Findings — Municipal sewage sludge as a beneficial commodity.
RCW 70A.226.005
in effect(1) The legislature finds that: (a) Municipal sewage sludge is an unavoidable by-product of the wastewater treatment process; (b) Population growth and technological improvements in wastewater treatment processes will increase the production of biosolids in the future; (c) Sludge management is often a financial burden to municipalities and to ratepayers; (d) Properly managed municipal sewage sludge is a valuable commodity and can be beneficially used in agriculture, silviculture, and in landscapes as a soil conditioner; and (e) Municipal sewage sludge can contain metals and microorganisms that, under certain circumstances, may pose a risk to public health. (2) The legislature declares that a program shall be established to manage municipal sewage sludge and that the program shall, to the maximum extent possible, ensure that municipal sewage sludge is reused as a beneficial commodity and is managed in a manner that minimizes risk to public health and the environment.
(1) The legislature finds that:
(a) Municipal sewage sludge is an unavoidable by-product of the wastewater treatment process;
(b) Population growth and technological improvements in wastewater treatment processes will increase the production of biosolids in the future;
(c) Sludge management is often a financial burden to municipalities and to ratepayers;
(d) Properly managed municipal sewage sludge is a valuable commodity and can be beneficially used in agriculture, silviculture, and in landscapes as a soil conditioner; and
(e) Municipal sewage sludge can contain metals and microorganisms that, under certain circumstances, may pose a risk to public health.
(2) The legislature declares that a program shall be established to manage municipal sewage sludge and that the program shall, to the maximum extent possible, ensure that municipal sewage sludge is reused as a beneficial commodity and is managed in a manner that minimizes risk to public health and the environment.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70A.226&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026