The Region of Halton Biosolids Management into the Future

1. The Region of Halton Biosolids Management into the Future Regional Municipality of Halton Ontario, Canada

2. Current Status • Ability to remove solids from WWTP’s “on demand” is critical to maintain effluent quality • Production in 2001 • 318,848 m3 liquid biosolids • 8,216 m3 dewatered cake • Liquid biosolids applied to land within Halton • Dewatered cake stored and applied to land within and outside Halton • Program operations under contract by Terractec Environmental Ltd.

3. Limitations of Current Strategy • Insufficient land within Halton to apply 100% of biosolids currently produced • Available agricultural land expected to decrease marginally in the future • Biosolids quantities estimated to increase by 60% over next 20 years • Storage time at BMC estimated to decrease to less than regulation minimum 6 months by 2008 • Inability to access farmland during wet weather can result in inadequate storage at the BMC

4. Biosolids Projections

5. Required vs. Available Land

6. Considerations for Future Biosolids Management • Continue land application to the extent that can be supported by land within the Region • highly successful program • continuing demand from farmers • Regional investment in infrastructure • Diversify biosolids management program to include one of the following options: • non-competing nutrient end use • non-nutrient end use

7. Non-Competing Nutrient End Use • Ontario Compost Guidelines – compost from biosolids does not meet criteria for unrestricted utilization – not an option • MOEE/OMAF Guidelines – pathogen free biosolids (US EPA Class A) not recognized at this time, crop restrictions in Ontario – not an option • Ag Canada Fertilizer Act – biosolids marketed as fertilizer under the Act must meet certain requirements including metal content but no site or crop restrictions – potential option

8. Non-Competing Nutrient End Use (cont’d) • Halton biosolids meet metal requirements in Agriculture Canada Fertilizer Act and US EPA limits for “Exceptional Quality” biosolids • Alkaline stabilization and drying/pelletization are producing products in Ontario that are being marketed, under the Fertilizer Act, for higher value end uses

9. Non-Nutrient End Use • Thermal destruction of organic material leaving inert ash for disposal • Potential energy recovery from combustion of the organics in biosolids • Fluidized bed combustion considered state-of-the-art incineration technology based on: • energy efficiency • air emission control

10. Existing Management Options Biosolids Management Centre Storage Digested Biosolids Liquid to Land Mobile Dewatering Contingency Dewatering Cake to Land Cake to Halton Landfill Cake to Private Landfill Diversification Options

11. Diversification Options Dewatered Cake Temporary Storage Incineration Ash to Landfill Alkaline Stabilization Product to Market Land Application Landfill Cover Disposal in Landfill Contingency Thermal Drying Product to Market Land Application Landfill Cover Disposal in Landfill Contingency

12. Alkaline Stabilization • Beneficial use option • Inactivation of pathogens to produce Class “A” biosolids • addition of alkaline mixture such as lime or cement kiln dust • elevate pH > 12 for 72 hours • maintain temperature > 52oC for 12 hours • dry to > 50% solids

13. Alkaline Stabilization (cont’d) • Product • fertilizer value • acts as liming agent for low pH soil • improves soil structure • No site or crop restrictions on use • Operating facilities approved in Ontario • Product marketed under Fertilizer Act • Experience with marketing product in Ontario

14. Thermal Drying/Pelletization • Beneficial use option • Inactivation of pathogens to produce Class “A” biosolids • temperature of biosolids > 80oC • moisture reduced to < 10% • Product • used directly as a fertilizer • component for the manufacture of commercial fertilizer

15. Thermal Drying/Pelletization (cont’d) • No site or crop restrictions on use • Operating facilities approved in Ontario • Product marketed under Fertilizer Act • Experience with marketing product in Ontario

16. Incineration • Complete destruction of pathogens, viruses and organics • high temperature combustion >800ºC • Heat recovery possible for in-plant use • Autogenous combustion at 28% solids • no additional fuel required • Majority of metals immobilized in ash • Minimal volume of residue for ultimate disposal • Can meet stringent air emission criteria

17. Incineration London Alkaline Stabilization Sarnia Leamington Syracuse Drying/pelletization Windsor Smiths Falls Toronto Sites Visited by Halton Team

18. Technology Rating Criteria

19. Rating of Acceptable Technologies

20. Preliminary Identification of Recommended Solution • Diversify Halton’s biosolids management program to address land availability limitations by: • Building an alkaline stabilization facility to process the excess biosolids • Developing a program to market the resulting product to end users outside the existing land application program

21. Implementation Plan • Public consultation process to present recommended solution to public and seek input • Confirm preferred solution • Submit “Notice of Completion” to review agencies and public • Submit recommendation to Council for approval • Select site for facility • Complete pre-engineering and tender documents • Call for tenders on the project • Award contract • Initiate construction