BIOSOLIDS PROCESSINGSince 2008, biosolids have been touted as being a safe and useful soil amendment for farm fields and landscaping companies in Nova Scotia.

Sewage sludges are being transported from waste water treatment plants in HRM and some septic tank wastes from around the province to the N-Viro facility at Aero Tech Park. Here, the sludge is processed using highly alkaline cement kiln dust from LaFarge’s as a liming agent. ₁

The Chronicle Herald reported that the cost to process each tonne is $481. ₂ Biosolids are sold for a fraction of that cost to farmers or given away for free leaving taxpayers to shoulder the cost for an undesirable sludge disposal program.

About 34,000 tonnes of biosolids are being produced per year and are allowed to be spread on up to 4,800 hectares of farmland in Nova Scotia. ₁

WHAT’S IN SLUDGE?

Biosolids can contain a complex mixture of organic material (feces, urine, blood, vomit), and contaminants such as cleaners, personal care products, prescription drugs, chemotherapy and radiation therapy residues, pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites), persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals and vast arrays of other industrial chemicals and carcinogens that are often present in wastewaters in varying degrees (approximately 80,000 – 100,000 chemicals in use today). ₃

Waste water treatment facilities were not designed to remove, degrade or destroy most of the contaminants that end up residing in the sludge. Processing by heating and treatment with a liming agent does not degrade or destroy most contaminants either. ₄

What’s in Sludge Continued……

• It is important to note that neither WWTP nor N-Viro tests sludge for the presence of pollutants beyond a cursory few. ₄ Such limited data makes evaluation of the degree of risk to environment or public health problematic.

• Many contaminants that are of concern today were not considered when Nova Scotia regulations were made such as the persistent organic pollutants, nano-particles, prions, etc. Regulations that focus only on a small number of contaminants are very badly out of date and fail to protect the health of rural people. ₅

• In 2010, the CCME did a “tip of the iceberg” contaminant inventory and, in their final analysis, determined that the Halifax N-Viro product had high levels of triclosan, triclocarban, NSAIDS, bisphenol A, some antibiotics and musk fragrances in comparison with the other 11 facilities examined across Canada. ₄

What’s In Sludge Continued………

• In 2011, the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences tested the N-Viro product for several brominated flame retardants , a few poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) and triclosan/methyl-triclosan. Substantial levels of some flame retardants, PAH’s and triclosan derivatives were found in the sample submitted. ₆

• Cornell’s Waste Management Institute states that very little

research has been done on the fate and toxicity in soils and eco-sytsems for ANY emerging pollutants known to be present in sludges. For example, some of the persistent organic pollutants (plasticizers, fire retardants, etc.) can be found at significant levels in sludge and once applied, can persist for decades or longer in farm soils and are likely to accumulate in fat tissues and milk of livestock. ₅

NOVA SCOTIA’S FARMLAND SITUATION Farm revenues = $500 million per year. Jobs = 9,400. ₇ Agricultural land is a valuable resource and, according to the

recent Agricultural Land Review Committee’s findings, we have a very limited supply of cleared, available land for growing sufficient crops to provide food security for Nova Scotians.

For example, it is estimated that we would require an additional 853,000 hectares of cleared farmland to feed our current population. ₇

The cost to clear new farmland is expensive as is the cost to remediate contaminated soil. ie. $3,000 – $5,000/hectare.₇

Our best farmers do not wish to land apply biosolids to their most valuable asset – their soils for fear of degrading it with a complex mixture of non-beneficial substances. ₈

AGRICULTURAL LAND IN NOVA SCOTIA

HOW MUCH HEAVY METALS & ORGANIC POLLUTANTS ARE GOING ONTO N.S. SOILS EACH YEAR?

• Lead allowances per truckload (30 tonnes) = 150 ppm = 150 g/tonne x 30 tonne = 4.5 kg x .75 dry matter x 1000 truckloads = 3,375 kg on farmland per year. [Toxic to nervous system and mental function]

• Arsenic allowances per truckload = 13 ppm = 300 Kg on farmland per year [Toxic to blood & carcinogen]

• Mercury allowances per truckload = 0.8 ppm = 15 Kg on farmland each year. [Severely toxic to nervous system]

• Cadmium allowances per truckload = 3ppm = 68 Kg on farmland per year. [Liver/kidney toxin]

• Triclosan = 138 Kg on farmland/ year [Antibiotic resistance]• Bisphenol A = 17 Kg on farmland/year [Endocrine disruptor]• PAH’s = 97 Kg on farmland/year [Carcinogen]. ₉

Biosolids Use In Rural Communities• Last fall, a large group of Aylesford and area residents met to

express their concerns about having several fields in close proximity to their homes being repeatedly amended with biosolids by a couple of local farmers along Whitman Road, Ward Road, Palmer Road, Poor Farm Road and Fitch Road since 2010.

• Leo Glavine also attended the community meeting.• Every participant who came into the meeting was very angry and

frustrated because they had little recourse to stop the spreading or stockpiling of sludge near their homes.

• Neighbors were told the material was “dry fertilizer”.• Dept of Environment officials visited the farms and concluded that

there was nothing they could do as the use of treated sludge is a permitted farm practice.

Biosolids Use Continued...

• Residents noticed that some of the fields that biosolids were on had crops grown in them destined for human consumption ie. potatoes, carrots and onions. Other fields were growing corn and soybeans for livestock feed.

• The placement of some of the piles of biosolids have caused concern as well as how long some of the piles have remained at the same site for extended periods of time.

• Some residents complained that their young children became ill with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and skin and eye irritations right after land application occurred close to their homes .

BIOSOLIDS ON CORN FIELDS

BIOSOLID PARTICLES BEING AIRBORN

IMPROPER PILING OF BIOSOLIDS NEXT TO A DRAINAGE DITCH

BIOSOLIDS SPILLING INTO DRAINAGE DITCH

RAIN MOVING BIOSOLIDS INTO DRAINAGE DITCH AND INTO THE SOUTH RIVER

GEESE FAMILY IN DITCH

FIELDS THAT ARE FLOOD PLAINS SHOULD NOT HAVE BIOSOLIDS PLACED ON THEM

SNAPPING TURTLE ON LANDS AMENDED WITH BIOSOLIDS

WOOD TURTLE- SPECIES AT RISK

PAINTED TURTLE IN FIELD OF BIOSOLIDS

PHOTO TAKEN FEB 2014 OF BIOSOLIDS INAPPROPRIATELY STORED ON SNOW ON FITCH ROAD

BIOSOLIDS BEING MIXED WITH SOIL

BIOSOLIDS BEING MOVED BY NON-FARM EQUIPMENT.

BIOSOLIDS MIXED WITH SOIL AND PUT IN TRUCKS

BIOSOLIDS NOT BEING TILLED IN BUT BURIED IN PITS

BIOSOLIDS RELATED ILLNESSES• Studies are now concluding that within a 4.8 kilometres radius of

biosolid application, people are susceptible to infection and/or irritation of the respiratory and/or gastro-intestinal tracts through airborne dust particles that contain endotoxins from killed bacteria and other noxious chemicals not eliminated by the treatment process.₄

• Other studies are linking more serious illnesses with the spreading of treated sewage wastes that include dementias, Parkinsons and other nervous system disorders.₄

• Although promoters of sludge application claim that it is safe to use, no one is monitoring public health in farming areas where it is being used. And, when people do make offical complaints about being harmed personally by sludge, they have had regulatory agents dismiss their claims as being not credible since proof is lacking.

BUY LOCAL MOVEMENT IMPACTS• When local farmers are allowed to use sludge fertilizers on fields

growing grain or forage for livestock or on crops that humans will eat, it creates mistrust in consumers towards locally-produced food.

• Consumers want the right to be able to make informed choices about

the foods they purchase themselves – not government, retailers or food industry giants making these decisions for them. Without labeling, consumers are denied the power to protect themselves and their children from things they feel are harmful.

• Nova Scotians have clearly demonstrated that they want farmland protected and preserved for the benefit of future generations.

• Over 4,000 area residents from Kings, Colchester and Halifax

Counties signed a petition asking for a moratorium to be placed on land application of biosolids on Nova Scotia’s farmland. The petition was delivered to Minister Sterling Belliveau at the Legislative Assembly a few years ago.

CONCLUSIONS

• Biosolids as a soil amendment has not yet been proven to be without risk of harm to soils, water, wildlife or public health since research, testing and monitoring of its impacts is currently inadequate.

• Users of biosolids have no obligation to follow the Guidelines. The current framework of “rules” permits irresponsible individuals to do what they wish, to whomever they wish, and when they want to regarding its use. They are not adhering to good stewardship practices to protect surface waters and ground water, our valuable and fertile soils and public health.

• Residents of rural communities value our health and properties and do not wish to be exposed to urban and/or industrial wastes.

Conclusions Continued……..

• The agricultural community does not wish to be the solution provider for disposal of urban waste products such as treated sewage sludges. ₁₀

THANK YOU!

N-VIRO SLUDGE