SAS ATTEMPT TO SCALE SEWAGE SLUDGE MOUNTAIN

As part of their solution based approach to campaigning, Surfers Against Sewage are turning their attentions towards sewage sludge and its disposal and reuse. In what has been their first ever successful bid, the surfers have been awarded Landfill Tax Credit funding to research into what can be done with the stuff that most people like to forget once they've flushed the loo.

Sewage sludge is produced as a by-product of the sewage treatment process. With increasing levels of treatment so more sludge is produced. This leaves us with cleaner seas and rivers but with an ever-increasing mountain of sludge to be disposed of.

With sewage sludge being one 'waste' material that we will have trouble minimising, the surfers are determined to find a disposal solution that is long term and workable. SAS believe that sewage sludge should be treated as a resource rather than as a waste, but acknowledge that public acceptance of sewage sludge reuse options, is a must.

Vicky Garner, SAS Campaign Director;

" We're dealing with a pretty taboo subject here. Most people prefer to forget about what they've just flushed down the loo as soon as they've flushed, so suggesting that we should in fact be trying to reuse the stuff is not that easy a concept to push. The truth is though, that just like every other waste material man produces, we have to find a way to dispose of it and if we can make use of it in the process, it's better for the environment all round".

SAS will soon be employing a project officer to carry out the project which will focus on the South West region and will be entitled "A Green Blue-print for sewage sludge disposal". Areas of particular focus will be the reuse of sludge to generate renewable energy. The project will also include an extensive public consultation to ensure that the Blue-print is publicly acceptable.

The project has already received interest from Water Companies and the Government. Legislation that governs how sludge can be disposed of is ever tightening, so a long term solution that fits all the criteria must be found.

For further details contact Vicky Garner @ SAS on 01872 553001 - vicky@sas.org.uk