Sewage sludge, also known as biosolids, is a by-product of wastewater and sewage treatment. Treated sewage sludge is commonly spread on agricultural land because it contains nutrients, but it also contains a cocktail of potentially hazardous contaminants, including microplastics, PFAS (forever chemicals) and pharmaceuticals that are not destroyed during treatment.
In 2024, Scotland applied 72,235 tonnes of sewage sludge to agricultural land.
Find out more in ERCS’s sewage sludge FAQ.
Tenacious campaigners
Jo Hirst and Doreen Goldie first looked into the use of sewage sludge in 2009 as community councillors, when local residents complained of unbearable smells from nearby spreading. As they investigated, they uncovered issues across neighbouring areas and further afield in Aberdeen, Dumfries, East Lothian, Perthshire, Renfrewshire, Stirling, South Lanarkshire, and Galloway and Fife, as far back as 2004.
Read their Voices for Justice blog on their journey to seek protection for the environment and communities.
ERCS is delighted that Jo and Doreen have now been recognised by the Tenacious Awards for their skill and determination in fighting for environmental justice and driving change.
After years of trying to raise awareness of the risks of sewage sludge, recent reports have further confirmed their concerns.
Working with ERCS, Jo and Doreen are calling for a moratorium on sewage sludge spreading until the harmful contaminants are removed.
“Farmland should grow food, not absorb waste.” – Doreen Goldie
“Contaminated farmland can never be reclaimed and is lost forever” – Jo Hirst
Send in your cases of sewage sludge
We are looking for cases from people affected by sewage sludge. We want to build our evidence to show the Scottish Government the impact and why spreading needs to stop.
Smelling sewage sludge in your area and have a case to share?
See our campaign webpage for more details.
New report states sewage sludge policy must take a precautionary approach
A new report commissioned by Fidra by environmental economics experts eftec recommends taking a precautionary approach and developing a regulatory framework that considers the wider costs of applying sewage sludge to land.
The cocktail of contaminants within sewage sludge poses a risk to biodiversity, agricultural production, services provided by freshwater ecosystems and human health.
For example, persistent chemicals such as PFAS and microplastics can accumulate over time and, without effective monitoring and controls, this accumulation can render land unsuitable for agricultural production.
Alternatives to spreading on agricultural land
Ultimately, we need to prevent toxic contaminants from entering the wastewater system so that sewage sludge can be used as intended, a circular resource that provides valuable nutrients to our soils. This requires complex regulatory controls on multiple pollutants at the source, such as a full ban on PFAS.
Until controls are put in place, alternative methods of handling sewage sludge are needed.
What needs to be done
Scotland is falling behind the rest of the world. A number of EU member states and U.S. states have introduced a ban or restrictions on the use of sewage sludge.
We need to adopt the precautionary principle and re-evaluate the risks of sewage sludge to environmental, animal and human health.
Scotland should:
- Stop all imports of sewage sludge to Scotland.
- Introduce a moratorium until the harmful contaminants are removed.
- Align with the EU to improve the monitoring and treatment of sewage.
- Make polluters pay for the treatment costs.
- Introduce contaminant control measures such as a full ban on PFAS chemicals.
