What Are We Doing With Our Biosolids Is

What Are We Doing With Our Biosolids: Is it Sustainable? Presented by: Natalie Sierra, SFPUC Bob Gillette, Carollo Engineers June 2, 2008 BACWA Biosolids Workshop

Overview u Summary of Practices u Threats to ADC u Threats to Land Application u Regional Challenges u Statewide Trends u National Trends

Biosolids Management and Capacities - California Long-Term Treatment 0. 5% Long-Term Storage 1. 3% Alkaline Treatment 3. 8% Pellets 0. 7% Other Disposal 0. 9% Unspecified 1. 2% Compost 16. 3% Land Application 50. 5% Incineration 2. 5% Landfill ADC 15. 4% Landfill Disposal 4. 5% Landfill-Unspecified Use 0. 4% Surface Disposal 1. 9%

Biosolids Management and Capacities - BACWA Incineration 14. 2% Compost/Pellets 0. 2% Land Application 14. 7% Surface Disposal 1. 6% Landfill Disposal 2. 8% Landfill ADC 66. 5%

Threats to ADC/Beneficial Reuse

ADC/Landfill Beneficial Reuse: General Trends u Increasing urbanization – property closer to landfills u Increasing public opposition to landfill expansion u Increasing public opposition to use of biosolids as ADC u Concern over VOC emissions from landfills u Concern over use of compostable material in landfills

Regulations - ADC u AB 2640(Huffman): No compostable organic waste as ADC, increase in fees for landfill disposal/reuse u SJVAPCD 4565: Air board restrictions eliminate the use of cake biosolids as ADC u Alameda County: Potential to add surcharge fees for biosolids use as landfill ADC and eliminate credit as an organic waste diversion

Result of Pressure on ADC u 2004 Survey of Landfills: – 31 Sites permitted by IWMB to receive biosolids (200 mile radius from SF) – Only 18 landfills actually accept biosolids – 9 of these landfills accept in-county material only – 4 of these landfills are disposal only – Only 5 sites will accept biosolids for reuse!!!!!

2004 Landfill Survey, Cont. u Of landfills willing to state capacity, approx. 720 wet tons/day during wet weather and 1250 wet tons/day during dry weather u BACWA agencies produce ~2, 000 wet tons/day!

Threats to Land Application

Land Application – General Trends Increasing urbanization coupled with increasing public opposition u Questions about pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in biosolids u County Ordinances that restrict biosolids land application u – Kern County – Imperial County – Solano County

DEL NORTE SISKIYOU MODOC T Y HUMBOLD SHASTA TRINIT HUMBOLDT LASSEN TEHAMA BUTTE SIERRA BA NEVADA Y U SU MENDOCINO TT LAKE E PLACER R TO EL DORADO EN SONOMA YOLO NAPA SOLANO DOR S ALPINE A AMA ER AV MARIN L SAN CA TUOLUMNE CONTRA JOAQUIN COSTA S U SA FRANCISCO ALAMEDA IPO LA IS AR M N A SAN ST A MATEO SANTA ED SA RC ER NT E CLARA A D CR M UZ A SA CR A Status of County Ordinances GLENN PLUMAS M COLUSA MENDOCINO Biosolids Land Application in California SAN MO NO NE VA Ban on All Land Application M Practical Ban on Class B Land Application Allowed Developing Ordinances No Regulations/Ordinances Enacted MO SAN BENITO NT FR DA O INYO N ES TULARE ER EY KINGS SAN LUIS OBISPO KERN SAN BERNARDINO SANTA BARBARA VENTURA LOS ANGELES ORANGE RIVERSIDE SAN DIEGO IMPERIAL O MEXIC AZ