Biosolids Recycling ACP Compost Solutions Workshop UC Riverside Extension February 28, 2007

Biosolids Processing Digestion Conveyance System Dewatering Cake Storage End Use

History of Biosolids Management 1980’s 1990’s Class B Land Application 2000’s Class A

 Recycling  Compliance with EPA  Environmental Management System (EMS)  Member agencies use material  Sensitive to local communities  Recycling  Compliance with EPA  Environmental Management System (EMS)  Member agencies use material  Sensitive to local communities Board Resolution 02-18

SWRCB General Order “…the beneficial use of biosolids through land application under this General Order is environmentally sound and preferable to non-beneficial disposal.”

Class B Biosolids Land Application County Bans are Spreading Present 1999

Regulatory Setting Federal State Local District and County

February 17, 2005 News 17 KGET Lawsuit Challenges Kern’s Biosolids Law March 1, 2005 The Bakersfield Californian Mired in Protest: Passionate residents speak at meeting against sewage site February 15, 2005 The Bakersfield Californian Sludge Report: Supervisors Still At It Board asks county lawyers to look into ban… February 19, 2005 The Bakersfield Californian Welcome to Kern, Toilet of California

Public Outrage! California didn’t want it! We don’t want it! We don’t want the flies! We don’t want the stench! WE DON’T WANT IT! California didn’t want it! We don’t want it! We don’t want the flies! We don’t want the stench! WE DON’T WANT IT!

Option Uncertainty Price Instability How Do We Develop a Sustainable Program? Regulatory Changes Public Perception

Amount of Biosolids Increasing Recycling Class B Options Decreasing

Elements of a Long-Term Biosolids Management Plan Treatment Improvements Vendors & Product Technologies MarketsMarkets

19 Markets Evaluated 11 Cropping 8 Non-Crop

Top 6 Long-Term Markets Nurseries and Ornamentals OCSD Member Cities & Agencies (open space) Shade Tree Programs Retail Outlets Energy Production Construction Materials

Horticulture – Retail Bags  Market Size: 200 tons per day  Exercise Caution Not to Saturate Market  Good Public Acceptance  Product: compost or pellets  Market Size: 200 tons per day  Exercise Caution Not to Saturate Market  Good Public Acceptance  Product: compost or pellets Retail Outlets

Horticulture – Nurseries & Ornamentals Nurseries and Ornamentals  Market Size: 195 tons per day  Exercise Caution Not to Saturate Market  Many Marketplaces, Long-Standing Industry  Product: compost or pellets  Market Size: 195 tons per day  Exercise Caution Not to Saturate Market  Many Marketplaces, Long-Standing Industry  Product: compost or pellets

Horticulture – OCSD’s Member Agencies for Landscapes OCSD Member Cities and Agencies (open space)  Market Size: 28 tons per day  14% OCSD’s Daily Production  Important PR to Use Biosolids Locally  Product: compost or pellets  Market Size: 28 tons per day  14% OCSD’s Daily Production  Important PR to Use Biosolids Locally  Product: compost or pellets

Silviculture – Shade Tree Programs Shade Tree Programs  Market Size: very small (½ ton per day)  Market Untapped  Important PR to Use Biosolids Locally  Product: compost or pellets  Market Size: very small (½ ton per day)  Market Untapped  Important PR to Use Biosolids Locally  Product: compost or pellets

Construction Materials  Market Size: very large (560+ tons per day)  Market Untapped  Existing Soil Recovery Facilities in So. Cal.  Product: soil fill material  Market Size: very large (560+ tons per day)  Market Untapped  Existing Soil Recovery Facilities in So. Cal.  Product: soil fill material

Direct Energy Production  Market Size: unlimited  Existing Mothballed Biomass Plants in Central Valley  California Green Power  Product: chars / pellets / power  Market Size: unlimited  Existing Mothballed Biomass Plants in Central Valley  California Green Power  Product: chars / pellets / power

13 Product Technologies Evaluated

Top 6 Product Technologies Organo-Mineral Fertilizer Pyrolysis (creating fuel products) Power Generation (at existing biomass power plants) Heat Drying (pellets) Composting Heat Treatment

Product–Market Integration Composting Pellets Fills / Soils Chars Electricity Member Agencies (landscape) Nurseries & Ornamentals Retail Outlets Shade Tree Programs Construction Materials Energy Production

Long-Term Sustainability = Diversification Multiple Technologies Multiple Contractors Multiple Technologies Multiple Contractors Multiple Products / Markets Failsafe Options Multiple Products / Markets Failsafe Options

Class B Transition Strategy to Higher-End Products

Biosolids Advisory Committee  Examine various implementation proposals  Make a recommendation to the Board  Effectively represent the entire community  Deliver a report upon completion  Over 1,000 hours spent  Examine various implementation proposals  Make a recommendation to the Board  Effectively represent the entire community  Deliver a report upon completion  Over 1,000 hours spent

 Higher Cost  Reuse  In-County Options  Sustainability  Higher Cost  Reuse  In-County Options  Sustainability  Low Cost  Non-Reuse  Higher Risk  Low Cost  Non-Reuse  Higher Risk Option 2: Continue Current Practices, and Utilize Landfills Option 1: Invest in High End Products Biosolids Management Plan

Multiple Options = Diversification = Long-Term Sustainability  Limit 33% total any one facility  Up to 50% peak capacity  Limit 33% total any one facility  Up to 50% peak capacity 100% Failsafe Backup Option Production Sites Vendors Markets  Max 50% total production to any vendor  50% temp provisions with each vendor  Max 50% total production to any vendor  50% temp provisions with each vendor  Max 50% total production to a market  Up to 50% backup alternative markets  Max 50% total production to a market  Up to 50% backup alternative markets

Orange County Sanitation District