does milorganite have heavy metals

Does Milorganite contain lead?

Milorganite contains 78 ppm of lead; it could therefore be applied to the field for about 550 years before harmful lead limits were reached.

Does Milorganite have PFAS in it?

A study by the Sierra Club and the Michigan-based Ecology Center found that Milorganite was one of several fertilizers that contain PFAS. All of the fertilizers are made of at least 50% biosolids — treated sewage sludge — rich in nutrients helpful in growing grass, fruits and vegetables.

What chemicals are in Milorganite?

Milorganite contains 5 percent nitrogen, 2 percent phosphorus and . 32 percent potassium. It also contains the secondary nutrients calcium, 2.1 percent, sulfur, .

Does Milorganite fertilizer have iron in it?

Milorganite is guaranteed to contain a minimum of 2.5% iron-almost as much iron as nitrogen. Which means every time you apply one pound of Milorganite's slow release nitrogen, you are also applying two-thirds of a pound of slow release, organically complex iron.

Is Milorganite fertilizer safe?

Milorganite is safe for your children and pets when used as directed and stored out of their reach. Milorganite is composed of organic matter and nutrients and contains no added pesticides or herbicides.

Is Milorganite safe to breathe?

Trade name: Milorganite® 6-2-0 Fertilizer May cause respiratory irritation. Precautionary statements: Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapors/spray.

Is Milorganite human waste?

Despite what you may have heard, this Milwaukee-made fertilizer does not contain human feces. On a tour of the Jones Island plant, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District agency services director Jeff Spence and public information manager Bill Graffin wanted to dispel that myth at the start.

Does Milorganite contain forever chemicals?

Here's what you should know about Milorganite and a recent study showing it may contain 'forever chemicals' A recent study by environmental groups found that you may be unknowingly spreading "forever chemicals" on your lawn and garden in the form of fertilizer.

Is Milorganite sewage sludge?

Milorganite is a brand of biosolids fertilizer produced by treating sewage sludge by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. The term is a portmanteau of the term Milwaukee Organic Nitrogen.

What kind of iron is in Milorganite?

chelated ironThe iron in Milorganite works like chelated iron, but without the expense. It also won't burn your lawn and releases into the soil where plants need it, compared to foliar applications (applying liquid directly to leaf) of iron that is gradually removed when the lawn is mowed.

Does Milorganite have humic acid?

4:2811:04HUMIC ACID DG | MILORGANITE UPDATE (2018) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut humic acid actually helps you do that it's kind of like a flavor enhancer for food this is aMoreBut humic acid actually helps you do that it's kind of like a flavor enhancer for food this is a fertilizer.

Which is better Ironite or Milorganite?

Milorganite is better than Ironite when you want to feed the grass and green up your lawn because it contains organic nutrients and iron as opposed to the concentrated chemical nutrients found in Ironite that can harm your lawn. Milorganite is a more natural product and is better especially if you have pets and kids.

What is milorganite testing?

Meets all federal and state requirements. Pathogens are killed by extreme heat. Milorganite is produced with your safety in mind every single day. It complies with all applicable federal and state requirements and can be used with confidence for all of your fertilizing needs, including lawns, trees, shrubs, ...

What temperature does milorganite dry?

Milorganite is heat-dried in large-scale, bus-sized rotary dryers that operate at 900–1200°F which heats the Milorganite to an internal temperature of 176°F. The extreme heat and dryness kill pathogens. Here’s a video on how Milorganite is produced. You can see the dryers for yourself.

How often is milorganite analyzed?

Milorganite is analyzed for at least 20 parameters every day to comply with all applicable safety guidelines. Routine analysis is also conducted to test for numerous other pollutants and pathogens. For additional information, you can refer to Milorganite’s Safety Data Sheet.

What are the two metals that are needed for plants to grow?

Some metals are micronutrients and are necessary in small amounts for plants to grow and reproduce, including copper and zinc, which naturally occur in the environment. For a product like Milorganite, federal and state regulations have established limits for metals to protect public health and the environment.

Is milorganite a synthetic fertilizer?

It meets stringent criteria imposed on any fertilizer product for health, safety and the environment and is more heavily regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) than synthetic fertilizers. Milorganite has consistently met the EPA’s Exceptional Quality criteria since 1993, when the guidelines were created.

Is milorganite safe for pets?

Milorganite is safe for your children and pets when used as directed and stored out of their reach. Milorganite is composed of organic matter and nutrients and contains no added pesticides or herbicides.

What is milorganite made of?

Milorganite is composed of heat-dried microbes that have digested the organic material in wastewater. It's manufactured by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, which captures waste water from the metropolitan Milwaukee area and uses naturally occurring microbes to digest the nutrients.

Why does milorganite stay on the soil?

It stays on the soil until water and temperature conditions are just right for soil microbes to break down the nutrients in Milorganite for plants to use. Although not necessary, watering in Milorganite will ensure the fertilizer is in contact with the soil and speeds up the fertilization process.

What temperature does a milorganite have to be to be dried?

Microbes eat the organic material found in wastewater, die when they have nothing else to eat, and are heat-dried in dryers that operate at 900–1200°F which heats the Milorganite to an internal temperature of 176°F.

How much sq ft does a 32 lb bag of milorganite cover?

It now takes less Milorganite to achieve the recommended nutrient application rates. The 32 lb bag of Milorganite will cover 2500 sq ft, just like the 36 lb bag did. Rather than require customers to re-calibrate their spreaders, we felt it was more convenient to reduce the bag size to achieve the same results.

Why is milorganite monitored?

Milorganite is monitored regularly for a host of compounds to help ensure consumer safety. Milorganite, like manures and organic fertilizers, contains trace concentrations of pharmaceutical compounds, as well as household and personal care products.

Is milorganite good for garden?

Yes, Milorganite is an excellent, and safe fertilizer for all outdoor plants, including vegetable s when used as directed. It's slow-release nitrogen feeds plants evenly and gradually without excess nitrogen interfering with flowering and fruit development.

Can you use milorganite with other fertilizers?

Can I use Milorganite® in combination with other fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, or fungicides? Yes, Milorganite can be used as part of your overall fertilization and lawn-care program in combination with other products, including fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides.

What is the ratio of iron to milorganite?

The Ratio. Milorganite is a 5-2-0 fertilizer whereas the ratio for Ironite is 1-0-1. The first one has 4% iron whereas the latter has 4.5% iron with other micronutrients. For such a low number, many people don’t call it fertilizer. It’s basically an additive.

Can you use ironite on a lawn?

Yes, both of them are helpful to have a green and lush lawn. But as you know, over applying the Ironite may bring negative results – you need to have your math right. If you use the liquid version of it, try to mix it with a natural dye so that you can identify easily where you have applied it on your lawn.

Can you use ironite without a soil test?

But Ironite has such harsh chemical agents more. That’s why you should never apply Ironite without doing a soil test. Applying it unnecessarily will do harm to your garden and lawn.

Does milorganite help grass?

With the slow-release method, Milorganite strengthens the root of your lawn grass over time. It takes a few weeks to see its magic. Since it is enriched with iron, it helps a lot to green up the grass leaves at a steady pace.

Is Pennington Seed a milorganite?

The Pennington Seed Incorporated produces the Ironite lawn supplement and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District produces Milorganite. However, both of the products serve different purposes and work in a very different way. Whereas Milorganite is a lawn fertilizer, Ironite is not.

Does milorganite work?

Milorganite works that way and over time, you will get a healthy lawn.

Can ironite stain concrete?

Apart from irons, it is enriched with concentrated nutrients. So, you will get a faster result. Ironite improves the soil quality so that your lawn requires less water. However, you need to be careful while applying its liquid form. It can stain your concrete!

Is Milorganite Safe?

I have read nothing but good things here about Milorganite, so I was a bit taken back by a comment that a Lesco dealer just made to me. I was there for other reasons, but the Milorganite topic came up and he told me to "be very careful" how much I apply.

Re: Is Milorganite Safe?

Essentially, no merit. We previously calculated that if you remove the top six inches of your soil and replace it with Milorganite, you're still below the EPA limits on every single heavy metal.

Re: Is Milorganite Safe?

I always wondered where those heavy metals in milorganite actually came from. Is it true that they are from lead pipes? I assumed that they were from run-off from the roads. I cant comment on the science, but milorganite is my primary fertilizer.

Re: Is Milorganite Safe?

You may want to google the term biosolids to see what other people say. I found that there were mainly extreme opinions with the most positive probably coming from some sort of biosolids lobbying group and the negative from activists/consumer watch dog groups.

Re: Is Milorganite Safe?

sodium is explosive and chlorine is extremely poisonous--but you don't think twice when you put salt on your food.

Re: Is Milorganite Safe?

I tried explaining to him that Copper Sulfate occurs naturally. I tried explaining the differences between algicides and herbicides. He wasn't convinced. I showed him the OMRI certificate for Copper Sulfate products online. He wandered away and told someone else that I didn't get it. To him, we were discussing Agent Orange.

Re: Is Milorganite Safe?

I don't use Milorganite because it is so easy to find other organic fertilizers with essentially no heavy metals when compared to Milorganite. Here are the heavy metals in alfalfa, Milorganite, and Ironite. Data is expressed in parts per million.

What is milorganite fertilizer?

Milorganite is a widely available, "organic" fertilizer that is made with processed biosolids (sludge) from the Milwaukee sewage treatment system.

Is it safe to use milorganite in gardening?

It is true not all, but many in the so called "organic" movement to gardening are bordering on being zealots, while science has shown that Milorganite to be extremely safe, load limits for metals are in the 100s of years and the fact there has never been a documented case of Milorganite causing harm to anyone .

Is milorganite a heavy metal?

Milorganite has never contaminated anyone's yard with heavy metals, never caused anyone to get sick from pathogens, is well below EPA and other standards for contaminants that other fertlizers, like manure are never held to or tested, yet they are considered organic and safe as a mountain stream to use.

Is Milorganite soil or water?

The Milorganite and local tap water were tested not the soil. It was a study and test paid for by the DoD and the EPA at a lab my friend was working at for a bioremediation project. In the many years past, before Milwaukee upgraded and regulated its segregated sewer system from industry plus now does continuous testing and monitoring, some heavy metals were in concentrations that were a concern for plants that would be used for human consuption. The new Milorganite is far below the maximums for heavy metals and not even close to many of the common lawn and general purpose fertilizers/supplements like Ironite for heavy metals. My friend did have a control soil sample and indicated the Milorganite that they tested was only slightly highier in certain heavy metals than the virgin soil used in the study. It was also found that the soil was highier in certain heavy metals than the Milorganite. Go figure! Household cleaners are in such dilute concentrations that they are either evaporated out of the sewage or digested out in the treatment process. City tap water eventually can have the same stuff dumped into it, but nobody makes a fuss about that and will water their garden with not at worry. Based on the research I and others have done on Milorganite, it seems like a very clean product compared to many, including some farm waste products that are sold as organic.

Overview

Environmental concerns

The EPA has shown that biosolids can contain measurable levels of synthetic organic compounds, radionuclides and heavy metals. USEPA has set numeric limits for arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, and zinc.
The presence of heavy metals is a source of concern. The facility reports that they have been substantially reduced over the years. Milorganite contains metals at levels found safe by EPA w…

History

Product

See also

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