Public Meeting: Waste Sludge — December 2

CONCERNED COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO MEET ABOUT INDUSTRIAL WASTE SLUDGE BEING SPREAD ON FARMLAND ACROSS ALABAMA

Alabama Waste Sludge Awareness, a group of concerned community members in Alabama, is hosting a public meeting on Thursday, December 2 at 6 pm* at the Guntersville Rec Center’s MP Room to help educate the public more about the terrible – and incredibly smelly – practice of applying industrial waste sludge to farms and land throughout the state.

Waste sludge includes a variety of waste streams such as: sludge from wastewater treatment plants, the waste from coal combustion and pulp & paper processing and residuals from chicken rendering & processing facilities (NOT chicken house litter). This sludge can include many industrial and man-made contaminants and/or pathogens. 

“This putrid practice of applying this sludge to land in Alabama has been going on far too long.” Julie Lay, a member of the group, said. “We want to bring everyone together in one room and really discuss what this horrible sludge actually IS, what it is doing to our land, water, and air, and what we as concerned and educated community members can do about it.”

 PUBLIC MEETING DETAILS:

Date and Time: Thursday, December 2 

*Doors open at 5:30  with light food and the program starts at 6 pm

Speakers include: Julie Lay (impacted community member), Chris Nidel (Nidel & Nace P.L.L.C.), Jack West (Alabama Rivers Alliance), Nelson Brooke (Black Warrior Riverkeeper)

Location: Guntersville Rec Center – MP Room (1500 Sunset Dr, Guntersville, AL 35976)

“The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) is in the process of revising the regulations around this sludge-applying practice, and it’s up to community members to make their voices heard and concerns known.” Jack West, Alabama Rivers Alliance’s Policy & Advocacy Director said. “These waste sludges are laden with pollutants that can runoff into our waters and seep into public drinking water supplies. This practice must be better regulated for the health and safety of all Alabamians.”

 

 Watch the short documentary SOILED to learn more: