Biosolids Management in New England

1
Biosolids Management in New England

• presented to
• Nova Scotia Ministry of Environment Labour
• Forum on Biosolids Science
• June 13, 2005
• Ned Beecher, Executive Director, NEBRA

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bi s lids
biosolid n. (1990) solid organic matter
recovered from a sewage treatment process and
used especially as fertilizer -- usually used in
plural --Merriam-Websters Collegiate
Dictionary, 10th Ed. biosolids plural noun
organic matter recycled from sewage, especially
for use in agriculture --New Oxford Dictionary
of English, 1998
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Outline of presentation

• Biosolids management trends
• U. S.
• New England
• Examples of current operations uses
• Class B farm uses (lime treated, anaerobic)
• Class B land reclamation (lime treated,
  anaerobic)
• Class A bulk advanced alkaline treatments
• Class A heat dried pellets
• Class A compost
• Issues challenges

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Biosolids management trends United States

• About 16,000 wastewater treatment facilities.
• Produced 6.9 million tons in 1998 (EPA, 1999)
• 60 applied to land in 1998 (EPA, 1999)
• Estimated 7.1 million tons in 2005, 66 to land?
• Majority is Class B land applied, but trend is to
  more Class A
• Public scrutiny and concern increasing some
• Improving products practices

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History of U. S. Federal Regulations - Part 503

• Clean Water Act Section 405 risk-based limits
  for pollutants which may adversely affect public
  health and the environment
• Round One (final rule 2/93) pollutants for
  which information initially available screened
  350 pollutants
• Developed with input from researchers around the
  country
• Self-implementing
• Several management requirements
• Similar pathogen vector attraction-reduction as
  before (Part 257)
• Pollutant limits based on risk assessment
  (metals, chemicals)
• Land application limits for 9 metals
• Surface disposal limits for 3 metals
• Incineration limits for 7 metals and total
  hydrocarbons
• 1996 review by National Academy of Sciences
  negligible risk
• Case for Caution by Harrison et al. (1999), plus
  other critiques
• How safe to be? Risk assessment vs. precautionary

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History of U. S. Federal Regulations (contd)

• Part 503 round 2 additional pollutants (31)
  examined based on new information available
• Dioxins and related compounds targeted
• 2001 2002 dioxin not to be regulated for
  surface disposal, incineration, and land
  application
• Inspector General EPA does not have information
  to determine if human health environment are
  protected
• 2002 review by National Academy of Sciences no
  document harm, but persistent uncertainties and
  need for updated science
• Research proceeding (WERF, EPA bioaerosols,
  Sustainable Land Application conference (JEQ)

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Biosolids management trends New England Data
(2000)

• Most U. S. states have own, more stringent
  regulations
• About 600 publicly owned wastewater treatment
  facilities in New England
• Produce approximately 434,000 dry tons of sewage
  sludge.
• 96,000 dry tons (22) of regional sewage sludge
  is recycled as biosolids fertilizer soil
  amendment products
• About 18 was treated to Class B standards 82
  treated to Class A
• New England more densely populated, less
  agriculture

(from Saving Soil Biosolids Recycling in New
England, a 2001 NEBRA report from
www.nebiosolids.org)
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New England Data (contd)

• Estimated 3.7 million lbs (est.) nitrogen from
  96,000 dry tons recycled biosolids in 2000.
• Equivalent chemical fertilizer nitrogen would
  have cost an estimated 1.3 million in 2000 (more
  now, as N fertilizer prices are up).
• 96,000 dry tons of biosolids would have required
  350,000 cubic yards (est.) of landfill space
  equivalent of 6 landfills each the size of a
  football field 33 feet deep!

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New England Data (2000, VT 1999)...

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New England Biosolids Recycling Rates (2000 data)

• ME 77 (treated for beneficial use in
  agriculture general landscaping) Class B
  declining
• VT 75 (primarily through composting, much of
  this in Quebec)
• NH 30 (down from 50 in 1996 mainly due to
  stricter state local land application
  regulations)
• MA 20 (almost all Class A material including
  Bostons MWRA heat dried Bay State Fertilizer)
  this has increased since 2002 with Greater
  Lawrence heat dried
• CT RI each below 10, composted
• Compost markets are strong growing

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Maine (2004 data, ME DEP)
Tot. cu.yds.compost OR NViro 93,622 (72,693 cu. meters)
Tot. cu.yds. stockpiled 2,618 (2,033 cu. meters)
Tot. cu.yds. landfill 32,989 (25,614 cu. meters)
Tot. cu.yds. out-of-state 18,114 (14,065 cu. meters)
Tot. cu.yds. other use 0
TOTAL ALL 168,824 cu. yds (131,084 cu. meters)
30,000 dry tons (27,000 metric tonnes)
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Diverse Biosolids Uses
Spectacle Island, Harbor Islands National Park,
Boston Harbor
Photos New England Organics, Inc.
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Bulk / Class B programs...

• 2001 Nashua changes from disposal at landfill
  to recycling, with new anaerobic digester
• The digester complex generates electricity,
  reduces amount and odors of biosolids, and saves
  ratepayers about 750,000 a year in operating
  costs.
• Class B biosolids used on farms
• Boston also uses egg-shaped digesters and
  recovers energy

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Bulk Class A B, lime-treated, Concord, NH
biosolids are applied to local fields growing
feed corn for dairy cows.
15
Ogunquit, Maine specialized town truck to
top-dresses Ogunquit Class B biosolids on nearby
farm fields for grass hay.
16
Land Reclamation
a two-year-old NH reclaimed gravel pit
the manufactured topsoil develops a
sustainable soil ecosystem
a one-year-old NH reclaimed gravel pit
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• Keene, NH Landfill
• after capping with manufactured topsoil
• Keene, NH
• September,
• 2001 photo

Photo Keene / Resource Management, Inc.
(from the First Annual New England Biosolids
Parade - www.nebiosolids.org)
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Class A programs

• Massachusetts Water
• Resources Authority
• Deer Island WWTF
• Boston Harbor
• Egg-shaped digesters treat the sewage sludge from
  Boston and 42 other communities before it is
  heat-dried and pelletized to make a fertilizer
  product.

Photo MWRA
(from the First Annual New England Biosolids
Parade - www.nebiosolids.org)
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• Massachusetts Water
• Resources Authority
• and
• New England Fertilizer Company (NEFCO)
• Quincy, MA
• Operations Commenced
• December, 1991
• Biosolids Drying and
• Pelletizing to Produce a
• Slow-Release Fertilizer

(from the First Annual New England Biosolids
Parade - www.nebiosolids.org)
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• Greater Lawrence
• Sanitary District
• and
• New England Fertilizer Company (NEFCO)
• North Andover, MA
• Operations Commenced
• December, 2002
• Biosolids Drying and
• Pelletizing to Produce a
• Slow-Release Fertilizer

(from the First Annual New England Biosolids
Parade - www.nebiosolids.org)
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NEFCO ships to Florida to fertilize orange trees
and to the Midwest for fertilizer blending and to
Colorado for use on ranches and
...some MWRA uses right close to home...
Castle Island, South Boston
The Esplanade along the Charles River is
fertilized with Bay State Fertilizer.
Photos MWRA.
22
NViro Soil (Class A alkaline treated)
Innovative Earth Solutions / Soil Preparation,
Inc. Plymouth, Maine
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Merrimack, NH biosolids compost

• Merrimack, New Hampshire
• Nourishing Green Parks and Fairways

The Great Lawn, Central Park NYC
New England Golf Course
Photos Merrimack / Agresource
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Hawk Ridge in Unity, Maine
Largest private composting operation in New
England
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More composting...
Photo Agresource.
Ipswich, MA Agresource compost operation.
Williamstown, MA
Composting biosolids produces a Class A biosolids
product that can be used anywhere...
A Maine outdoor windrow biosolids compost
operation.
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• LAWPCA
• Compost Facility
• Auburn, ME
• 1988 - present
• Sited with plenty of space around it, this
  biosolids compost facility has operated steadily
  since the late 1980s.
• Lewiston-Auburn Water Pollution Control Authority
• Lewiston-Auburn, ME

(from the First Annual New England Biosolids
Parade - www.nebiosolids.org)
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• GSI Compost Facility
• Near Sherbrooke, QU
• September, 2002
• Wastewater solids from around northern New
  England, including all of the Burlington area, is
  composted in Quebec and made into various soil
  amendments and products.
• GSI Environnement
• Sherbrooke, QU

(from the First Annual New England Biosolids
Parade - www.nebiosolids.org)
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More compost uses...
Maines Colby College uses biosolids compost on
sports turf.
Photo New England Organics
Photo Agresource.
sports fields... A Tufts University football
field is topdressed with biosolids compost.
This constructed wetland along a NH highway has
soil made with biosolids compost.
and wetlands...
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Current issues / concerns

• Sewage sludge contains more than just human
  waste it also contains
• heavy metals
• chemicals
• pathogens (disease-causing micro-organisms)
  mostly in Class B
• Sewage sludge and biosolids can have odors

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Political landscape

• Some political interest at national state
  levels
• EPA Office of Inspector General, National Academy
  of Sciences reports
• About 17 of NH towns have severe restrictions.
  A few Maine and Massachusetts towns too.
• Attempts nationally and in states for stopping
  land application have failed (e.g. Center for
  Food Safety petition to EPA, but state local
  regulations have gotten stricter)

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Responding to concerns...

• Public concerns are legitimate--people dont know
  much about this specialized field and initial
  negative reactions are natural
• People need time to absorb new information
• Some biosolids management programs are getting
  more sensitive, involving the public more
• Improving practices
• National Biosolids Partnership - EMS

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Current state of the science

• Large amount of research behind current biosolids
  management practices regulations
• EPA Risk Assessment - 503 Rule (with W-170 input)
• Several long-term studies e.g. Pennsylvania land
  reclamation, Rosemount farm use, Chicago Prairie
  Plan, King County forests
• Review by the National Academy of Sciences 1996
• Review by the National Academy of Sciences 2002
• Every decade state-of-the-science conference
  (last in 2004)
• BUT there are still going to some questions
  regarding risks of biosolids management
  currently odors/bioaerosols, ecological impacts
  of trace chemicals (PDBEs, endocrine disruptors)

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Bottom line (my opinion)

• On-going scientific research and debate are
  necessary and should continue, but
• decades of experience and research have led many
  knowledgeable researchers to conclude that
  current best biosolids management practices
  represent relatively low risk to public health
  and the environment.
• But it has to be done right
• and assurance of that is key!

34
Thank you!
New England Biosolids and Residuals
Association P. O. Box 422 / Tamworth, NH
03886 USA phone [phone] /
info_at_nebiosolids.org www.nebiosolids.org
Cooperatively promoting the environmentally sound
recycling of biosolids and other residuals.
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N.E. Trace Metals Averages
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Nova Scotia Guidance (May 04) Trace Metals
Limits (mg/kg dry weight)
Metal Exceptnl Quality Class A / B Compare NH Standard (regular / low metals)
Arsenic 13 75 32 / 10
Cadmium 3 20 14 / 10
Chromium 210 1060 1000 / 160
Cobalt 34 150 Not regulated
Copper 400 760 1500 / 1000
Mercury 0.8 5 10 / 7
Molybdenum 5 20 35 / 18
Nickel 62 180 200 / 98
Lead 150 500 300 / 270
Selenium 2 14 28 / 18
Zinc 700 1850 2500 / 1780

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N.E. trace metals of greatest environmental
concern arsenic (As)
NOTE Federal U. S. standards shown for
comparison are the strictest (EQ) standards. NS
guidelines EQ 13 ppm
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N.E. trace metals of greatest environmental
concern cadmium (Cd)
NOTE Federal U. S. standards shown for
comparison are the strictest (EQ) standards. NS
guidelines EQ 3 ppm.
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N.E. trace metals of greatest environmental
concern lead (Pb)
NOTE Federal standards shown for comparison are
the strictest (EQ) standards. NS guidelines EQ
150 ppm.
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N.E. trace metals of greatest environmental
concern mercury (Hg)
NOTE Federal standards shown for comparison are
the strictest (EQ) standards. NS guidelines EQ
0.8 ppm.
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Trace metals in other agricultural materials, for
comparison
42
Calculating Accumulation of Metals in Soils From
a Typical Bulk Biosolids Application
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Typical chemicals of possible concern
44
Chemical Content of Sludge/Biosolids(from
Carpenter, 2000)

• Sludge is engineered to capture
• organic matter
• nutrients (especially nitrogen and phosphorous)
• Sludge also favors retention of
• insoluble compounds
• non-, or semi-volatile compounds
• non-readily degradable compounds
• compounds that are strongly sorbed to organic
  matter
• In some cases, the management of wastewater
  treatment plants may result in sludge containing
  metabolites of organic matter decomposition
• In many ways, the chemical quality of sludge is
  representative of the the chemical quality of our
  environment

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Dioxin Concentrations in Biosolids(from
Carpenter, 2000)
1 Data taken from Jones, K.C. and A.P. Stewart
1996. Dioxins and furans in sewage sludges 2
Non-detects were reported as 1/2 the detection
limit when calculating TEQ values
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Pathogens

• Public concern, especially emerging pathogens
• Advances in detection science
• A focus of the 2002 National Academy of Sciences
  review
• Continued research needed expected
• Current treatment technologies likely to treat
  for emerging pathogens also
• Most exposed are operators public much less
  exposed (although exposures may not be
  comparable)
• Be concerned about neighbors - best management
  needed
• Ensure proper treatment!

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Odors/Bioaerosols

• A common trigger of public concern
• Current research identifying specific compounds
  (EPA/USDA) and potential effects
• Enforcement Oversight
• Critical for public confidence
• Independent oversight / local involvement

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Reviewing policy look at scientific
summaries. In 1996, the lead U. S. scientific
body, the National Academy of Sciences, reviewed
biosolids recycling and concludedIn summary,
society produces large volumes of treated
municipal wastewater and sewage sludge that must
be either disposed of or reused. While no
disposal or reuse option can guarantee complete
safety, the use of these materials in the
production of crops for human consumption, when
practiced in accordance with existing federal
guidelines and regulations, present negligible
risk to the consumer, to crop production, and to
the environment.
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U. S. National Academy of Sciences 2002 review
There is no documented scientific evidence
that the Part 503 rule has failed to protect
public health. However, additional scientific
work is needed to reduce persistent uncertainty
about the potential for adverse human health
effects from exposure to biosolids. There have
been anecdotal allegations of disease, and many
scientific advances have occurred since the Part
503 rule was promulgated. To assure the public
and to protect public health, there is a
criticalneed to update the scientific basis of
the rule to (1) ensure that the chemical and
pathogen standards are supported by current
scientific data and risk-assessment methods, (2)
demonstrate effective enforcement of the Part 503
rule, and (3) validate the effectiveness of
biosolids management practices.
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Thank you!
New England Biosolids and Residuals
Association P. O. Box 422 / Tamworth, NH
03886 USA phone [phone] /
info_at_nebiosolids.org www.nebiosolids.org
Cooperatively promoting the environmentally sound
recycling of biosolids and other residuals.