Biosolids are mostly organic solids resulting from the treatment of wastewater. They have undergone additional treatment to kill pathogens and stabilize the material for recycling. During treatment, bacteria and other tiny organisms break sewage down into simpler, harmless organic matter. The organic matter combined with bacterial cell masses settles out to form biosolids. This organic […]
The Council was an early contributor to Phase 1 of the National Collaborative PFAS Project, which created a national network of land application plots where soil PFAS concentrations are now known. Phase 1 of this research evaluated incidence and mobility of biosolids-derived PFAS. The research team, led by Dr. Ian Pepper of the University of Arizona, also analyzed […]
At its scheduled meeting on June 30, 2025, the Virginia State Water Control Board approved unanimously amendments to biosolids permit requirements following approval of House Bill 2517 (Runion) in the 2025 General Assembly. The legislation amends Section 62.1-44.19:3 of the Code of Virginia to say that permitting requirements shall not apply to any land application of biosolids for a […]
Every year when the Virginia Biosolids Council reports on its progress in its Code of Good Practice Annual Report, odor is typically, by volume, the number one complaint received by the Department of Environmental Quality. The VBC reported a total of five biosolids-related complaints in 2022. Several years ago, the U.S. EPA compiled a report on […]
Neal Armstrong, the famous American astronaut and the first person to walk on the Moon, once said, “research is creating new knowledge.” The U.S. EPA’s Biosolids Program works to leverage resources and knowledge to meet research needs that ensure the latest science is being used to protect public health and the environment. The Virginia Biosolids […]
Jim Ippolito, a professor at Colorado State University, is an expert on the years of work on biosolids and its benefits. He and a colleague, Ken Barbarick, recently reviewed 45 years of biosolids land application research. The research was published in the Journal of Environmental Quality, a publication of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society […]
The “Good Neighbor” brochure is a resource created by the VBC to provide information and resources for our farmers, landowners and anyone interested in biosolids. Farmers depend on the healthiness of their farm. So, when considering fertilizers, they want to make the best possible choices for their land. The VBC developed this brochure to answer basic […]
VBC members subscribe to a Code of Good Practice, which encourages them to go beyond the regulations. The Code encourages members to establish their own performance objectives that support the following goals: Protecting the environment Minimizing adverse social impacts Promoting education and awareness To that end, VBC has identified research on PFAS as a priority, […]
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are ubiquitous in our environment. Since PFAS is in so many products consumers use every day, trace amounts of PFAS can of course be found in biosolids because these everyday products reflect the chemistry of our society. Exposure is exponentially greater when cooking with Teflon-coated pans, eating fast food, using […]
Organic Matter is reused every day from productive composting, fertilizing, and recycling. Demand is growing for the beneficial recycling of organic matter from coffee grounds to poultry litter to highly treated biosolids products, allowing farmers and families to beneficially recycle. Currently food scraps and yard waste make up more than 30 percent of what we throw […]