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

Biosolids Management and Capacities - California Land Application 50.5% Landfill ADC 15.4% Incineration 2.5% Compost 16.3% Pellets 0.7% Landfill-Unspecified Use 0.4% Surface Disposal 1.9% Landfill Disposal 4.5% Alkaline Treatment 3.8% Long-Term Storage 1.3% Long-Term Treatment 0.5% Other Disposal 0.9% Unspecified 1.2%

Biosolids Management and Capacities - BACWA Land Application 14.7% Surface Disposal 1.6% Landfill Disposal 2.8% Landfill ADC 66.5% Incineration 14.2% Compost/Pellets 0.2%

Threats to ADC/Beneficial Reuse

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

Regulations - ADC  AB 2640(Huffman): No compostable organic waste as ADC, increase in fees for landfill disposal/reuse  SJVAPCD 4565: Air board restrictions eliminate the use of cake biosolids as ADC  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  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.  Of landfills willing to state capacity, approx. 720 wet tons/day during wet weather and 1250 wet tons/day during dry weather  BACWA agencies produce ~2,000 wet tons/day!

Threats to Land Application

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

AZ NEVADA MEXICO Status of County Ordinances Ban on All Land Application Practical Ban Ban on Class B Class B Land Application Allowed Developing Ordinances No Regulations/Ordinances Enacted Biosolids Land Application in California HUMBOLDT DEL NORTE MENDOCINO SAN FRANCISCO SISKIYOU MODOC LASSENSHASTA TRINITY HUMBOLDT DEL NORTE MENDOCINO TEHAMA PLUMAS GLENNBUTTESIERRA NEVADA PLACER EL DORADO ALPINE AMADOR COLUSA LAKE SONOMA NAPA YOLO YUBA SUTTER SOLANO MARIN CONTRA COSTA ALAMEDA SACRAMENTO SAN MATEO SANTA CRUZ SANTA CLARA SAN JOAQUIN STANISLAUS CALAVERAS TUOLUMNE MONO MERCED MARIPOSA MADERA SAN BENITO FRESNO TULARE INYO SAN LUIS OBISPO KERN KINGS SAN BERNARDINO SANTA BARBARA LOS ANGELES VENTURA RIVERSIDE IMPERIAL SAN DIEGO ORANGE MONTEREY