Sunday, August 14, 2005

The finances of the use of biosolids in Virginia

The regulation of biosolids as fertilizer remains a controversial land-use and environmental topic in Virginia. Localities who have tried to outlaw or regulate the use of biosolids have general lost in court, as state law has been found to preempt more restrictive local ordinances. In this article, the Lynchburg paper studies the dollars and cents of the biosolid business in Virginia.

The article says: "A survey of nearby states indicates that Virginia is the only state with no permit fees for the land application of biosolids."

It notes:

"In Central Virginia, biosolids are spread in Bedford and Appomattox counties, an application has been approved for Campbell County and one is pending in Amherst County.

Statewide, 250,000 dry tons are spread each year."

A government official explained that "that the biosolids program saves taxpayers money because land application of the treated sewage waste is cheaper than landfilling or incinerating. Without land application, ratepayers would pay more for sewage treatment, he said."

Another official was quoted as saying that biosolids have “saved the local farm community in excess of $12 million.”

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