Transitioning to Class A Biosolids Products -- Panacea, Problematic, or Both? Evaluation of and Guidance for End Product Markets for Generators and Consultants.

Introduction Transition of Class B to Class A biosolids is becoming a way of life for POTW's. With this trend, a communication gap has emerged between the consultancy community and the utilities. Consultants follow a script of sorts (i.e. current physical state of the facilities, projected growth, financial health) in their evaluations of the needs of the Utility and then provide alternative technology recommendations based on their findings. This is their job and how they have been trained. The generators will hopefully do their due diligence by visit facilities to see what the technologies look like, how they operate and talk with those utility folks about issues they had in purchasing, construction, maintenance and the like. This is what is expected as they are who must convince their bosses to invest in these technologies. What has been missing is the vital evaluation of whether there is a market for the products once they are produced and has the regulatory community of the respective state embraced the distribution of these products. This paper will provide case studies and lessons learned by Utilities: in market development for the variety of products available (THP, dried, pelletized, third party composting and lime stabilized); show examples of market analyses completed prior to making technology decisions; explore the importance of consultants providing additional expertise specific to identification of end use markets; and provide a check list that generators can use in their evaluation including the position regulators have on the different products. Case Studies and Lessons Learned Charlotte Water completed a thorough biosolids master planning process as have many Utilities. Along with the normal equipment and process evaluation, a market analysis with field demonstrations was performed. Two different Class A products (THP from DC Water and Pellets from Cary NC) were physically brought to farm fields and spread. Farmers, Agricultural Extension representatives and State Regulators attended the demonstrations. The State Regulator had an unexpected reaction to the THP product that looks much like Class B products. They said if it looks like Class B then it needs to be managed as a Class B. The Cary pelletized product was very much favored over the THP but still not as popular as Class B. If Charlotte goes to a Class A then education of the farmers will become a vital part of the marketing plan. Pyrolysis of biosolids produces a residual solid phase called biochar and gas phase referred to as syngas. Biochar is used as a beneficial soil amendment and has been shown to improve moisture holding capacity in soil and increase crop yields for agricultural purposes. MWRD (Chicago) evaluated this process at a California facility. They have opted not to pursue this technology and their reasons will be provided in the paper. The EPA is also interested in making sure Biochar is included in Class A evaluations. A market analysis was performed by Material Matters for The City of Rock Hill SC. They are opting to send their products to a third party compost/soil blending facility. Material Matters is submitting a full abstract on this project but their market analysis is worth mentioning as part of this paper. The Town of Mooresville NC installed a belt dryer several years ago but have been unable to find a market for this Class A product. It has been going to a landfill to use in daily cover. A market analysis was not performed. A biosolids related company did take the product and distributed it to farmers for a short period of time, the farmers refused to take it soon after because the product did not have enough density (it was too light) for them to be able to use it. DC Water has a very successful program in place but they had a steep learning curve in the beginning. They had confidence that their existing agricultural base would embrace this new product but found that that was not the case. Their farmer base had grown accustomed to a lime stabilized Class B product that provided nitrogen and pH adjustment in one product. All of these examples are technically not 'case studies' however they are all well documented with field demo photos, detailed market studies and excellent examples of lessons learned from which to generate a useful checklist for Utilities to use in their evaluations.