New Kent treatment centre given fertiliser green light

28 September 2026 by CSG

A new sludge treatment centre in Aylesford designed to boost wastewater capacity in Kent and provide security for thousands of off-grid households has been licensed to produce organic fertiliser for local farms.

CSG Aylesford Treatment Centre on Forstal Road provides domestic wastewater capacity for around 8,000 homes, hotels and holiday parks in Kent and beyond, which are not connected to the mains and instead use septic tanks, cesspits or private sewage treatment plants.

The extra wastewater capacity is a boost for Kent and will help to ensure the region does not experience the same processing problems seen elsewhere in the country, which has meant some people waiting months for their septic tanks to be emptied.

CSG Aylesford Treatment Centre has now been certified by the Biosolids Assurance Scheme (BAS) to turn human waste into biosolids that can be used to fertilise crops being grown to Red Tractor standards.

The latest centrifuge technologies are used to separate wastewater from solids to create an enhanced treated ‘cake’ which can be easily transported to farms, giving farmers a cost-effective alternative to chemical fertilisers at a time when fertiliser costs are soaring.

Under the BAS programme, biosolids are tested to ensure they meet the required standards and regular audits take place to confirm ongoing compliance and quality.

CSG Aylesford is the second of the company’s treatment plants to receive BAS accreditation, following in the footsteps of its Botley Treatment Centre.

Steve Hicks, Operations Director at CSG, said: “Receiving BAS certification for a second treatment centre is a significant milestone for CSG and demonstrates our continued commitment to supporting sustainable agriculture.

“It also gives farmers confidence that the biosolids produced at our facilities meet the highest industry standards for quality, safety and traceability.

“As a business, we are committed to keeping resources in use for as long as possible, and this certification is another example of how we are turning materials which would otherwise be treated as waste into a beneficial resource for agriculture.

“Our wastewater treatment facilities play a vital role in boosting capacity in areas where that is a real concern. To be able to deliver practical environmental benefits through biosolids as a byproduct is an added bonus.”

The wastewater capacity crisis has been particularly acute in Cornwall, where operators have been forced to drive waste hundreds of miles to Bristol or South Wales as local South West Water plants have, on occasion, been at capacity.

Privately run facilities such as CSG’s Aylesford plant can help ease those problems by providing alternative options.

CSG is one of the largest waste management specialists in the country, with 30 UK bases. Aylesford is one of the company’s largest operating bases, providing specialised waste treatment, recovery and transfer services throughout the South East.