HC Deb 15 March 1993 vol 221 c56W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment the Agricultural Development Advisory Service has made of the safety of the recycling of paper sludge on agricultural land.

Mr. Gummer

ADAS have carried out work in this area on a commercial basis. The matter is therefore one in which ADAS have delegated responsibility and I have asked the ADAS chief executive to reply direct.

Letter from Dr. J. M. Walsh to Mr. Nicholas Winterton, dated 15 March 1993: I am responding on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to your Parliamentary question regarding assessments made by ADAS of the safety of the recycling of paper sludge on agricultural land.

  1. 1. ADAS have been commissioned by a number of paper producers to investigate the application of paper sludge waste to land. All of these materials originate from different paper manufacturing processes. This means that the chemical and physical characteristics of the waste derived from each source is different.
  2. 2. All of the paper wastes investigated by ADAS have been analysed chemically and microbiologically for the presence of plant nutrients and toxic materials. Plant growth studies and field experiments have also been undertaken to assess their suitability for recycling to land as a beneficial material.
  3. 3. The safety of the recycling of paper sludge on agricultural land is dependant on the nature of the material and the way in which it is used. Generalised comments relating to the safety of any material cannot be given without qualification.
  4. 4. In each of the above cases, the material was found to be suitable for recycling to land for the purpose of fertilising or otherwise beneficially conditioning. Recommendations have been given to ensure that the wastes are applied to land according to all relevant Acts of Parliament and Codes of Practice.
  5. 5. ADAS have been engaged as consultants to undertake on-going monitoring of field recycling operations for one particular client. Each field to receive the sludge is investigated and the soil analysed prior to the deposit. The material is not re-cycled to unsuitable fields. Those fields which receive the waste are re-visited, to ensure that the material has been applied according to a specified Codes of Practice, formulated by ADAS.

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