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Production and Land Application of Compost and Biosolids

Barb John Environmental Protection Officer BC Ministry of Environment Maryam Mofidpoor Environmental Management Officer BC Ministry of Environment

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Part 1: How are Biosolids used in BC?

& Global Biosolids Management

Part 2: How does BC regulate the use of Biosolids?

Outline

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Part 1: How are Biosolids used in BC?

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• Biosolids are a resource; • Disposal costs are high; • Landfill space is limited; • Best management practices.

Benefits of using Biosolids

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• Compost Production;

• Land Application.

Use of Biosolids in BC

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• Produced from organic matter such as food waste and biosolids ;

• Result of a controlled biological oxidation and

decomposition of organic matter.

Compost Production

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• Typically land applications occur once per growing season using manure spreading equipment;

• This activity is similar to the application of manure on a pasture.

Land Application

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Biosolid Land Application Successes • Some examples in BC:

• Sechelt Sand and Gravel mine; • Highland Valley Copper mine; • Vancouver Island University forest land; and • OK Ranch.

• New York City biosolids fertilized Colorado’s wheat farms for

two decades.

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National Approach to Biosolids

• The Canadian Council of the Ministers of the Environment (CCME) approved :

Canada-wide Approach for the Management of Wastewater

Biosolids

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Biosolids Management in the EU

Source: European Federation of Agricultural Recycling

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Biosolids Management in the EU Countries

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10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Biosolids landapplication

Compostedbiosolids

Total b

ioso

lids p

rod

uced

(%)

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Part 2: How does BC regulate the use of biosolids?

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• OMRR was enacted in February 2002; • 2 guidelines:

• Compost Facility Requirements Guideline;

• Guidelines for the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation and the Soil Amendment Code of Practice.

Organic Matter Recycling Regulation

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OMRR Requirements

• Metal Standards • Pathogen Standards • Composting Facility Requirements • Notification of Land Application • Land Application Plan

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Metals European

Biosolids Used in

Agriculture

Biosolids Class A

USEPA Biosolids Class A

BC Regulation

Compost

Class A

BC

Regulation

Biosolids and

Compost Class

B

BC Regulation

James Plant

(Abbotsford)

Biosolids

(average)

Arsenic No limit No limit 75 13 75 3.7

Cadmium 20-40 75 20 3 20 1.61

Chromium No limit No limit Currently no limit

Under consideration

100 1060 30.8

Cobalt No limit No limit 150 34 150 2.4

Copper No limit No limit Currently no limit

Under consideration

400 2200 533

Lead 750-1200 840 500 150 500 24.1

Mercury 16-25 57 5 2 15 1.68

Molybdenum No limit 75 20 5 20 6.93

Nickel 300-400 420 180 62 180 21.3

Selenium No limit 100 14 2 14 4.77

Zinc 2500-4000 7500 1850 500 1850 905

Metal Standards

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•Metals bind to soil and organic matter

Limits for Metals

Loading in Soil

Metal Standards

in Biosolids and

Compost

Waiting Periods

Buffer Zones

Metals

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Pathogen Control

Buffer Zones,

Waiting Periods

Fecal Coliforms

Testing

• salmonella

Hostile

Soil Environment

Time and Temperature

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Composting Facility Requirements

• Environmental Impact Study (EIS);

• Notification of Operation;

• Plans and specifications.

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Land Application

Land application notifications and land application plans are:

• required for Class A and B biosolids and Class B compost;

• not required for Class A compost due to its high quality.

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Notification of Land Application

• Prepared by qualified professionals; • 30 days before land application to MoE, Medical Health

Officers , and the Agricultural Land Commission.

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Land Application Plan = Not a Casual Step, but a Very Well Thought Out One

Driven by the OMRR Requirements and Guidelines

Notification to MoE

MHO

ALC

Testing biosolids for pathogens and metals

Considering plant’s

nutrients uptake

Testing soil for metals

and nutrients

Calculating the nutrients

and metal loading in

soil

Considering water sources

and buffer zones

Land application signed by

QP

Review by MoE

MHO

ALC

Land Applied

(same considerations

as manure)

Monitoring if needed

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Nutrients (Agronomic Rate)

Soil Tests

(N, P, K)

Biosolids and Compost Tests (N,

P, K)

Plants’ Nutritional Needs (uptake)

Land Application Rate of Biosolids

and Compost

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• Land Application Plan must be completed by a qualified professional with seal and signature, and must include:

Land Application Plan

• Storage and leachate management • Pathogen and production process

• Total nitrogen, ammonia, ammonium, nitrate

• Plant available phosphorous and potassium

• Crop nutrient requirements • Soil concentration of metals

• Concentration of metals in compost and biosolids

• Projected concentration of metals in soil after land application

• Lab methods for soil and biosolids testing

• Management method for specific conditions

• Application rate • Post application monitoring plans

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Land Application of Class B Compost and Biosolids must also meet the following conditions:

Additional Conditions

• Restricted public access • Ground water level > 1m

• Restricted grazing for 60 days • Restricted food crops for human consumption for 18-38 months

• 30m setback from water and residential zoning

• 10-20m setback from roads

• Visible signage with information

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Trace Chemicals

• Biosolids contain traces of chemicals; • Risk is low to human and the

environment.

-part per billion: one second in 31.7 years -part per trillion: one drop in 20 Olympic sized swimming pools

• Risk Assessment: • Toxicity = dose x time • Where the chemical is

• Trace chemicals: low dose and short contact time: low risk • The presence of the tiny amount of the trace chemical in the

soil not in the water: low risk

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Fate of the Trace Chemicals in the Soil

Most chemicals : • degrade quickly through soil microbial activities,

under the sun and presence of oxygen; • are not taken up by plants; • do not move through soils (bind to soil and organic

matter); and • pose much lower risk to humans than everyday

activities.

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Thank you