A number of factors have contributed to increased biosolids (sludge) reuse over the past year. These factors include the use of more advanced wastewater treatment equipment, outreach and marketing efforts, high cost of biosolid disposal, bans on disposal of biosolids in landfills, landfill capacity concerns, landfill closures, bans on yard trimmings in landfills, and continuing research into the beneficial reuse of biosolids. However, in areas with large landfills, the beneficial reuse of biosolids has decreased. The chart below shows present uses of biosolids in the United States. (excerpted from Biosolids Generation, Use, and Disposal in the United States, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Municipal and Solid Waste Division, Office of Solid Waste, EPA530-R-99-009, September 1999.)