Lime is widely used for stabilising industrial residual sludge or dredging sludge and for treating urban biosolids before agricultural re-use or incineration.

Lime helps coagulation, makes sludge easier to handle, prevents fermentation, limits odours, eliminates pathogens and holds metallic ions in an insoluble form. It also enriches the sludge with calcium and magnesium ( when dolomitic lime is used ), both of which are beneficial for agricultural use.

In addition, lime is used to treat soils polluted with hydrocarbons.