Lori Irvine and Anne Bonelli

Lori Irvine and Anne Bonelli contend in the following viewpoint that properly treated sewer sludge—called biosolids— can be processed into different types of fertilizer. Recent technological advancements and increasingly stringent environmental laws have made recycling sludge less costly than disposing of it, according to the authors. Cities can make money selling the fertilizer for use on lawns, forests, and croplands. Lori Irvine and Anne Bonelli write for American City and County magazine, which serves city and county officials who are charged with implementing local government projects.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to the authors, to what does the EPA attribute the growth in biosolids recycling?
2. How has DeKalb County, Georgia, benefited from biosolids recycling, as related by Irvine and Bonelli?
3. What strategies do the...