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Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Beith MPLiberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Berwick Upon TweedWorking for you and the Berwick upon Tweed Constituency all year roundin Northumberland and in Westminster |
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Residents raise Agrivert concerns at Embleton meeting
July 2, 2010 12:00 AM
Farm use of biosolids as fertiliser is strictly controlled but can still cause problems for neighbours.
Residents had the chance to question officials and raise their concerns surrounding the use of Agrivert at a meeting chaired by Berwick's Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith last Friday.
The meeting at Embleton School was organised by Sir Alan after residents contacted him with their worries about biosolid fertilisers made from sewage sludge. Agrivert is one of a number of contractors who work with Northumbrian Water to supply biosolid fertilisers to farmers, which Northumbrian Water describe as "a safe, sustainable, highly regulated and environmentally sound solution to the increasing challenge of waste recycling." Representatives from Northumbrian Water, Agrivert, the Environment Agency and Northumberland County Council all attended the meeting.
At the meeting Sir Alan pledged to ask the Health Protection Agency to look into the practice of using sewage sludge in this way. After the meeting he said
"I have contacted the Health Protection Agency and am asking them whether there is any danger from pathogens or pharmaceuticals getting into the food chain or into watercourses in which children play, as well as what testing needs to be done.
"I am glad that Agrivert have indicated they will not be delivering this material to the area while these issues are explored. The meeting also called on Northumberland County Council to impose a county-wide ban and I am putting this request to the Council together with Councillor John Taylor."
Sir Alan has been contacted by residents from other parts of Northumberland and is asking Agrivert to consider suspending operations in these areas while the issues raised at the meeting are investigated.
Agrivert's Chief Executive, Alexander Maddan, said:
"When we take a stockpile out to agricultural land, we register it with the Environment Agency (EA) and it is permitted for 12 months. If we can't spread that material for 12 months, because of a change in cropping pattern by the farmer or because of the weather, then we reapply to store it for another 12 months. The code of practice recommendation is as once we spread the contents of a stockpile, we incorporate it into the soil within 24 hours.
"This is only recommendation, and good practice, that we try to adhere to on arable land. The reason the stockpile near to Embleton village has been there for more than a year is because of a wet summer 2 years ago combined with change in cropping pattern which meant that we have been unable to spread it yet. This will be spread between August and September this year.
"The smell is a significant part and it is a very sensitive issue. We try to minimise this at all times, by sensitive location of stockpile, delivery and spreading the material on the same day where appropriate, immediate incorporation, and using a low odour product where possible. On the subject of risk to health, there has never been a recorded health scare caused by recycling sewage sludge to agricultural land. There has been a tremendous amount of peer reviewed scientific research into the use of agricultural land to sewage sludge over that last 50 years and across Europe and the USA there has never been a conclusion that is unsafe."
Northumbrian Water's wastewater manager, Richard Murray, said:
"Recycling biosolids, a by-product from the sewage treatment process, for use on agricultural land is safe, sustainable, highly regulated and supported by the EU and UK governments. The biosolid recycling process poses absolutely no risk to drinking water supplies.
"Our contractors Agrivert, treat the sludge using a process which ensures the highest classification of treatment (lime stabilisation) and manage the distribution and recycling of the product to farmland. Biosolids are recycled in accordance with The Safe Sludge Matrix, which provides a voluntary framework of good practice. There is no evidence of adverse heath effects from either the application of biosolids to the crop or the spreading activities.
"Biosolids are a valuable resource to farmers providing vital nutrients to crops reducing the need for artificial fertilizers."
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