Many people have not heard of such a thing as biosolids before including myself. I am here to show you through my expensive research on this puzzling topic by exploring some of the aspects of biosolids.
In other parts of the world, biosolids (human waste) from sewage treatment plants are treated and used as sustainable agricultural fertilizer. Research the pros and cons of this method and take a stand on whether this can be a realistic alternative to our current agricultural practices. Who are the potential stakeholders in this issue? Are we influenced by the western view of human waste as an unsanitary and disgusting nuisance?
The emerging topic of debate in the industry of agriculture these days is the use of biosolids in order to reduce the amount of waste being put into the wrong places, but what the heck is it? Should I trust this new substance to be applied to my food? Bio solids are the product of human waste that is being nurtured in order to suit the requirements of a healthy fertilizer in the agricultural world. They can accomplish many great things and at the same time they can be fatal to people who don’t react well with the air quality they create. Is it worth it to have our crops thrive while the humans who are eating them are dying because of health concerns related to the actual process of creating these crops? I am not currently biased towards either side so I will state some reasons why they are beneficial to the future of our waste management or not based on my research.
Pros
According to Toronto Toronto
Technology allows people to clean our water with wastewater technology in the past and present and it is being used to give us clean drinking water, have cleaner water for marine life, and eliminates the need for it to travel through sewers anymore. Of course some plants and companies still do this and that is another issue. Increasing concerns have been voiced to ensure that we recycle these biosolids much the same way as we do with water. We are now required to process wastewater and to make it reusable for the safety of the public. Can’t we do the same with biosolids? Even if it is cost effective we need to ensure that the material is safe to nurture the food we eat.
Tiny organisms benefit from the organic matter in these biosolids and are able to provide energy for earthworms and other little creatures cultivating our soil for us. Biosolids are cheaper to produce safely if you think about it. They are available for use during all seasons and don’t easily wear out compared to regular fertilizers, lasting a lot longer and providing for plants longer than usual. Of course the economic reality is that biosolids are more efficient and cost much less to produce. People would never run out of them ever!
Cons
Biosolids are not exactly the best when it comes to health concerns. Think about all of the farmers who are cultivating the land and using this fertilizer to do so. They have to take precautions that they probably wouldn’t have to take with lesser amounts of regular fertilizer that they already are familiar with.
Yes, this is a very important subject because if biosolids become the norm for society and people start selling other people’s feces and food produced from that same feces how are we to be absolutely sure where it came from? How can we be sure that it has been treated properly by the many treatment plants? There is too much uncertainty. They are wonderful for the environment but if you look at the people who have resulted in having health problems and even deaths because of a method that we never actually needed to implement to improve life.
It was recorded that an 11-year-old boy from Osceola Mills, Pa.
Sludge and other wastes of the sort are taking a toll on us and who knows what the future holds. Many diseases can develop and have developed from the practices of using biosolids for farming.
Smell is a huge factor in this department too. It is grotesque and unpleasant for the people who must tend to fields of this material, DAILY. If one boy died from a simple bike ride past the field what can be done about people who are exposed to it as part of their careers? In warmer temperatures there is also an increased odour emanating from the pile distributed throughout farms everywhere.
Many would say that the pros far outnumber the cons but I believe in quality over quantity. I mean that if people die as an outcome of this new idea then it shouldn’t be worth doing. It is an injustice no matter how you look at it. Still, people would use this method because economics rule the world and people need to make a living. If there are people getting hurt then I think we should appreciate the little things, or rather, the bigger things such as life and the future of humanity because who really knows what will develop from these ideas? That’s just my opinions though, you decide. Mainly the use of biosolids seem unnecessary to me.
Potential Stakeholders
The potential stakeholders are the general public because we are the ones consuming these foods, the government and all of it’s workers who are working with these things and are being exposed to them. Also farmers and gardeners who wish to use these methods for cultivation. Then again it is their choice to work with these conditions and if they want to then they can just not use them and implement regular soil into the crops. Either way I have stated what I believe but now you decide what you think.
Are we influenced by the western view of human waste as an unsanitary and disgusting nuisance?
Yes I believe that in western countries they are more used to poverty and lower standards of living so they wouldn’t be affected in the same way as we do in Canada
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