Sewage sludge, also known as biosolids, contains a complex mix of harmful contaminants that pose a potential risk to the environment and human health.

This briefing summarises the argued benefits and growing concerns regarding the spreading of sewage sludge on agricultural land.

It identifies gaps in the new regulatory framework, recommendations to align with the EU Urban Wastewater Directive and a need to adopt the precautionary principle by introducing a moratorium on sewage sludge spreading while the risks and alternatives are investigated.