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Time to talk about sewage sludge

Author(s): 
Chrys Ostrander

Disgusting picture of sewage sludge.On Jan. 22, Spokane Master Composters is hosting a forum called 'Answering Your Questions About Waste and Recycling.'

Here's the event description:

Have you ever wondered: Why do we have a Waste-to-Energy Facility when most places have landfills? What happens to my trash and recycling after it's picked up at the curb? Is it true that bio-solids are being spread on crops? Is recycled water getting into my drinking water? Attend this public information seminar to learn more about Spokane County's solid waste, recycling, and water reclamation systems. There will be short presentations by industry professionals, an open question and answer period, and opportunities to sign up for tours of the Waste Management's SMaRT recycling sorting center, the Waste-to-Energy facility, landfill monitoring operations, and the Water Reclamation Facility. Space is limited to 50 people, so RSVP to Austin Stewart, astewart@spokanecounty.org, (509) 238-6607.

Although it's not the main focus of the forum, sewage sludge (aka bio-solids) is on the agenda. It's an opportunity to let Spokane officials know the depth of our concern regarding the dangerously misguided practice of dumping sewage on the soil that grows our crops and forests and to put them on notice that alternatives exist and must be implemented.

Time and location:

Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at 5pm – 6:30pm
1004 N Freya Way, Spokane, WA 99202

For background on the issue, I recommend our local 'no sludge on ag land' website 'Protect Mill Canyon Watershed' and the excellent Facebook page Sewage Sludge Action Network

Or Read the article by long-time Sierra Club activist Darlene Schanfeld in the summer 2019 issue of the National Equal Justice Association newsletter.

Please RSVP the organizer listed above to attend.

Here's the Facebook Event Page.

Chrys Ostrander,
Publisher, Inland FoodWise Online

Edition: 
Action Alert January, 2020