NSF International Develops New Protocol for Sewage Sludge Processing into Organically-Enhanced Granular Fertilizers

Public and scientific debate continues on health and environmental concerns for land application of biosolids on farmland growing food chain crops concerning the risks from sewage sludge pathogens. NSF International, an independent testing and certification organization committed to protecting the environment and public health has recently released Protocol P353 – Sewage Sludge Sterilization in Organically-Enhanced Granular Fertilizer Production.Protocol P353 establishes health, safety and performance objectives in the use of sewage sludge in granular fertilizer production to verify that they are processed under a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) System, and are free of pathogens, noncombustible and comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) metal concentration limits. Unity Fertilizer LLC manufacturing Unity Fertilizer is the first sewage sludge processing manufacturer to earn NSF Certification under Protocol P353.The Unity Technology converts dewatered wastewater sewage sludge into a valuable additive which is utilized as a component in commercial fertilizer technology to produce organically-enhanced inorganic fertilizers. The Unity Fertilizers contains high nitrogen and sulfur, along with phosphorus, micronutrients, organic carbon, and amino acids. The processes use exothermic chemistry to convert organics, sterilize pathogens, eliminate odors and provide the drying process to produce a granular commercial fertilizer with no spontaneous combustion or self-heating capability.