Senate passes bill to ban use of biosolids, sewage sludge as fertilizer

OKLAHOMA CITY — A bill to ban the use of sewage sludge and biosolid materials as fertilizer in Oklahoma was approved by the Senate last week.

Senate Bill 3, by Sen. Grant Green, R-Wellston, would require individuals or organizations authorized to use sludge or biosolid materials to gradually decrease their land application of the product each year until a statewide prohibition takes effect on July 1, 2027. Green said biosolid material — a byproduct of wastewater treatment largely made up of human waste — emits a foul odor that carries for miles and attracts flies, creating an unpleasant environment for residents.

Green said he’s also concerned that biosolid materials contains so-called “forever chemicals” that could harm livestock, taint farmland and leach into the state’s drinking water. Forever chemicals don’t break down in the wastewater treatment process, and a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study from January found that these chemicals present a human health risk when farmers and ranchers apply biosolids to their land, he said.

“Sewage sludge and biosolids pose a serious threat to Oklahoma’s water and food supply, and as a conscientious agricultural producer, I simply cannot stand by and allow the continued use of these toxic materials,” Green said. “By banning the land application of these noxious materials now, we’re preserving farmers’ livelihoods and protecting the state’s agricultural industry.”

The bill now advances to the House.