Discussion on Papers 8–9

MR I. D. BROWN, Grampian Regional Council The Authors of Paper 8 addressed an aspect of sludge disposal which has had rather more than its fair share of criticism from the environmental lobby. From my own experience in Grampian Region I know only too well the resistance by most farmers to accept sludge on land, rightly or wrongly (and it is nearly all domestic sludge). A lot of it in Grampian Region goes out to sea via long sea outfalls,

short sea outfalls and even shorter sea outfalls. This is not a particularly satisfactory solution, but then I cannot afford a sludge vessel, and even if I could, it would not be much use in view of the number of small and widespread communities.