Biosolids / Humanure Compost?

Hlucas 1/8/2022, 11:52 am

Just curious on thoughts about this “compost” that is available at our local city.
Thanks for any advice.

OhioGardener 1/8/2022, 12:16 pm

Hlucas wrote:Just curious on thoughts about this “compost” that is available at our local city.
Thanks for any advice.

I would not use it because of this one statement:

That is the sludge from the sewage treatment plant. That sludge will have heavy metals and drugs that have been flushed down toilets, and not something I would want in my gardens.

**sanderson** 1/10/2022, 4:54 pm

Biosolids = sewage treatment solids

I personally would NOT use it. The toilet/dog grooming/illegal meth house waste may now be safe bacteriology, but as OG said, there are other things flushed down the toilet.

Biosolids are used for some non-food crops in some areas under some conditions. Do not use it in your food garden. Yes, some composts are made from farm manures, zoo elephant manure and some guanos. But not human or carnivore (dog/ cat poop).

**sanderson** 3/14/2023, 12:42 pm

Bump.

Before considering using composts containing biosolids or humanure, find out if it is Class A with proper heat treatment. And, since it is a manure-based compost, it follows the same rule as farm manure-based composts: limit to 20% of the total blended composts in order to prevent a buildup of phosphorus.

http://pubs.cahnrs.wsu.edu/publications/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/publications/FS156E.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2arZW75BH-SkNka0G0ineO944U_1_00bTyimEfWSRmeEYt3gGcDPFBvzA

OhioGardener 3/14/2023, 1:45 pm

While I prefer to avoid anything with biosolids in it, this is good advice.

Here in Ohio the sludge is used on non-food crop fields, but the state is now dealing with the amount of phosphorus runoff from those fields into streams & lakes causing excessive algae growth.

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