Milwaukee’s Longstanding Process of Turning Wastewater Microbes into Fertilizer

Milwaukee, WI, September 7, 2026 — Milwaukee has a long-established practice of transforming waste products from its wastewater treatment facilities into a valuable resource for lawn care. For nearly a century, the city has been converting wastewater-treatment microbes into lawn fertilizer through a specific industrial process.

This unique method, in place since 1926, involves drying the microbial solids derived from the wastewater treatment process at high temperatures. Following the drying stage, the material is pelletized, creating a finished product suitable for use as lawn fertilizer.

The conversion of wastewater-treatment microbes into fertilizer represents an approach to resource recovery that has been utilized by Milwaukee for an extensive period. The process highlights a method of recycling organic matter that would otherwise be considered waste. The details regarding the specific types of microbes processed or the exact composition of the resulting fertilizer were not provided. Furthermore, information on the current scale of production, distribution channels, or environmental impact assessments related to this long-standing practice was not available in the provided summary.

This initiative by Milwaukee demonstrates a commitment to finding practical applications for byproducts of essential public services. The practice of converting biosolids into fertilizer is a recognized method in waste management, aimed at nutrient recycling and reducing landfill burden.

Story summarized from the original created by Google News on news.google.com, see more information here.