My constituents have contacted me about sewage sludge and its impact on farming.
I am committed to safeguarding the natural environment from harms.
I understand that there are numerous regulations which regulate sludge output from water companies. The Sludge Use in Agriculture Regulations 1989 regulate against industrial contaminants in sludge which is spread to land and is supported by the Sewage Sludge in Agriculture Code of Practice, which sets out the parameters that must be met to spread sludge to land. These include which treatment type the sludge has undergone, that it has been sufficiently tested, and further requirements to protect the environment and avoid public nuisance. The storage and use of mixed or co-treated materials that contain sludge is regulated under the Environmental Permitting Regime 2016.
Further, in 2023 the Environment Agency published its strategy for safe and sustainable sludge use. This strategy explored options for modernising and harmonising the regulatory framework to ensure that the management and use of sludge supports healthy and productive land and soil.
I note that the Government has confirmed that it is working with the Environment Agency to assess the regulatory framework for sludge. I look forward to scrutinising any proposals put forward that seek to improve this framework.
