The land application of solid residues from sewage treatment plants (known as biosolids) has long been controversial in Florida and increasingly throughout the U.S. Regulators and public health and environmental advocates have raised concerns that nutrients, toxic metals and chemicals in these residues might pollute surface or groundwater and thereby affect the integrity of ecosystems dependent on these receiving waters.
There are also questions about fairness, as those potentially exposed may not contribute to the public waste in question, or they may also be far away from the source, either in another political boundary or watershed.
1000 Friends of Florida received a grant to undertake a study to increase public understanding of the potential health, environmental and socioeconomic implications of the transfer and land application of biosolids within Florida.
Our report based on that study addresses the biosolids management problem faced by Florida, presents all research findings and conclusions, and proposes policy recommendations. A StoryMap to accompany our report summarizes its content with graphic enhancements, including interactive maps, tables, videos, photos, and links to media coverage and other additional information. While the study was underway, 1000 Friends presented a webinar on challenges, opportunities and equitable solutions to issues raised by the land application of biosolids in Florida.
In September 2025, 1000 Friends of Florida shared our report in a webinar for the Florida Association of Counties. Check out this County Connections video on Youtube: