title: We Should Expect More out of Our Sewage Sludge.
abstract: Sewage sludge and biosolids production and management are a central component of water and sanitation engineering. The culmination of previous incremental technologies and regulations aimed at solving a current treatment problem, rather than developing the practice for the higher goals of sustainability have resulted in sludge becoming an economic and social liability. Sludge management practice must shift from treatment of a liability toward recovery of the embedded energy and chemical assets, while continuing to protect the environment and human health. This shift will require new research, treatment technologies and infrastructure and must be guided by the application of green engineering principles to ensure economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, Mason Laboratory, 9 Hillhouse Avenue, P.O. Box 208286, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States.
authors.forename: Jordan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peccia
authors.affiliation: ‡School of Sustainable Engineering and The Built Environment, Arizona State University, Box 3005, Tempe, Arizona 85287-3005, United States.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Westerhoff
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010758:Phosphorus