Request relating to Guidelines for the Safe Application of Biosolids to Land

Details of the request

The “Guidelines for the Safe Application of Biosolids to Land” (2003) are being updated. The update is currently in draft form “Guidelines for Beneficial Reuse of Organic Materials on Productive Land” (2017). As the Ministry for the Environment was a primary author of the parent document it is expected the Ministry will have a role in the development of the updated draft guidelines.
Please can you supply information relating to this development of these Biosolids/Organic Materials guidelines (2016-2021) including:

1. All emails, advice, draft materials, data and communication including appendices relating to this consultation received by MfE or produced by MfE.

2. Expert reports (produced or recieved) concerning the chemical toxicity and environmental and human health risk of trace metals/legacy chemicals/contaminants of emerging concern and their metabolites in biosolids/biowaste/sewage sludge released on to agricultural and/or productive land. These reports should include any discussion on soil levels in New Zealand soils concerning trace (heavy metals) including but not limited to, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury, nickel and lead.

3. Reports (produced or recieved) concerning the environmental fate including discussion of bioaccumulation and persistence of trace metals/legacy chemicals/contaminants of emerging concern and their metabolites in biosolids/biowaste/sewage sludge/influent wastewater released on to productive land. This should encompass an expected change in the guideline limits from the 2003 Guidelines for the Safe application of biosolids to land in NZ metal limits to the new draft guideline limits.

4. Information gathering including reports, policy advice and reviews relating to information held with high-income nation-states relating to biosolids/biowaste/sewage sludge released on to productive land, in particular:
a) Concerning the ecological risk arising from exposures to trace elements/legacy chemicals/contaminants of emerging concern and degradant metabolites.
b) Analysis, reports, and regulatory information concerning the potential for existing soil profiles and soil biome health to be degraded/compromised by application and bioaccumulation of biosolids/biowaste/sewage sludge containing trace elements/legacy chemicals/contaminants of emerging concern and degradant metabolites.
c) Analysis, reports, and regulatory information concerning the potential for bioaccumulation in freshwater, groundwater and drinking water sources as a result of diffuse emissions emanating from soil applications.
d) Analysis, reports, and regulatory information concerning the potential for mixture effects from co-ocurring trace elements/legacy chemicals/contaminants of emerging concern and degradant metabolites, and for these mixtures to cause a 'cocktail' effect.

5. If information concerning questions 2-4 is not contained with staff or elected members within the Ministry for the Environment, please could the Ministry provide information as to the relevant authority charged with reporting and analysis of these areas, who the Ministry would turn to for advice.