Is biosolids recycling safe?
Yes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with the help of scientists from universities and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, studied biosolids for more than 10 years, then developed regulations that would protect human health and the environment during the recycling process. Biosolids have been recycled safely by King County for more than 25 years. In an independent study, the National Academy of Sciences reviewed current regulations, practices, and public health concerns and concluded that “the use of these materials in the production of crops for human consumption when practiced in accordance with existing federal guidelines and regulations present negligible risk to the consumer, to crop production and to the environment.” Long-term scientific studies have repeatedly demonstrated that biosolids recycling is safe. Monitoring of biosolids, soils, water resources and plants continue to show benefits from recycling. These studies formed the basis for federal and local biosolids
