It will soon be illegal for septic companies to spread raw sewage on Island farm fields.

'It looks like a whole bunch of old shrivelled up toilet paper and brown and black goo.'— Philip Clarke

Many septic systems on the Island have to be pumped out every few years. Much of that waste goes to treatment plants in Charlottetown and Summerside, but there is still a portion spread on farm fields.

Philip Clarke runs a septic company and he has seen what that looks like.

"It looks like a whole bunch of old shrivelled up toilet paper and brown and black goo on top of the ground," Clarke told CBC News on Tuesday.

"Whatever anybody flushes down the toilet. It could be feminine products and you know there's all kinds of things that get flushed down the toilet that aren't naturally going to break down."

Clarke's company is one of those that takes waste to treatment plants. In the new year, all companies will have to follow his example.

Environment Minister Richard Brown said once the decision was made to ban the practice, it took some time get the plants ready for the extra sewage they would be receiving.

"We just had to wait for the commissioning of the two plants in Charlottetown and Summerside in order to see that they can handle it properly and that the system is in place," he said.

Clarke said the new law will likely lead to higher prices for homeowners with septic systems. A typical bill that was $150 could go as high as $250.

"Due to the tippage fees, the fees they charge at the plant, and it's going to mean more trucking for some of the companies to get it to the treatment facilities," he said.

The new law takes effect Jan. 1.