Don’t Waste That Resource!

Those in the know about the value of biosolids know that flushing the toilet isn’t the end of the line, it’s the beginning of a whole new resource stream. Ensuring that project stakeholders understand the resource value of residuals is crucial to the success of any residuals beneficial use program. SYLVIS’s Mike Van Ham was recently in California as the keynote speaker at the annual conference of the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA). CASA is the leading voice in the US for public wastewater agencies at the local, state, and federal levels regarding regulatory, legislative, and legal issues. Mike was there to present on communicating the value of residuals (a renewable resource) to ensure successful use in solving environmental problems. Developing relationships with project stakeholders including landowners, regulatory agencies, and communities living near project sites are all important aspects of successful residuals use programs.

For example, for over fifteen years the Lehigh Materials Sechelt Mine reclamation program has used locally generated residuals (pulp and paper sludge and municipal biosolids) to reclaim sections of the mine no longer in use, re-vegetating over 50 hectares to achieve both reclamation and community aesthetics goals. The local community of Sechelt and the Sechelt First Nations have remained well-informed and involved through notification, participation in on site reclamation activities, and annual Open Houses hosted by the mine.

Effectively communicating the value of these renewable resources helps in getting everyone to understand that beneficial residuals use is a loop, not a line.

Photo Caption: Residuals-based reclamation at the Lehigh Sechelt Mine have re-vegetated areas of the mine. For example, the large grassed areas at the center of the photo and in the upper left quadrant were reclaimed using locally produced biosolids.