Å®ÉúСÊÓƵ

Britain’s sewage sludge, the concentrated waste produced at sewage treatment
works, should be poured onto the nation’s forests, when a European ban on
its disposal at sea comes into force in 1998, says the Forestry Authority.

Sewage sludge contains large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus that
can fertilise tree growth, says the authority, which is the regulatory arm
of the Forestry Commission. Last week it published guidelines on how to
apply sludge safely to forests.

Janet Dutch, who leads the authority’s research into the proposal, said
that ‘used incorrectly, sludge can not only be a nuisance to the public
but also has the potential to pollute and damage trees . . .’ But with proper
care it can be a valuable fertiliser, she said.

At present 30 per cent of Britain’s sewage sludge is dumped at sea.
Other disposal routes include spreading it on farmland, landfill and incineration.

New European rules on treatment of sewage from large cities will increase
the production of sewage sludge.