farmland is prohibited.
In Washington, particularly in King and Pierce counties, experts say PFA problems aren’t particularly noticeable. Contaminants are likely to be present and can be detected in rainwater around the world, but they say they are not likely to be dangerously high concentrations.
But here it is: we don’t know surely.
The new bill under consideration at the Capitol will try to change everything.
Waste treatment plants that turn human waste into fertilizer or compost do not need to test these eternal chemicals. Even if the waste plants test, there are no specific restrictions on the compounds.
State Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, sponsored the bill, last week told the Chamber of Commerce’s Environmental and Energy Technology Committee that his bill cited both human health and the ability to use these fertilizers. He said it was a way to protect it.
“Biosolid: They’re good,” Wilson said. “But Forever Chemicals’ Question Mark Level Biosolid might not be good.”
If passed, the bill will be required by the state’s Ecological Agency to establish PFAS sampling and testing requirements for biosolids by July 2027. A year later, the department will need to complete a PFA-level analysis of biosolids produced in Washington. At the end of 2028, we need to report that analysis to Congress and report recommendations on how to move forward.
This is the third time a bill like this has been introduced at the Capitol, but this year, Wilson said she might go to the governor’s desk. PFAS contamination caused by biosolid use Headlines across the country In recent months, the US Environmental Protection Agency warned that these compounds in sewage could exceed safety restrictions More than a few times.
The rise in testing is not a controversial topic either. King County has already conducted a year-long analysis of its own product called the Loop, but the results are still unavailable. Public relations officer Akiko Oda said the county supports Wilson’s bill and ongoing testing requirements. Already, they are routinely testing pathogens, heavy metals and trace chemicals, and developing plans for ongoing PFA monitoring and testing, she said.
Human waste flows do not create PFA. Compounds flow through the products we use and ingest, or from upstream sources such as industrial manufacturers and stormwater streams to treated plants. The increase in Forever Chemicals can be managed by looking for upstream sources and stopping the flow there. The ODA said King County continues its efforts to control these sources and have producers responsible for cleanup costs.
More than dozens of people testified before the committee last week, generally supporting the measure. Some expressed concern that the bill has not progressed well, but lawmakers asked if the use of biosolids would be completely prohibited for agricultural purposes. Apart from PFA contamination, others have expressed concern about pathogens that can spread through human waste and the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
State laws state that treatment factories are “Beneficial Uses“For waste, before they can consider incineration or landfilling. This bill will help Washington understand whether there are PFAS issues with its biosolid program.
“Don’t scare yourself, but we won’t be blind to anything that will affect our bodies forever,” Wilson said.
The bill is scheduled to be voted in a Senate committee on Tuesday afternoon.
