Optimising Bioresources: reducing water pollution

• Uncategorized
• Circular Economy
• Nature Stewardship
• Healthy_Environment

Biowastes are essential for regenerative agriculture, reintroducing organic matter and nutrients like phosphorus. Wastewater can be an alternative source of these resources, derived from food waste, agricultural waste, and biosolids.

This report highlights a threat to valuable bioresources: biosolids extracted from wastewater and part of a circular regenerative economy. The prolific use of non-degradable chemicals and products that release microplastics and other microparticles into wastewater underlie this problem.  It calls for action by those whose products or activities lead to this contamination. It also asks Government and regulators to take on board a set of principles that have been created.

Key Facts and Figures

• 12 million tonnes of wastewater are processed each day in the UK¹.
• 3.5 million tonnes per annum of biosolids are applied to 150,000 hectares of land every year². This resource has a value of £60 million per year³.
• 1,000 pieces of plastic per litre found in the River Tame in Greater Manchester and 2.4 pieces per litre in Loch Lomond⁴.
• 171 trillion microplastic particles floating in our oceans⁵
• Pollution from tyre wear can be 1,000 times worse than what comes out of a car’s exhaust⁶
• Cost of fertilisers: 80% increase in 2021 and further increase 2022⁷. There is a high risk of malnutrition in poorer countries if fertiliser prices stay high.

Thank you to our sponsors

*Anglian Water *Dwr Cymru Welsh Water *Northumbrian Water *Severn Trent *South West Water (represented by Pennon Group) *Southern Water *Thames Water *United Utilities

Thank you, too to the following individuals and representatives from the organisations that have helped shape this report:

Faster, Greener together

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