Recently, methods for the recycling of sewage sludge are being developed. In Japan, however, the practice of recycling to agricultural land is limited to just 14% of the total outlets for sewage sludge. In the UK, on the other hand, more than 60% of treated sewage sludge, known as ‘biosolids,’ is currently being recycled to agricultural lands. The idea of biosolids being recycled to land has been recognized by the UK government as a best-practice environmental option; and this summer, biosolids supplied by Anglian Water were immediately sold out among regional farmers there. This article provides an overview of the present situation of biosolids in the UK, and shows the progress of the ‘Safe Sludge Matrix’ toward biosolids recycling that is managed by both the government and private sectors.

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