Biosolids Recycling & Criteria in British Columbia

1. Biosolids Recycling & Criteria in British Columbia Jack Bryden M.Sc. P.Ag,BC Ministry of Water Land and Air Protection Science Forum on Biosolids Recycling Truro, Nova Scotia Monday, June 13th 2005

2. Presentation Objectives • Introduction and Background on BC’s Organic Matter Recycling Regulation (OMRR) • Implementation of OMRR

3. Organic Matter Recycling Regulation • Enacted February, 2002 • Replaced BC Composting Regulation and Biosolids Permit System • Based on research; developed over 6 years with many stakeholders • Authorized under both the Environmental Management Act and Health Act

4. Organic Matter Recycling Regulation Waste Management Act and Health Act • A discharger must, …., give notification of any …. land application of managed organic matter in volumes greater than 5 cubic metres to: • the manager….. before the land application of managed organic matter; • the medical health officer …… before the land application of managed organic matter to agricultural land or in a watershed; • the Land Reserve Commission ….before the land application of managed organic matter within an agricultural land reserve or forest reserve land.

5. Organic Matter Recycling • The manager may …. request additional information. • The manager may ….. require the discharger to meet the site-specific standards or management practices specified by the manager.

6. Organic Matter Recycling • The medical health officer …. may…… provide written directions to the discharger that the application of managed organic matter • must not proceed, or • may only proceed subject to conditions specified by the medical health officer.

7. Assessing the nutrients in the foliage assists in refining application rates.

8. Nitrogen present in biosolids is required by plants to grow, however too much nitrogen results in pollution.

9. Biosolids incorporation to wasterock piles at Similco Mines, Princeton, BC.

10. Measurements are made on the crops fertilized with biosolids to assess the growth response.

11. One year growth response of fall rye seeded following the application of biosolids to wasterock piles at Princeton, BC.

12. Assessing the movement of constituents down through the soil profile following biosolids applications is completed using lysimeters that pull water samples from deep in the soil.

13. Biosolids, biosolids compost and other soil amendments are compared for effectiveness in restoring vegetation to ski slopes on Cypress Bowl.

14. Rangeland in Princeton, BC fertilized with biosolids as compared with that receiving inorganic fertilizers.

15. OMRR Regulatory Goals • Protect Human Health • Protect surface and groundwater • Ensure organic matter to be land applied is high quality • Convert valueless waste to being a valuable resource

16. Feed Materials Include: Yard Waste, Food Waste and Other Organic Materials Biosolids Compost Treatment Facility Class B CompostRequires a land application plan prepared by a Qualified Professional MHO can veto land application to agricultural land Ongoing monitoring and reporting of soils at application site Application prohibited if soil concentrations exceed standards Class A Compost(pathogen free) Can be retailed or given away

17. Feed Material is Municipal Sewage Sludge Digestion Treatment Class A Biosolidspathogen free Class B Biosolids(Higher Metal Concentrations then Class A) Pathogen Free Not Pathogen Free Can be retailed or given away in quantities <5m3 >5m3 requires a land application plan MHO can veto applications in Watersheds or on agricultural lands Ongoing monitoring and reporting of soils Application prohibited if soil concentrations exceed standards Requires a land application plan MHO can veto applications to agricultural land Ongoing monitoring and reporting of soils Application prohibited if soil concentrations exceed standards Biosolids Growing Medium (Topsoil) Can be retailed or given away

18. Organic Matter Recycling Regulation • Defines product quality • Class A and B biosolids • Biosolids growing media • Class A and B compost • Storage requirements • Composting facility requirements

19. Whistler Gravel Pit Biosolids are Class A but applied in quantity >5m3 thus a land application plan is required

20. Sechelt Forest Applications Biosolids meet Class B VAR, pathogen and trace element requirements

21. Topsoil Class A biosolids topsoil product has unrestricted distribution

22. OMRR Implementation • Determine Applicability of Regulation • Compost feed stock • Biosolids or Sludge (process & quality) • Identify Biosolids/Compost Markets • Valuation of recycling options • Site specific limitations • OMRR Requirements - Requirement for a LAP

23. Trace Element Criteria

24. Prince George Forest Fertilization Prince George Biosolids meet Class A pathogen and Vector Attraction Reduction requirements

25. OMRR Land Application Plan • Required for: • Class A biosolids over 5 m3 • Class B biosolids • Class B compost • NOT Required for • Class A biosolids under 5 m3 • Biosolids growing media • Class A compost

26. OMRR Land Application Plan • Prepared by a “Qualified Professional” • Professional association, code of ethics and subject to disciplinary action • Suitable education, experience and knowledge • Required for each application site • Required for each application “occurrence” • 360O feedback – discharger to professional

27. OMRR Land Application Plan • Location, contact information • Biosolids/compost quality • Existing soil trace element concentrations • Application rate • Calculated post soil concentrations • Post application monitoring (as required)

28. OMRR Class B Site Requirements • Public access • Signs • Depth to groundwater • Distance to surface water, roads • Prohibition on application in drinking water watersheds (Safe drinking water regulation)

29. Organic Matter Recycling Regulation • “Best Management Guidelines” • Biosolids 101 • Site specific considerations • Developing a Land Application Plan (LAP) • Agriculture, Silviculture, Reclamation • Example LAPs • “OMRR Sampling Guidelines”

30. Organic Matter Recycling • Cortez Island • from The Watershed Sentinel • Cortez Island is soon to have a septage composting program. After two years of research and application procedures, permits have now been obtained. The composting will take place on the Linnea farm and the resulting compost will be used in non-food producing areas, such as hedgerows, ornamentals or in forests. • Grants from two American Foundations have been received to produce a provocative, half hour video on the legacy and future of pulp pollution in the Puget Sound-Georgia Strait bioregion. "Turning the Toxic Tide" will be broadcast locally, nationally and internationally. Copies of the video should be available this fall from the Save the Georgia Strait Alliance. • Contact: Friends of Cortez Island, Box 3333, Manson's Landing, V0P 1K0, 935-6500

31. Linnea Farm, Cortez Island • !

32. Kelowna Compost

33. Victoria biosolids land reclamation

34. Victoria biosolids land reclamation