Vol. 5 No. 1 Summer 1997
A Newsletter About New Jersey's Water Quality Programs

Since 1989, statewide residuals (sludge) management has shifted dramatically from reliance on ocean disposal initially, to out-of-state disposal, and now to in-state and out-of-state beneficial use systems (see chart below). Beneficially used residuals are land applied, composted, or processed into a lime equivalent.

	1989	1992	1997
Ocean Disposal	51%	0%	0%
Out-of-State Disposal	17%	57%	14%
Incineration	19%	20%	25%
Beneficial Use (in and out of state)	11%	22%	60%
Other	2%	1%	1%

Every year, over 11,000 dry tons of residuals are being applied to over 2,100 acres of farmland in New Jersey, while over 160,000 dry tons are being processed at nine facilities. Processed residuals are treated to remove disease-causing organisms before being used by farmers as a soil conditioner or by topsoil dealers as an additive. New Jersey has adopted a very proactive sewage sludge beneficial use policy, which is implemented by the Bureau of Pretreatment and Residuals. Examples include the direct land application of sewage sludges to farmland, development of sludge-derived products such as compost, or liming materials for horticultural and agricultural purposes.

For more information about New Jersey's residuals management program, please contact Tim Doutt or Tony Pilawski of the Bureau of Pretreatment and Residuals at (609) 633-3823.