Vol. 3 No. 1 June 1995
A Newsletter About New Jersey's Water Quality Programs

Sludge - 32 percent of the sludge generated in New Jersey is being beneficially reused (land applied, composted, or processed into a lime equivalent). This means it's not going to a landfill, incinerator, or the ocean. Prior to 1985, only 6 percent of New Jersey's sludge was beneficially reused.

• Land application of sludge

  Over 11,000 dry tons of sludge is being applied to just over 2100 acres of farmland (12 farms) every year.

• Sewage sludge processed

  Over 160,000 dry tons of sludge is being processed every year by nine facilities. This sludge is treated to remove disease causing organisms before being used by farmers as a soil conditioner. At present, processed sludge is being applied to nearly 24,000 acres of farmland in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Some processed sludge is also direct marketed by permitted facilities to landscapers and nurseries.

• Ocean dumping halted

  Prior to 1991, over 450 dry tons of sludge was dumped into the ocean every day. Today, no sludge is disposed in the ocean.