Every year, millions of tonnes of sewage sludge containing hazardous chemicals and microplastics are dumped on UK fields.

Experts claim that the antiquated current standards are unsuitable for the millions of tonnes of processed wastewater that are dumped on farms throughout the UK each year, even though it contains microplastics, harmful trash, and chemicals that are forever present.

Sludge-spreading hotspots in England have been discovered by The Guardian and Watershed research, which also revealed areas where the practice may be harming waterways. The solid residue that remains after sewage treatment, known as sludge, is filled with toxic waste from homes and businesses, flame retardants, PFAS "forever chemicals," and microplastics. Water corporations offer it to farms as a nutrient-rich fertilizer under the new name of biosolids.

It is dispersed over large areas with little oversight and weak regulation, and it is not checked for harmful compounds. According to a water industry specialist, it looks like black gold on the outside and contains phosphates and nitrogen that are good for the soil. However, it contains heavy metals, endocrine disruptors, PFAS, everlasting chemicals, microplastics, and medications.

More than 87% of the 3.6 million tonnes of sewage sludge generated in the UK is applied to farmland. People need to know about the sludge, where it goes, and what's in it since they have seen sewage in rivers, according to an EA officer who spoke on condition of anonymity.

An independent water commission has been established by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs to examine the regulatory framework in cooperation with the EA, farmers, and water corporations. The commission stated that it aims to ensure the safe and sustainable use of sludge.