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Beneficial Use of Biosolids;
Odour Containment and Termination of
Incineration at Main Treatment Plant
The Works and Utilities Committee recommends that:
(1) incineration at the Main Treatment Plant be stopped no later than January 1, 1999, and that the Interim Functional Lead for Water/Wastewater Operations be requested to report to the next meeting of the Committee, scheduled to be held on March 25, 1998, on the feasibility of such date;
(2) the Harbour Remediation & Transfer Inc. facility not be restarted for testing of any kind until a report is submitted for approval of the Works and Utilities Committee outlining the additional odour controls which will be in place at that time;
(3) an odour containment program be implemented at the Main Treatment Plant, and that the Interim Functional Lead for Water/Wastewater Operations be requested to submit a report to the next meeting of the Committee on the measures taken to ensure that odours are monitored and reduced, such report to also provide the history and operational information related to the biosolids loading building at the Main Treatment Plant;
(4) the Province of Ontario be urged to release the necessary regulations to facilitate beneficial use of biosolids; and
(5) the proposed Biosolids Management and Implementation Plan be submitted to the Works and Utilities Committee, and that it include the following components:
(i) a 100 percent diversion from incineration target with an appropriate timeline;
(ii) an independent, expert evaluation panel as previously endorsed by Metropolitan Council;
(iii) the necessary expert staffing plan to support the Plan;
(iv) a strategy for inviting and considering a wide range of alternative technologies and processes for beneficial use of biosolids;
(v) a process for involvement of citizens in the process of developing, refining and monitoring the beneficial use of biosolids, such process to be developed in conjunction with the Councillors for the Don River and East Toronto wards; and
(vi) consideration of a rapid shift of biosolids to existing biosolids processing facilities in Southern Ontario.
The Works and Utilities Committee reports, for the information of Council, having requested the Interim Functional Lead for Water/Wastewater Operations to:
(1) submit a report to every other meeting of the Committee on the status of the biosolids program;
(2) submit a report to the Committee on:
(i) the optimal time for restarting the Harbour Remediation & Transfer Inc. demonstration project;
(ii) the costs to accelerate odour abatement at the Main Treatment Plant;
(iii) odour control processes in place at the Highland Creek Treatment Plant and the Humber Treatment Plant;
(iv) information referred to during the meeting respecting the sewage treatment plant in Hamilton, Ontario; and
(v) undertaking a series of testing of samples of sludges through other existing locations; and
(3) involve outside consultants in the preparation of future Requests for Proposals for biosolids treatment.
The Works and Utilities Committee submits the following report (January 29, 1998) from the Interim Functional Lead for Water/Wastewater Operations:
Recommendation:
That this report be received for information.
Council Reference/Background/History:
At its meeting held on January 14, 1998, when dealing with Clause No. 1 of Report No. 13 of The Environment and Public Space Committee, headed ABiosolids Demonstration Facility - Harbour Remediation & Transfer Inc.@, adopted as amended by Metropolitan Council on December 10 and 18, 1997, the Works and Utilities Committee deferred consideration of this matter, with a request that the appropriate staff submit a report to the next meeting on the status of the project, and on further demonstration projects which move towards 100 percent diversion of biosolids from incineration.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
We have signed the Amended Agreement with Harbour Remediation & Transfer Inc. (HR&T) that was attached to Clause No. 1 of Report No. 13 of The Environment and Public Space Committee approved by Metropolitan Council at its meeting of December 10 and 18, 1997.
The consultant engaged by HR&T to characterize the odours and odour sources last fall has been engaged to design and install the new odour control facilities. Until these facilities are installed, no biosolids will be shipped to HR&T. The only exception to this condition would be to test possible odour equipment or unless full scale operation is required to assist in the design of the new system. Such operation would be short in duration and all precautions would be taken to reduce and control the impact on the community. If testing is required, prior notification to the local councillors and the community will be undertaken.
It is anticipated that the fully designed system will be in place by July 1998 for full operation.
As part of the Main Treatment Plant Environmental Assessment, an assessment of biosolids management alternatives was undertaken to:
(a) determine the preferred strategy for meeting future solids treatment needs in the Main Treatment Plant service area; and
(b) address public concerns regarding incineration.
The assessment identified four alternatives to incineration; they were direct land application, alkaline stabilization, thermal drying and composting. It recommended demonstrating these alternatives before moving into full scale operation in order to ensure:
(1) reliability and diversity of end use markets;
(2) regulatory acceptance and compliance;
(3) public acceptance; and
(4) economic viability.
We have two demonstration projects, one which covers direct land applications, Terratec Environmental Limited, and one which covers alkaline stabilization, Harbour Remediation & Transfer Inc. Each project is diverting 10,000 dry tonnes of solids from the incineration process at the Main Treatment Plant.
The following plan has been proposed for the demonstration of the thermally dried and the composted alternatives.
(1) A Toronto Biosolids Management and Implementation Plan will be formally initiated to chart the next steps in demonstration projects to achieve 100 percent biosolids utilization.
(2) A public workshop will be held in the spring of 1998 for all interested stakeholders, including industry representatives, to discuss ideas regarding the development of demonstration projects for a composted product and a thermally dried product.
(3) Following the workshop, a draft strategy document for further biosolids utilization will be issued for public comment in the summer of 1998.
(4) Upon completion of the strategy document, an Expression of Interest will be issued to the marketplace to obtain preliminary cost estimates and confirm the scope of the project with interested suppliers. A report will be forwarded to Committee and Council outlining estimated costs and confirmation of the terms of reference for a Request for Proposals (RFP).
(5) Subsequent to approval to proceed, an RFP will be issued to engage the marketplace in the identification of the appropriate technologies, markets and associated costs. After evaluation of the proposals, a recommendation will be made to Committee and Council.
(6) Approval for these two demonstration projects will be sought from Committee and Council in early 1999.
Conclusion:
We will continue to work with HR&T to ensure that the odour control equipment will resolve their odour problems, and to allow the alkaline stabilization process to be adequately demonstrated.
In addition, we will move forward the plan, as described, to demonstrate the two other alternatives identified in the Main Treatment Plant Environmental Assessment: composting and thermal drying.
Contact Name:
Mr. R.M. Pickett, Director, Water Pollution Control
Telephone: (416) 392-8230, Fax: 397-0908
E-mail: bob_pickett@metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca
The following persons appeared before the Works and Utilities Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:
- Ms. Karen Buck, Toronto, Ontario, and submitted a communication with respect thereto;
- Ms. Karey Shinn, Chair, Public Committee for Safe Sewage Treatment in Metropolitan Toronto, and submitted a communication with respect thereto;
- Mr. Peter Smith, Lakeside Area Neighbourhoods Association;
- Mr. Dharmendra K. Rai, Plant Manager, Harbour Remediation and Transfer Inc.; and
- Councillor Pam McConnell, Don River.
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