Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME)

1. What are municipal biosolids?

Municipal biosolids are organic-based products produced from the treatment of  municipal sludge. They can be solids, semi-solid or liquid. Municipal biosolids  are municipal sludge which has been treated to meet jurisdictional standards,  requirements or guidelines and is a mixture of water and solids separated from  various types of wastewater as a result of natural or artificial processes.

2. Why do we need a Canada-wide approach?

In  2009 the Canadian Council of Ministers of  the Environment (CCME) endorsed The Canada-wide Strategy  for the Management of Municipal Wastewater Effluent (the Strategy). The  Strategy sets out a harmonized framework to manage discharges from more than  3,500 wastewater facilities in Canada  and provides a path forward for  achieving regulatory clarity in managing municipal wastewater effluent across  the country. Performance standards contained in the Strategy are intended to  increase protection for human health and the environment across Canada.

The quantity of municipal biosolids  produced is expected to increase as new and upgraded wastewater facilities are  constructed as a result of implementation of theStrategy. Anticipating this, CCME, in consultation with interested  and affected parties, developed the Canada-wide  Approach for the Management of Wastewater Biosolids (the Approach).

3. What does  this Approach promote?

The Approach promotes the beneficial use of valuable  resources such as nutrients, organic matter and energy contained within  municipal biosolids, municipal sludge and treated septage. Beneficial uses should be  based on

   
• consideration of the utility and resource value (product performance)
   
• strategies to minimize potential risks to the environment and human  health
   
• strategies to minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
   
• adherence to federal, provincial, territorial and municipal standards,  requirements or guidelines.  

4. How can  municipal biosolids be beneficially managed?

Municipal biosolids, municipal sludge and treated  septage can be beneficially managed in a number of ways including composting,  agricultural land application and combustion for energy production. However, in  Canada  some municipal biosolids are still disposed of rather than being used in a  beneficial manner. Disposal options include combustion without energy capture  and burial in landfills, both of which are not considered to be beneficial  uses. The Approach does not promote  disposal; it encourages the beneficial use of municipal biosolids, municipal  sludge and treated septage, while maintaining protection of the environment and  human health.