Sewage sludge and bio solids (FOI)

​​Request 685673564

1

Do the States provide sewage sludge and bio solids to farmers in Jersey or landholders or Parishes and if so where do they supply it and is it a free resource or is it paid for? 

2

How much has been supplied in the last 5 years by volume or quantity?

3

If it is paid for how much does it cost? 

4

Is it turned into products for dispersal in land in Jersey? 

5

Is any of it recorded by application to field numbers? 

6

If so what are the field numbers for last year and so far this year? 

7

Is the sewage sludge or bio solids used tested for pfas or pfos?

8

If so what are the levels within it? 

9

What happens to sewage sludge and bio solids that are not used on land and how much is there on average per month? 

10

When slurry is spread on land is it tested for pfas and pfos levels?

11

Is there a system in place to record which fields are used and when they are used to assist neighbours and environmental health in raising their awareness of possible run offs and for nuisance complaints?

Response

1

Yes, the Government of Jersey provides free sewage sludge, known as Biosolids to the referenced parties.

2

12,297 m3 (cubic meters) of Biosolids were supplied between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2024.

3

It is free as per response to question 1.

4

Yes, it is turned into Biosolids for dispersal in land in Jersey.

5 and 6

The Government of Jersey records the field numbers where the referenced products are spread, however, the field numbers are exempt from release under Article 25 (Personal Information) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011.

7 and 8

The Biosolids produced are tested for PFAS and PFOS, and low levels were recorded of 50 parts per billion.  

PFAS in the Environment will be available in draft for public consultation late 2025. 

9

An average of 280 m3 (cubic meters) of unused Biosolids is incinerated per month.

10 and 11

The Government of Jersey does not record the locations where slurry is spread. The recording of this data is the responsibility of the farmers.

The farmers should record where, when and how much slurry is spread under the Water Code under the:

(Water pollution (Approval of Code of Practice) (Jersey) Order 2020 )​

The Government of Jersey may request the farmers records if they are required to investigate an incident or complaint about pollution or nuisance.

PFAS and PFOS levels in slurry are not tested.

Articles applied

​Article 10 - Obligation of scheduled public authority to confirm or deny holding Information

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), if –

(a) a person makes a request for information to a scheduled public authority; and

(b) the authority does not hold the information, it must inform the applicant accordingly.​​

​Article 25 - Personal information  

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2005. 

(2) Information is absolutely exempt information if –

(a) it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is not the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018; and 

(b) its supply to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles, as defined in that Law.