RCW 70A.226.005 — Findings—Municipal sewage sludge as a beneficial commodity.

1. (1) The legislature finds that:

   1. (a) Municipal sewage sludge is an unavoidable by-product of the wastewater treatment process;
   2. (b) Population growth and technological improvements in wastewater treatment processes will increase the production of biosolids in the future;
   3. (c) Sludge management is often a financial burden to municipalities and to ratepayers;
   4. (d) Properly managed municipal sewage sludge is a valuable commodity and can be beneficially used in agriculture, silviculture, and in landscapes as a soil conditioner; and
   5. (e) Municipal sewage sludge can contain metals and microorganisms that, under certain circumstances, may pose a risk to public health.
2. (2) The legislature declares that a program shall be established to manage municipal sewage sludge and that the program shall, to the maximum extent possible, ensure that municipal sewage sludge is reused as a beneficial commodity and is managed in a manner that minimizes risk to public health and the environment.

[ 2025 c 317 s 1; 1992 c 174 s 1. Formerly RCW 70.95J.005.]