Biosolids – Are They Safe On Vegetables

Q: I am striving to be as organic as possible with my gardening. I recently found some beautiful bulk compost. But one of the components in the compost is biosolids from a water treatment facility. Is this product safe to use on vegetables? 

A: Compost and other products made with biosolids are sold by several companies in Georgia. To my knowledge, all of these companies use Class A biosolids, which have been heated and tested to be sure they contain nothing harmful. They can be labeled “organic” but they can not be used on gardens that follow the USDA’s National Organic Program. That said, I would feel comfortable using compost that contains biosolids in my garden.