Senator Green's bill prohibiting biosolids as fertilizer passes Senate

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Grant Green, R-Wellston, successfully advanced a statewide ban on the use of sewage sludge and biosolid materials as fertilizer through the state Senate this week.

Senate Bill 3 requires individuals or organizations authorized to use sludge or biosolid materials to gradually decrease their land application of the product each year until a statewide prohibition takes effect on July 1, 2027.

Green said biosolid material – a byproduct of wastewater treatment that is largely made up of human waste – emits a foul odor that carries for miles and attracts flies, creating an unpleasant environment for residents.

“Oklahomans pride themselves on being good neighbors, but the stench from biosolid fertilizers and the swarms of flies invading homes are anything but neighborly,” Green said. “Every resident deserves to feel comfortable and safe in their own home, and Senate Bill 3 is a crucial step in safeguarding that right.”

The long-term effects of using biosolids as fertilizer are also worrisome, he said.

Green said he’s deeply concerned that biosolid materials contains so-called “forever chemicals” that could harm livestock, taint farmland and leach into the state’s drinking water. Forever chemicals don’t break down in the wastewater treatment process, and a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study from January found that these chemicals present a human health risk when farmers and ranchers apply biosolids to their land.

“Sewage sludge and biosolids pose a serious threat to Oklahoma’s water and food supply, and as a conscientious agricultural producer, I simply cannot stand by and allow the continued use of these toxic materials,” Green said. “By banning the land application of these noxious materials now, we’re preserving farmers’ livelihoods and protecting the state’s agricultural industry.”

SB 3 passed the Senate 42 to 4 on Wednesday. The bill now advances to the House, where it is coauthored by Rep. John George, R-Newalla.

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For more information, contact: Sen. Grant Green at (405) 521-5547 or email Grant.Green@oksenate.gov