An Economic Framework for Evaluating the Benefits and Costs of Biosolids Management Options - WERF Research Report Series

Agencies responsible for wastewater treatment have choices regarding how they manage their treatment process residuals. They can consider them waste products requiring suitable disposal (e.g., liquids managed as wastewater effluent, and sludges directed to traditional landfills), or as potential resources with significant "beneficial use" potential. For example, effluent can be rendered into reclaimed water, and solids can be used beneficially as a soil amendment in land applications and mine site reclamation, tapped as a renewable bio-fuel for energy production, or applied in other beneficial manners. Beneficial use options for biosolids management can generate important benefits to the utility and the community it serves. However, in some instances these beneficial use options also may have the potential to impose additional costs and/or risks. These benefits, costs, and potential risks generally accrue not only to the wastewater agency alone, but also to society as a whole (including the environment).