Millions of tonnes of toxic sewage sludge spread on UK farmland every year

Exclusive: Experts call for stricter regulation as current rules set in 1989 require testing for only a few heavy metals

Millions of tonnes of treated sewage sludge is spread on farmland across the UK every year despite containing forever chemicals, microplastics and toxic waste, and experts say the outdated current regulations are not fit for purpose.

An investigation by the Guardian and Watershed has identified England’s sludge-spreading hotspots and shown where the practice could be damaging rivers.