1. Septage Bioreactor Landfill
A St. Clair County RDDP Proposal
St. Clair County CTI & Associates, Inc.

2. Septage Disposal Need
Together, Macomb / St. Clair counties have approximately 50,000 septic tanks that generate 9.5 M gallons of septage annually
By 2030, the septage generation is expected to exceed 14 M gallons per year
Septage is currently disposed of at wastewater treatment plants or at licensed sites (i.e., “land application”)
St. Clair Co. has no WWTP that accepts septage

3. UNCONTROLLED SURFACE APPLICATION

4. UNCONTROLLED
SURFACE RUNOFF
TO WATERWAYS

5. SURFACE APPLY ON FROZEN GROUND

6. ALTERNATIVE SEPTAGE DISPOSAL METHODS ARE NEEDED

7. The Advisory Group concurred with the proposal and identified Smiths Creek Landfill as one of the four potential disposal sites

8. Project Background
Meanwhile, Smiths Creek Landfill was exploring various options of extending service life beyond the estimated 20 years
One promising and environmentally-sound option is the “bioreactor landfill”
The project team decided to use the bioreactor project to solve the septage disposal problem

9. Traditional Landfills vs. Bioreactor Landfills

10. Traditional Landfills
Often times referenced as “dry tombs”
Waste remains “dry” therefore suppresses decomposition

12. Fall 1990
Fall 1998
8 years in a “dry” landfill

13. Landfill Gas Production
Containment
Failure
(Passing the liability to the next generation) ?
Gas Production
Traditional
Landfills
(“Dry Tombs”)

14. Bioreactor Landfills
Inject the collected leachate back into waste mass to increase moisture content
Add other liquids (e.g., septage) to further enhance decomposition
Drastically accelerate landfill gas production (renewable energy)
Aim achieving waste “bio-stabilization” in years (vs. decades or centuries in “dry tombs”)

15. Landfill Gas Production
Bioreactor Landfill
Renewable Energy
Gas Production
Containment
Failure?
Traditional
Landfills
(“Dry Tombs”)

16. Septage Bioreactor Landfill Septage Bioreactor Landfill

17. Solid waste needs moisture
pH-control
nutrients microorganisms
to decompose…

18. Septage provides all those needs,
but needs a home…

19. Rapid refuse decomposition, Landfill space recovery,
Renewable energy source
Alt. septage treatment method
etc., etc.

20. Smiths Creek Landfill RDDP Proposal

21. Smiths Creek Landfill RDDP Proposal
Septage treatment capacity (100,000 homes)
Recover energy to heat 800 homes for 10 years
Costs of expanding wastewater treatment capacity for septage is avoided
Potential energy recovery (> $3,000,000)
Potential space recovery (> $2,000,000)

22. Septage Receiving Unit
Lift Station
Septage Receiving Unit
Septage Truck N

23. Septage Routing Septage liquid Discharge Lines Storage Tanks
Receiving Facility
Distribution System

24. Project Status
Septage bioreactor cells are constructed and have been certified and licensed by MDEQ
Landfill operators began to add Municipal Solid Waste to bioreactor cells in Nov. 2006
RDDP permit application was approved by MDEQ on February 23, 2007
Septage introduction to begin in approximately 6 months after completion of receiving facility, storage tanks and distribution system

25. Conclusion
Disposal of septage in landfills is an environmentally sound practice
Septage addition will accelerate waste decomposition therefore extend landfill service life
Septage bioreactor is also a viable source of renewable energy
Brings us one step closer to the vision of “perpetual” landfill
Septage bioreactor is consistent with goals and objectives of Solid Waste Management Plan

26. Background on Part 115 Import/Export Authorizations
Chapter 3 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, P.A. 451 of 1994, section 11538(6) states:
In order for a disposal area to serve the needs of another county, state, or country, the service, including the disposal of municipal solid waste incinerator ash, must be explicitly authorized in the approved solid waste management plan of the receiving county. With regard to intercounty service within Michigan, the service must also be explicitly authorized in the exporting county’s solid waste management plan.

27. Reason for proposed amendment to Solid Waste Plan
St. Clair County has a long-standing policy of self-sufficiency with regards to the disposal of solid waste
No waste allowed into or out of county
Manage our resource for the long-term benefits of County citizens
Septage Bioreactor will help us manage our resource in a responsible manner by expanding the service life of the landfill

28. Thank You!
For additional information, please contact Dr. Te-Yang Soong CTI & Associates (248)