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Recycling Wastewater
Sludge into Fertilizer
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
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When it began operating in 1991, MWRA's sludge-to-fertilizer plant made history by ending sludge discharges into Boston Harbor.
The sludge-to-fertilizer plant, located near Fore River in Quincy, recycles organic solids left over from the wastewater treatment process into fertilizer. Bay State Fertilzer is suitable for landscaping, gardening and large-scale agriculture.
HIGH TEMPERATURES
KILL BACTERIA
Using rotating, high-temperature
dryers, the plant produces a small, hard granule that is approximately 60%
organic matter. The pellets contain several important nutrients,
such as nitrogen, phosphorous, calcium, sulfur and iron, and because the
nitrogen in the fertilizer is in an organic form, it feeds plants slowly
over time and minimizes the risk of nitrate pollution.
FERTILIZER
MARKETED NEARBY AND NATIONWIDE
While most of MWRA's fertilizer
is marketed in bulk by New England
Fertilizer Company, a small portion is packaged and distributed as Bay
State Fertilizer. The product meets all state and federal standards
for biosolids (sludge-derived) fertilizer, including the strictest limits
on metals. Bay State Fertilizer benefits lawns and gardens in several ways.
Like compost, Bay State Fertilizer adds organic matter to the soil, helping
to improve its texture and moisture-holding capacity. Unlike compost, however,
Bay State Fertilizer is a significant source of nutrients and can be easily
applied to lawns using conventional spreaders.
Bay State Fertilizer is purchased wholesale by golf courses and landscapers
throughout New England and has been available locally through garden centers
and nurseries since 1995. Many communities within the MWRA sewerage district
use the fertilizer on their parks, athletic fields, and municipal landscaping.