Connecting the biosolids community New talent and resources affirm WEF’s commitment to sustainable biosolids management By Justin Jacques Originally appeared in the April 2021 issue of Water Environment & Technology magazine. Reprinted with permission from the Water Environment Federation. All rights reserved.
W
ater resource recovery professionals have long understood that when processed correctly, fertilizers made by repurposing wastewater products plus NMac 4.65 x 4.65.pdf biosolidsWaste canWater often represent a safer,
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cheaper, and more sustainable soil amendment compared to manure or chemical-based fertilizers. However, while biosolids reuse has become more common in recent decades, its 1/24/2018 7:37:09 AM been sluggish because adoption has
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of inconsistent regulatory guidelines, gaps in research, and the social stigma of recycling human waste. The Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Virginia) is taking several new steps to help overcome these obstacles. In February, WEF released a new communications toolkit to help utilities and biosolids managers build support for biosolids recycling using simple, sciencebacked messaging. The organization also established a new staff position, hiring former Northwest Biosolids (Gig Harbor, Washington) Executive Director Maile Lono-Batura as its first Director of Sustainable Biosolids Programs. “Biosolids are a central product of the wastewater treatment process, a vital part of resource recovery and circular economy, and beneficial for communities in many ways,” said WEF President Lynn Broaddus. “WEF is increasing our investment in biosolids programs and is thrilled to add Maile’s expertise and experience to our team.”
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With more than 20 years of experience leading a multi-state biosolids association, Lono-Batura is uniquely suited for her new role, which will involve unifying biosolids recycling practices and regulations that vary by region and state. In a
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