Protect NY from Toxic Sewage Sludge

Given the scale of uncertainty and the irreversible nature of sewage sludge contamination, we believe a precautionary approach is necessary to protect farms, food, water, and rural communities.

What we are calling for:

A moratorium on sewage sludge spreading:
A five-year pause on the land application of all sewage sludge products and the sale of products derived from boisolids to prevent further contamination while science and policy catch up.

Comprehensive testing:
Mandatory testing of soil, water, and sewage sludge for PFAS and other contaminants to understand the full extent of risk and contamination.

Farmer support and remediation funding:
Dedicated funding to support farmers already impacted, including income supplementation, soil and water remediation, transitional cropping systems, and access to alternative farmland.

What is sewage sludge?

Sewage sludge—also called biosolids—is the solid byproduct of wastewater treatment. When sewage sludge is processed and approved for land application, it is frequently framed as a beneficial soil amendment and applied to agricultural land as a way to dispose of waste while recycling nutrients.

However, sewage sludge is not just organic matter. It is a concentrated collection of everything that flows through our wastewater systems including industrial chemicals, consumer product residues, pharmaceuticals, and contaminants that wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove.

Sewage sludge commonly contains a complex mix of contaminants, including:

Industrial solvents
Heavy metals
Microplastics
Pharmaceuticals and personal care product residues
Pathogens
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) read more below.

There are hundreds of other potential contaminants in sewage sludge, such as brominated flame retardants and other endocrine disrupting chemicals. These toxins are wreaking havoc on human and ecosystem health after sludge is spread on farms and other land. Many of these substances are not routinely monitored for or regulated when sludge is approved for land application. Their long-term behavior in soil, crops, livestock systems, and water supplies remains poorly understood.

What are PFAS?

PFAS are a large class of more than 15,000 synthetic chemicals used for their resistance to water, heat, grease, and stains. They are commonly found in products used for waterproofing, fire suppression, and manufacturing.

PFAS, or “forever chemicals” do not break down in the environment. Once released, they persist indefinitely and move easily through soil and water.

Scientific research has linked PFAS exposure to serious health concerns, including:

Certain cancers
Developmental and immune system impacts
Fertility and reproductive harm

PFAS also bioaccumulate, meaning they build up over time in soil, crops, livestock, food, and ultimately in human bodies. Even low-level exposure can become dangerous when it occurs repeatedly over years.

Sewage sludge is applied to land under two regulatory classifications:

Class A biosolids:
- Class A biosolids are treated to reduce pathogens and allowed on a wider range of lands.
- Class A biosolids are a serious source of toxic contamination.
- Class A biosolids include pelleted and bagged fertilizer derived from sewage sludge. This fertilizer is not tracked as well and ends up potentially spreading PFAS in school yards, parks, and on unsuspecting homeowners lawns.

Class B biosolids:
- Class B biosolids receive less treatment and are subject to a Beneficial Use Determination permit issued by the Department of Environmental Conservation for direct land spreading.

These classifications focus primarily on pathogen reduction, not chemical contamination. As a result, farmland can be contaminated with PFAS and other toxic substances even when sludge application complies with existing regulations.

Once applied, contaminants can:

Persist in soil for decades
Be taken up by crops
Enter livestock feed and grazing systems
Leach into groundwater and surface water

For farmers, this creates long-term risks, including loss of markets, loss of land value, and permanent damage to soil—often without full transparency or informed consent.

Sewage sludge spreading is a significant source of PFAS contamination in both surface water and groundwater. Rural communities that rely on private wells are particularly vulnerable, as these water sources are often untested and unprotected.

Sludge processing can also break down PFAS into shorter-chain compounds. These short-chain PFAS are more mobile in soil and water and are even harder to filter out of drinking water systems, increasing the risk of widespread contamination.

The impacts of sewage sludge spreading extend well beyond the field where it is applied. Farmers, farmworkers, and rural residents may experience:

Direct exposure to PFAS and other contaminants
Contaminated land near homes and farm businesses
Polluted drinking water supplies
Increased health risks for families and communities
Loss of farm viability and land value

Once contamination occurs, farmers can face devastating consequences through no fault of their own.

Current New York State Policies

In New York, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) regulates the use of treated sewage sludge that can be spread on land or made into products like compost—under state solid waste rules (6 NYCRR Part 361).

In 2023, DEC adopted an interim policy (DMM-7) to address PFAS in biosolids. The policy requires facilities to test biosolids for two common PFAS chemicals, PFOS and PFOA, and report the results to the state.

Under this policy, biosolids containing 20 parts per billion (ppb) or less of PFOS or PFOA may continue to be land applied or recycled under existing permits. Higher levels may prompt additional review by DEC. The policy does not ban land application of biosolids based on PFAS levels.

In 2025, DEC proposed a related draft policy (DMM-7A) that would expand PFAS testing requirements to include biosolids-based products such as compost and heat-dried materials, including products brought into New York from other states.

These policies are described by DEC as interim measures intended to gather data while the agency develops permanent regulations for PFAS in biosolids.

The current policies focus on testing and reporting. They do not include:

a detailed assessment of how PFAS from biosolids may move through soil, water, livestock, or crops,
farm-specific exposure evaluations, analysis of economic impacts to farms, or
specific drinking water protections tied directly to biosolids application.

Why this matters to everyone:

This is not just a farm issue. PFAS contamination threatens drinking water, food systems, public health, and the long-term viability of rural communities. Once farmland and water supplies are contaminated, the damage is difficult—if not impossible—to reverse.

Protecting soil and water today is essential to ensuring a safe, resilient food system for future generations.

Click here to take action!

Support NOFA-NY’s Advocacy Work