Impacts & Issues: Sludge

Sludge is the solid waste left over from wastewater treatment plants. Pulp mills are running out of landfill space and want to spread sludge on our forests, parks and farms. While on the surface, it might sound sensible to "re-use" the nutrients in this waste product, sludge still contains many toxic chemicals whose impacts on the environment and our health are not fully know.

Learn more:

• Follow-up to Ministry response, September letter - November 13, 2007

• Groups respond to changes in regulations allowing the spreading of pulp sludge - September 14, 2007
• Spreading of Pulp Mill Sludge: Submission to the BC Government re: Code of Practice - December 15, 2005
• Alas, Pulp Pollution is Still With Us – Opinion Editorial, October 17, 2000 (Pulp Pollution Day)
• Safety of Pulp Mill Sludge on Farms and Forests Questioned - June 29, 2000
• Keep Toxic Sludge Out of Our Environment! Widespread concern expressed over pulp mill waste - Feb 16 2000 (with link to Backgrounder)
• Safe and Sustainable Solutions: Food and Agriculture in British Columbia – Submission to BC Government, 1999