Potential options for managing our biosolids
We value your feedback. You can help us shape the future of biosolids management. You can see the public meeting presentation online here.
Please rate the first three options below to share your thoughts
- Land Application
- Thermal Oxidation
- Pelletization
- Composting
- Land Revitalization/Restoration
- Landfill
Option | Land Application | Thermal Oxidation | Pelletization | Composting | Land Revitalization/Restoration | Landfill |
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Description | Apply biosolids to land in either a liquid or wet cake form to either condition the soil or to fertilize crops or other vegetation grown in the soil | Firing biosolids at a high temperature in an enclosed device to produce heat and energy | Involves heat drying technology, which:
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Mix biosolids with woodchips and air to make compost | Apply biosolids to land to replace lost topsoil (e.g., landfill cover, large construction sites, surface strip mines, parks and road cuts, wetlands, wildlife habitat, conservation areas)
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Mix biosolids with municipal garbage and dispose in landfill |
Operational Factors | Requires storage / another treatment option during the winter months because of seasonal spreading restrictions (not from November 10 - April 10) Restrictions for spreading rates of nutrients (i.e., phosphorous and nitrogen) |
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Compost must:
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Requires access to receiving land | Receiving landfill must have sufficient capacity for year-round disposal |
Time to implement | Medium term | Long term | Long term | Long term - for a program to compost the majority of our biosolids (pilot program currently underway to compost 20% of biosolids) | Short term | Short term |
Regional suitability |
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The business case for heat and energy recovery is more difficult to make due to low energy costs in Manitoba |
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Strong demand as soil amendment | Limited sites available in Manitoba |
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Stakeholders involved |
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Opportunity for public and private sector (operate/distribute) | Residents close to receiving land Opportunity for public and private (hauling and spreading) | Opportunity for public and private contractors |
Regulation | Provincially regulated |
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Regulations for odour control strategy and fertilizer products (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) | Provincially regulated | Provincially regulated | Provincially regulated |
Good neighbour practice | Potential for odour concerns with storage (particularly with lagoons for liquid biosolids) | Potential for concern about location | Potential for nuisance odours | Potential for nuisance odours | Potential for nuisance odours | Potential for nuisance odours |
Ecological sustainability |
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Considered sustainable reuse if:
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Considered sustainable reuse | Considered sustainable reuse | Beneficial reuse of nutrients |
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Cost | $$ | $$ | $$ | $$$ | $ - $$$ (depends on the degree of pre-treatment) | $ |
Last update:
November 9, 2018