AUSTRALIA – NEW SOUTH WALES – JANUARY 2008
MOTHER AND FOUR CHILDREN DRIVEN FROM HOME - SUFFER SICKENING ODORS, HEADACHES, STOMACH
UPSETS, SORE EYES AND BREATHING DIFFICULTIES FROM “STINKING BIOSOLIDS”
http://sussexinlet.yourguide.com.au:80/news/local/general/stinking-biosolids-dumped-near-home/1167432.html
Stinking bio-solids dumped near home
STORY and PHOTO: Katrina Condie
For seven years Sandy Lee has enjoyed the fresh air and serenity that comes with living on a rural property.
But her lifestyle was thrown into chaos a fortnight ago when tonnes of stinking bio-solids from Ulladulla's sewage
treatment plant were dumped on paddocks only metres from her Little Forest Road farmhouse.
The single mother of four has survived two bouts of breast cancer and is worried about the health risks that may be
associated with living near human waste.
Although the bio-solids have been treated and are considered a safe and effective fertiliser under state health
guidelines, Ms Lee remains sceptical.
"I am very concerned about the possible health risks.
"I have just completed my second course of treatment for breast cancer and moved here to enjoy the fresh air and so I
could grow my own organic vegies and live a healthy lifestyle.
"Now I am living with human waste right on my doorstep.
"The more I have researched the practice of using bio-solids from waste treatment plants, the more frightened I am
becoming.
"There is a lot of debate globally about the use of human waste as fertilizer, because of the high levels of heavy metals
it contains, and there is a lot of evidence suggesting it can make you very ill.
"My children and I have suffered headaches, stomach upsets, sore eyes and breathing difficulties since the sludge was
spread on the paddocks two weeks ago.
"And after my cancer scares, this sort of stress is the last thing I need."
Ms Lee, who rents her farmhouse surrounded by dairy paddocks, said she was shocked and disgusted when she
learned the truckloads of fertilizer being spread only 30 metres from her back door were from human waste.
"Initially I thought it must have been chook poo or something - in no way did it think it could be human waste.
"When the black sludge was spread over the paddocks it really stunk.
"The smell was so bad it made my children and I physically sick.
"The hot, steamy weather we have been having made the stench worse and the north easterly winds blew it straight into
our home on top of the hill.
"Can you imagine sitting down to eat dinner on a hot summer night with that smell blowing into your home?"
Ms Lee said she understands human waste should be recycled and that it probably is an effective fertiliser, but added it
should not be used near residences.
"Fine, farmers can use it, but keep it away from people's homes," she said.
So disgusted and fearful is Ms Lee that she has decided to pack up and move house.
"I can't live here any longer.
"This incident has taken away the love I have held for this home and has destroyed our lifestyle.
"I don't know of anyone that could live with human waste at their backdoor."