Milwaukee, Wisc.-Milorganite producers with Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District have a problem that can be measured in the thousands of tons. MMSD officials told Green Markets that biosolids from the two Milorganite producing plants are being held under quarantine while a search is underway for the source of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) discovered in at least one of the plants. PCBs were reportedly detected in some of the biosolids being stockpiled. “But it’s not Milorganite,” one official insisted. He said it doesn’t meet specifications and is usually provided as fertilizer to agriculture or for other land applications. Separately, MMSD, along with state environmental and EPA investigators, is trying to determine the extent of PCBs in 11 tons provided for use as fertilizer in Milwaukee area parks. But spokesman Bill Graffin didn’t think the PCB problems will affect Milorganite production. “We’re confident that no contaminated Milorganite has been allowed out of our plant,” he reported. “There are no problems now, but it depends on how much we have to quarantine. We’re continuing to put it on the pile and at this point there’s no clear numbers available. But it will run in the thousands of tons.” Graffin said everything depends on tracking the source of the PCBs. He said PCBs were confirmed by the State Dept. of Natural Resources after a substance was found by workers in a Milwaukee sewer. Meanwhile, health officials have fenced the park areas in question and posted health alert signs where the 11 tons were applied after being donated by MMSD because they were low in nitrogen. The local press reported that EPA has collected soil samples from recreational areas in the parks where the material was applied, and another area used as a soccer field was closed and fenced in to prevent public exposure. The tests are expected to determine how many more samples will be needed to decide if there is a public health risk.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain