Biosolids Application
Update: This consultation has ended. Council lifted the moratorium on biosolids application in The County and directed staff to further investigate best practices for the management of biosolids before the 2023 budget.
The County is considering the future of biosolids application in the municipality. In June 2020, Council directed staff to consult with the public and return to Council with a report regarding the application of municipal biosolids within The County.
Staff presented a report at the Committee of the Whole on April 20, 2022. View the agenda and staff report here. View the Committee discussion here. View the Committee minutes here. Council has since ratified the Committee's amended motion, lifting the moratorium on biosolids application in The County and directing staff to further investigate best practices for the management of biosolids before the 2023 budget.
Comparing Options:
Staff have identified five options that Council could consider and several criteria by which to evaluate the options. Members of the public are invited to review the table below outlining the options and the criteria. The public can then fill out the survey at the bottom of this page to provide their feedback on each of the options.
| OPTION 1: Continue current practice of spreading County's biosolids outside the municipality | OPTION 2: Only allow biosolids produced at the Picton and Wellington wastewater treatment plants to be hauled and applied on fields in Prince Edward County | OPTION 3: Allow biosolids produced at wastewater treatment plants in Prince Edward County and elsewhere to be hauled and applied on fields in Prince Edward County | OPTION 4: Return to dewatering biosolids produced in The County and either trucking that product outside The County or use it as cover on local landfills | OPTION 5: Invest in exploring innovative and emerging solutions for biosolid disposal (such as using the material to create compost or reducing the material to ash for use as an industrial input) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRITERION 1: Protect the County's natural environment | No risk of contamination to the County's natural environment because biosolids are not applied to fields within Prince Edward County Indirect impact from greenhouse gas generated from shipping biosolids out of the County and from using chemical fertilizers on County land instead of biosolids | Potential risks of contamination to the surrounding environment mitigated through provincial regulations Replacing portion of commercial fertilizers with biosolids would reduce the environmental impact of producing and shipping commercial fertilizers | Potential risks of contamination to the surrounding environment mitigated through provincial regulations County would not know the composition of the biosolid material coming from outside the municipality Replacing portion of commercial fertilizers with biosolids would reduce the environmental impact of producing and shipping commercial fertilizers Increased greenhouse gasses due to increased trucking in Prince Edward County | Potential negative impact on the environment as greenhouse gases produced to haul material to storage location far outside the County | Undetermined not knowing the options that are possible |
| CRITERION 2: Minimize and manage operational risk | Minimal impact as this is the current practice | The municipality would have to negotiate new contract with hauler to apply material in County. Risk of insufficient land to accommodate application of all County-produced biosolids in Prince Edward County. Risk mitigated by ensuring contractor has contingency plan for spreading outside Prince Edward County | The municipality would have to negotiate new contract with hauler to apply material in County Risk of insufficient land to accommodate application of all County-produced biosolids in Prince Edward County. Risk mitigated by ensuring contractor has contingency plan for spreading outside Prince Edward County | Would involve a tender process and hiring a contractor to handle the dewatering process. Cannot execute in-house with current capabilities | Operational risk with changing to new process or upgrading current wastewater treatment facilities. Potential solutions not possible in 2022 as funds not included in budget |
| CRITERION 3: Protect quality of life in Prince Edward County | Minimal impact | Potential impacts to the surrounding community resulting from odour and trucking | Potential impacts to the surrounding community resulting from odour Greater number of heavy trucks on the road expected as biosolids are brought into the community for application | Minimal impact if the material is shipped to storage outside the County | Undetermined not knowing the options that are possible |
| CRITERION 4: Cost effective and provide value | Most cost-effective option for the municipality However, County farmers do not get benefits of biosolid for crop production. Rely instead on commercial fertilizers. | Costs savings of $4,000 per year for the County if own-produced biosolids applied to fields in Prince Edward County Savings from applying biosolids produced at Picton and Wellington plants on Prince Edward County fields would be offset by impact heavy trucks would have on road infrastructure Local farmers able to save money by replacing some commercial fertilizer with biosolids | Costs savings of $4,000 per year for the County if own-produced biosolids applied to fields in Prince Edward County Savings from applying biosolids produced at Picton and Wellington plants on Prince Edward County fields would be offset by impact heavy trucks would have on road infrastructure Savings impacted even further with additional heavy trucks delivering biosolids produced from jurisdictions outside Prince Edward County Local farmers able to save money by replacing some commercial fertilizer with biosolids | Double the cost to dispose of biosolids Potential increased landfill costs/limitations of landfill operation if dewatered biosolids used as cover County farmers do not get benefits of biosolid for crop production. Rely instead on commercial fertilizers. | Investments required in consultants to explore what options are available No guarantee that other methods are more cost effective Farmers do not get value of having biosolids application in the County to support crop production and reduce reliance on commercial fertilizers |
Have a question about the future of biosolid application in Prince Edward County?
