What is the primary purpose of incinerating biosolids?

Incinerating biosolids serves multiple purposes, but the primary purpose is to transform them into ash for disposal or reuse. When biosolids are incinerated, the organic material is combusted at high temperatures, which significantly reduces their volume and eliminates pathogens, odors, and harmful substances. The result of this process is a solid ash residual that can either be disposed of safely or potentially reused in various applications, such as construction materials or as a component in road base.

This ash phase is crucial because it reduces the challenges associated with handling, transporting, and landfilling large volumes of wet biosolids. While reducing sludge volume is a result of incineration, the focus is not solely on volume reduction but rather on safely processing the residual material into a manageable state. Other options, such as converting waste into renewable energy or increasing nutrient content, may also relate to biosolid treatment but are not the primary objective of incineration itself.