Composting biosolids is quite possible. The feedstock industry would greatly benefit, as biosolids make great cold-weather composting, in addition to being high in nitrogen. Umm... Composting of biosolids has been rather successful in Canada, contrary to the initial bio-blog question. In particular, the city of Edmonton produces about 80,000 tonnes of compost a year using biosolids.
Biosolid compost has even been mixed with soil to produce "fabricated soil", which is supposedly supposed to help support plant growth, and improve the aesthetic qualities of the soil itself (haha).
However, as with many other things, old ways die hard. Many people depend on our view of human waste as a nuisance to be simply dumped away. And here`s another surprise -the root of it all is money. A garbage man working for 80$ an hour would never in his life trade in such a hefty income for such minimal labour (I wouldn`t either!) And if the people at the bottom can make so much, imagine the wealth of the heads of the sanitation departments! They are huge, and powerful. Also on their side is that the only way people will ever learn about Biosolids being used as compost is via an obscure reference in a biology unit. Since most people do not know what is happening, they could care less.
However.. I sincerely believe that as long as there are people who care about the world around them, mankind will find itself on the right path (eventually). After all, think about all we have
accomplished in the past!
Above: example of Soil infused with Biosolid Compost
References:
http://www.compost.org/Biosolids_Composting_FAQ.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/combioman.pdf
http://www.mun.ca/research/2005report/results/sewer_mgmt.php
Picture References:
http://www.journalofcommerce.com/images/archivesid/22509/600.jpg
1 comment
Hello thar Kyle.
First, nice pointing out that biosolids are actually used pretty widely. I was thinking that myself but didn't actually mention it in my blog.
I think you should have gone more in depth into the pros and cons and overall use, since all you really had was a quick summary of it's applications. You mostly discussed industry effects rather than talking about the positives and negatives of it's use such as promoting plant growth, preventing nutrients from traveling beyond the roots, and pathogens and metals that could possibly get into plants.
I do agree with your comment on the fact that people think human waste as being simply... waste. Most people probably wouldn't think of it being used as fertilizer until they do a unit 13/14 bioblog.
Anyways, I'd say better luck next time, but this is the last one. Ha.
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