St. Petersburg, Fla.-Unity Envirotech LLC is the first organic fertilizer manufacturer to receive NSF International’s certification under NSF’s new protocol for organically-enhanced fertilizer production processes. The protocol NSF Protocol P353: Sewage Sludge Sterilization in Organically-Enhanced Granular Fertilizer Production evaluates granular fertilizers to verify that they are free of pathogens, are noncombustible, and meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) metal concentration requirements. If the fertilizer complies with the EPA Part 503 rule and the testing and evaluation is completed successfully, certification is granted and the fertilizer may bear the NSF P353 mark in its packaging and in promotional materials and appear on the NSF Web site to demonstrate compliance with the protocol. NSF, Ann Arbor, Mich., is a not-for-profit testing and certification organization. “The protocol will provide municipal wastewater departments, farmers, trade associations, environmental organizations, and the public with the ability to identify fertilizer products that are pathogen free, noncombustible, and meet EPA’s heavy metals standards,” said Unity Envirotech CEO Roger Tuttle. “Unity’s granular organic/inorganic nitrogen sulfur fertilizers with micronutrients will help feed a growing population while utilizing the increasing quantity of sewage sludge.” Unity has been pursuing certification as it continues to await the construction of its planned $200 million, 750,000 st/y nitrogen fertilizer plant in Polk County, Florida. While Unity received a permit for the plant back in 2009 (GM March 2, 2009), construction has not begun due to the global financial crisis.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain