Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. DRAFT Agricultural Utilization of Municipal, Animal and Industrial Wastes United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service 1993 - ; ' i® > DRAFT Preface America’s cities, farms and industries are producing increas- ing amounts ofwastes. Sewage sludge and solid wastes from our cities, animal manures from our farms and coal combustion resi- dues and other by-products from industries require environmen- tally safe and cost-effective methods ofdisposal. The waste utilization problem presents a challenge and an opportunity for U.S. agriculture. Animal wastes as well as many municipal and industrial wastes may have substantial value ifproperly used in agriculture. Development ofmethods to optimally integrate waste into agricultural practices could improve the sustainabil- ity ofagriculture and provide solutions to waste disposal prob- lems. This report focuses on major waste sources that have poten- tial for agricultural utilization including municipal wastes (sew- age sludge and solid waste), industrial wastes (coal combustion residues and other selected by-products) and agricultural wastes (animal manures). Individual chapters on each major waste source provide information on amounts produced, composition ofthe waste, current uses, state ofknowledge relative to land ap- plication, problems and opportunities associated with agricul- tural/horticultural uses ofthe waste and research needs. The final chapter provides a summary ofthe issues involved in agri- cultural utilization ofwastes and characterizes the research needed to transform a waste disposal problem into an environ- mentally safe agricultural resource. ' , DRAFT Acknowledgment This assessment was proposed in response to the 1992 call for evaluation proposals from the Office ofthe Assistant Secretary ofAgriculture, in charge of Science and Education. It was selected by the Secretary’s Office from the propos- als submitted and supplementary funding was provided under Grant #EVA-92-38. Contributors Robert J. Wright Editor and Summary USDA, ARS Chapter Coordinator Environmental Chemistry Laboratory Beltsville, Maryland W. Doral Kemper Organizer USDA, ARS National Program Leader, Soil Management Beltsville, Maryland Patricia D. Millner Municipal Waste Chapter USDA, ARS Coordinator Soil Microbial Systems Laboratory Beltsville, Maryland James F. Power Animal Waste Unit USDA, ARS Coordinator Northern Plains Area Soil and Water Conservation Research Unit Lincoln, Nebraska Ronald F. Korcak Industrial Waste Chapter USDA, ARS Coordinator Fruit Laboratory Beltsville, Maryland