NEW: 
The biennial National Biosolids Conference is heading to Melbourne in 2027. Held over two days, Wednesday, 3 & Thursday, 4 March 2027, this conference will explore how research, operational experience and sector knowledge can be translated into confident decisions and practical outcomes. The Program provides a platform to bring together utilities, consultants, suppliers, researchers and government agencies to progress and champion the sustainable management of biosolids.
EVIDENCE INTO ACTION
The biosolids sector is navigating increasing complexity, from emerging contaminants and evolving regulation to changing technologies, market pressures, environmental priorities and community expectations.
The National Biosolids Conference 2027 will explore how research, operational experience and sector knowledge can be translated into confident decisions and practical outcomes. Bringing together producers, regulators, researchers, practitioners, consultants, technology providers and end users, the conference will examine what is working, what we are learning and how the sector can respond to both current challenges and future uncertainty.
Under the theme Evidence into Action, the conference will showcase applied research, operational case studies and practical lessons from across Australia, New Zealand and beyond. The program will explore source control, regulation and risk, best-practice operations, asset optimisation, infrastructure and thermal processing, product development, circular economy outcomes, carbon and energy, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and beneficial end use.
Whether your work represents a major breakthrough, an incremental improvement, or valuable lessons from an initiative that did not perform as expected, the conference provides a specialist forum for sharing evidence, challenging assumptions and translating knowledge into practical action.
The Call for Papers is now open, inviting practical case studies, applied research and operational insights that will help turn evidence into action across the biosolids sector. Abstracts close Monday, 21 September 2026.
To Have Your Voice: https://www.awa.asn.au/upcoming-events/biosolids-2027
NEW: ANZBP responds to Queensland review of statutory protections for wastewater treatment plants
The Australian and New Zealand Biosolids Partnership (ANZBP) has provided a submission to the Queensland Government’s review of statutory protections for wastewater treatment plants under the Environmental Protection Act 1994.
The submission highlights the challenges faced by wastewater treatment plant operators in managing persistent contaminants such as PFAS that originate from upstream domestic, commercial, industrial and legacy sources. ANZBP supports stronger statutory protection for authorised wastewater treatment plants and compliant biosolids management activities where contaminants are outside the reasonable control of the operator.
The submission calls for clearer application of the polluter pays principle, greater recognition of wastewater treatment plants as end-of-line receivers, protection for compliant biosolids beneficial reuse pathways, stronger source-control measures, and appropriate transition and funding arrangements where new contaminant requirements may affect wastewater and biosolids management.
Read the ANZBP submission:
NEW: FY2024/25 Biosolids Production and End Use Surveys Released
The Australian and New Zealand Biosolids Partnership (ANZBP) is pleased to release the FY2024/25 Biosolids Production and End Use Surveys, the latest edition of Australia’s and New Zealand’s leading biennial assessment of biosolids management.
Drawing on data from approximately 400 wastewater treatment plants across Australia and New Zealand, the reports provide valuable insights into biosolids production, beneficial end use, treatment processes, stockpiling, emerging contaminants, renewable energy, and other key industry trends.
The surveys continue more than 15 years of national data collection, supporting evidence-based decision making across the biosolids sector.
The FY2024/25 survey reports are available exclusively to ANZBP Partners.
Learn more and access the reports in the member portal.
ANZBP response to NSW EPA’s draft Resource Recovery Order and Exemption for Biosolids
ANZBP, supported by AWA, is pleased to share our response to the NSW EPA’s Draft Resource Recovery Order and Exemption for Biosolids. This collective submission represents the unified voice of ANZBP partners and was developed through member-exclusive discussions and a dedicated workshop with the NSW EPA.
ANZBP 2024-2027 Strategic Plan
Dear ANZBP Members and Stakeholders,
The Australian and New Zealand Biosolids Partnership (ANZBP) is pleased to share the ANZBP 2024-27 Strategic Plan, which has been developed to guide the Australian & New Zealand Biosolids Partnership’s initiatives over the next three years.
This new plan outlines our commitment to sustainable biosolids management, focusing on fostering collaboration across the biosolids value chain, advocating for innovative technologies, and supporting policies that contribute to the circular economy.
ANZBP Fact Sheet on Biosolids & PFAS
Dear ANZBP Members and Stakeholders,
The Australian and New Zealand Biosolids Partnership (ANZBP) is pleased to present its newly crafted ANZBP PFAS & Biosolids Factsheet. The intent of this factsheet is to provide interested parties with information about our understanding and management of per and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) in biosolids.
The factsheet explains:
- What biosolids are and why they are important?
- What are PFAS?
- Why we are interested in PFAS in biosolids?
- How PFAS are managed in biosolids and ANZBPs’ position on PFAS in biosolids?
ANZBP Submission to NSW EPA – Biosolids Regulatory Review (October 2023)
The ANZBP Advisory Committee has submitted a detailed response to the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA)’s Biosolids Regulatory Review Issues Paper and Technical Findings Report. This submission outlines the significant implications of the proposed changes to biosolids regulation and advocates for a flexible, risk-based, evidence-led approach that supports sustainable biosolids management across NSW.
Key themes include:
- Concerns over the proposed rigid contaminant thresholds and their impact on land application programs;
- The need for a systems approach that balances environmental risk with circular economy outcomes;
- Strong advocacy for source control measures for PFAS and other emerging contaminants;
- Recommendations for practical regulatory improvements including the adoption of HACCP-based frameworks.
This document is shared exclusively with ANZBP Partners for reference and further engagement. Please log in with your member account to download.
Australia and New Zealand Biosolids Production and End-use survey 2023
In 2010, the Australian & New Zealand Biosolids Partnership (ANZBP) commissioned a national survey to identify the main features of biosolids management across Australia and New Zealand. In 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023 we took a snapshot of the sector, examining the following key parameters:
• Biosolids production;
• Biosolids end use;
• Biosolids stabilisation grade;
• Biosolids contamination grade; (added in 2013)
• Biosolids primary stabilisation process;
• Biosolids dewatering process.
In 2021 and 2023, additional data has been collected to both update the survey in line with current and predicted trends and to obtain data that is anticipated to be useful to ANZBP members and government departments. These data are:
• Biosolids secondary stabilisation processes;
• End-use management and branding;
• Stockpile volumes;
• Transportation of biosolids to end-use site;
• Emerging contaminant management;
• Renewable energy production.
The final reports of the survey are now available for ANZBP members on the Member site of the ANZBP website. If you are an employee of ANZBP partners and need access to ANZBP resources and data, feel free to reach out to ANZBP Program manager.
Community Attitudes to Biosolids Survey – Public Report Released
The Australian & New Zealand Biosolids partnership, an industry program of the Australian Water Association, has released a public report based on a survey conducted by Newgate Research of over 1200 people in Australia and New Zealand.
Survey topics in the publicly available report include awareness and understanding of biosolids as a by-product of wastewater treatment, and the most acceptable uses for these by-products according to community sentiment. The survey also tested the effect of information about biosolids on community attitudes. The full report available to ANZBP program subscribers contains detailed results of this part of the survey.
Subscribers to the ANZBP program support industry-wide initiatives like the Community Attitudes to Biosolids Survey. For more information or to subscribe contact the ANZBP program manager.
