If you think human waste is the worst thing that enters the sewage system, think again. All across the country, factories using toxic chemicals, meat-packing plants slaughtering animals from factory farms, hospitals treating sick people with heavy duty antibiotics, anti-microbials, pharmaceuticals and radiation therapy, nuclear power plants using cool water to stave off melt-downs, and farms spreading dangerous pesticides and fertilizers, all have access to the sewer systems.
The sewage system is supposed to take all this tainted waste water, separate out the solids and toxins and produce water clean enough to return to the environment. Well, you may have heard that our oceans, lakes and rivers aren’t as clean as they should be, but what about all the toxic stuff that’s been removed from the water? Where does that go?
Ever heard of toxic sludge? That’s the product of wastewater treatment and, up until the 1990s, it was dumped in the oceans. Now, it’s spread on farmland.
A lot of it is even sold at garden stores as “organic compost.” Please, if you ever see something called “organic compost” make sure it’s certified organic by OMRI or an accredited organic certifier.
San Francisco, home to Gavin Newsom, who some have called the World’s Greenest Mayor, is actually giving the stuff away to unsuspecting organic gardeners, calling it “organic biosolids compost.”
On March 4th at 12 noon, OCA National Director Ronnie Cummins will join garden activists at San Francisco City Hall to give this toxic sludge back to the city. If you’re in the Bay Area, please join us! (Link directs to a Facebook event)
