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Standards Development
The standard will characterize and outline the range of public perceptions and reactions to the beneficial uses of treated sewage sludge (biosolids) and provides descriptions of and steps in risk communication methods intended obtain the recognition and support of interested parties for such beneficial uses.
Although primarily intended for land applications of biosolids, the standard may be used for risk communication related to other beneficial uses of biosolids or of similar material
The purpose of the proposal is to correct an inadvertent error in the original proposal balloted as ISO TC 275 N075 that proposed a Technical Report instead of a Standard.
Biosolids are sewage sludge that has been treated to meet specific jurisdictional requirements. The resulting biosolids can be used beneficially as a source of organic nutrients, as a soil conditioner, or as an energy source. When beneficial options are not available, biosolids are typically sent to landfills which may result in environmental impacts and the loss of valuable resources (e.g., soil nutrients). Landfilling results in an increase in GHG emissions, loss of finite nutrients such as phosphorus with no economic benefits to society. Land filling biosolids also uses up valuable landfill space and in most jurisdictions siting a new landfill is incredibly difficult due to perceived / real societal and environmental impacts. As global populations and urbanization increases along with the implementation of improved wastewater treatment infrastructure, the worldwide production biosolids will increase and the sustainable management of biosolids will become more and more critical.
Beneficial utilization of this valuable resource is the logical approach to sustainable management. However, the beneficial utilization of biosolids faces many detractors / adversaries due to the lack of proper messaging and effective education, or to instinctive human emotional reaction to the potential use of biosolids, and scientific uncertainties.
A successful biosolids beneficial use program necessitates proper planning, communicating and consulting with the public. Failure to take proper steps has resulted in foreseeable but avoidable problems including the prohibition of the land application biosolids or even the recovery of energy from them. No growing community is immune to an increase in the production sewage sludge; if a beneficial use of biosolids (e.g., a land application program) is not based on proper communication and consultation with the public, then a valuable resource is lost to society.
The standard will provide guidance on developing a communication program for the sustainable utilization of biosolids, for communicating the environmental and public health risks and benefits of biosolids with the public. It will also provide case studies of successful communication actions (with analysis) from around the globe.
The purpose of the proposal is to correct an inadvertent error in the original proposal balloted as ISO TC 275 N075 that proposed a Technical Report instead of a Standard. Biosolids are sewage sludge that has been treated to meet specific jurisdictional requirements. The resulting biosolids can be used beneficially as a source of organic nutrients, as a soil conditioner, or as an energy source. When beneficial options are not available, biosolids are typically sent to landfills which may result in environmental impacts and the loss of valuable resources (e.g., soil nutrients).
Landfilling results in an increase in GHG emissions, loss of finite nutrients such as phosphorus with no economic benefits to society. Land filling biosolids also uses up valuable landfill space and in most jurisdictions siting a new landfill is incredibly difficult due to perceived / real societal and environmental impacts.
As global populations and urbanization increases along with the implementation of improved wastewater treatment infrastructure, the worldwide production biosolids will increase and the sustainable management of biosolids will become more and more critical.
Beneficial utilization of this valuable resource is the logical approach to sustainable management. However, the beneficial utilization of biosolids faces many detractors / adversaries due to the lack of proper messaging and effective education, or to instinctive human emotional reaction to the potential use of biosolids, and scientific uncertainties.
A successful biosolids beneficial use program necessitates proper planning, communicating and consulting with the public. Failure to take proper steps has resulted in foreseeable but avoidable problems including the prohibition of the land application biosolids or even the recovery of energy from them. No growing community is immune to an increase in the production sewage sludge; if a beneficial use of biosolids (e.g., a land application program) is not based on proper communication and consultation with the public, then a valuable resource is lost to society.
The standard will provide guidance on developing a communication program for the sustainable utilization of biosolids, for communicating the environmental and public health risks and benefits of biosolids with the public. It will also provide case studies of successful communication actions (with analysis) from around the globe.
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