Global regulatory approaches to biosolids are in a state of flux due to emerging scientific findings on the chemical content of biosolids and increased social awareness and concerns. Under the backdrop of these pressures, regulators and policymakers are in a challenging position to balance their obligations to protect human health and the environment alongside pragmatism and regimes based upon scientific evidence.

Working on projects for utilities across Europe, Asia, America and Oceania in the past year means AtkinsRealis are familiar with both current and proposed regulatory limits, the balance of risks under consideration, and the evidence-bases available to inform such decisions. A complex picture has emerged, whereby each countries starting position in terms of assets, societal attitudes to waste and regulatory alignment with other countries/regions causes a divergence in their optimal future strategy to explore: for example countries with existing incineration assets where concerns centre on destruction rates, gas-phase concentrations and potential chemical transformation; whereas countries reliant upon biosolids to agriculture where the focus is upon solid residual concentrations and soil content limits. Whilst the evidence-base informing both sets of regulators's judgements is growing, there is a need for all parties to collaborate and share expertise if this complex problem facing biosolids management is to be addressed to the satisfaction of society as a whole.