Recently, the National Biosolids Partnership (NBP) and the Water Environment Federation (WEF) hosted a workshop on December 1 and 2, 2010 in Alexandria, VA to "chart the future of biosolids management"1. The workshop was attended by approximately fifty biosolids professionals reflecting a range of background and experience, including biosolids managers, consulting engineers, academic researchers, equipment and service providers, and federal and state regulators. Diane Garvey of Garvey Resources, Inc. was among the experts in the field of biosolids management who were invited to speak and present papers.
The objectives of the workshop were to identify emerging trends in biosolids regulations, public policy drivers, technology, operations and management and to address the need for continued research and professional training in the next few years. The information gathered as a result of this workshop will support the development of a report designed to inform future NBP and WEF activities as well as assist biosolids managers and others in the sector to better plan for and manage future challenges and opportunities.
· Potential NBP and WEF Actions and Opportunities.
Discussions also revealed, however, that substantial and promising opportunity exists for new and expanded biosolids management options. This opportunity is "largely tied to the repositioning of biosolids as a community resource too valuable to waste," especially in the context of renewable energy needs and the extraction of energy from biosolids production. By changing the public perception of biosolids, it will be possible to increase the demand for and acceptance of biosolids products. Urban sustainability interests, population growth, soil depletion, and technology improvements also offer means of repositioning biosolids management in a positive light and helping to overturn entrenched negative public opinion.
As you can see from this condensed summary of the workshop findings, the field of residuals management is in a challenging but exciting state of flux. It is evolving from the single minded "beneficial use" attitude of land application to a broader focus that incorporates harvesting and recycling the energy in biosolids, as well as taking into consideration an overall systems approach to biosolids management. Managers today must also be attuned to issues such as public perception, social media communication, changing regulations, and new procedures and applications resulting from more sophisticated research programs. The data gathered at the December workshop is available to all biosolids managers. This information can be an invaluable tool to help guide the field of biosolids management in the future.
1Meeting Summary of the NBP meeting "Charting the Future of Biosolids" held on December 1 - 2, 2010.
2CDM document prepared for NDP and WEF dated November 23, 2010: "Charting the Future of Biosolids Management: Background Materials for Discussion."