HOW TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS ON BIOSOLIDS ISSUES

Sir Winston Churchill once said that “a lie will fly around the world before the truth gets its boots on.” In our electronic age where the Internet can virtually allow just about any type of information to fly around the world, we find that most of what is on the Internet about biosolids is negative. This paper examines how the Internet and the media are being used effectively by those activists opposing biosolids recycling. However, the main focus of the paper is to provide a guide as to how those who support biosolids recycling might better utilize the Internet and other media to educate more people as to the truth about the benefits of biosolids recycling.As we move into a new millennium, many issues are still unsettled relative to biosolids recycling. Those opposed to biosolids recycling continue to make progress in getting ordinances and other forms of legislation and regulations enacted that ban or severely limit the beneficial recycling of biosolids. This paper provides a comprehensive update covering the most significant issues regarding the future of biosolids recycling in the United States. It gives examples and case histories to document how the anti's have used the Internet and news media to aid in their negative campaigns.Additionally, the paper includes detailed discussions concerning websites and information available on the Internet that are positive about biosolids recycling. It will be shown how to use these sites and network with the vast number of people on the Internet to develop message points and supporting documentation to counter any negative campaign against biosolids recycling. The concept is to have an enhanced “Biosolids Electronic Library”. Much is already in place—we just need to understand how to tap into it and make continual improvements to it.The paper concludes with proactive recommendations for how the Internet can be used to help to ensure that biosolids recycling is sustainable in the 21st Century and beyond!