ONTARIO BIOSOLIDS COUNCIL
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT ARE BIOSOLIDS?
Biosolids are the final product of multiple processes and scientifically advanced treatment of sewage sludge. Generated by municipal water treatment facilities, biosolids are safe to recycle and rich in plant available nutrients. Every community of any size must process the wastewaters generated by its population. Once generated, biosolids can be applied to farmland as fertilizer, landfilled, or incinerated. The best use of biosolids is as a fertilizer product and soil enhancer. Used in this way, the land application of biosolids is regulated by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and the Government of Canada through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
DO ALL MUNICIPALITIES PROVIDE THEIR BIOSOLIDS TO FARMERS TO USE AS FERTILIZER?
In Southern Ontario, most municipalities provide all or part of their biosolids to farmers for use as fertilizer and soil enhancements.
IS ONTARIO THE ONLY PROVINCE THAT ALLOWS BIOSOLIDS TO BE APPLIED TO FARMLAND?
All provinces in Canada use biosolids as fertilizer. It is a well-established practice that is highly regulated to ensure safety of farms, watersheds, and consumers.
WHAT DOES THE TERM “BENEFICIAL USE” MEAN?
Municipalities, farmers, regulators, and industry use the term beneficial use to indicate that land applying biosolids is not a waste management strategy – this practice provides tangible benefits to farmers, municipalities, and the environment.
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For farmers, biosolids provide low-cost fertilizer and soil enhancements to improve the quality of their crops and yields. Biosolids save farmers millions of dollars each year on fertilizer costs.
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For municipalities, providing biosolids to farmers is a much lower cost than other options, such as landfilling and incineration (though in some cases, these remain practical).
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For the environment, land application adds nutrients to soils, extends the life of existing landfills, and limits the need for emissions from incineration.
WHY ARE BIOSOLIDS APPLIED TO FARMLANDS?
For farmers, biosolids provide low-cost fertilizer and soil enhancements to improve the quality of their crops and yields. Biosolids save farmers millions of dollars each year on fertilizer costs. Biosolids contain nutrients and organic matter that are beneficial and important to plant growth, such as: mineral and organic nitrogen, phosphorus, micronutrients such as zinc, magnesium, and copper. The organic matter within biosolids enhances soil structure, moisture retention and permeability while reducing the potential for wind and water erosion.
DO ALL FARMS USE BIOSOLIDS? IF NOT, WHY NOT?
When applied according to regulatory standards, biosolids are best suited for crops such as field corn, hay, haylage, pasture and commercial sod, cereal crops, perennial legumes and soybeans, as well as tree fruits and grapes.
IS THE LAND APPLICATION OF BIOSOLIDS REGULATED? IF SO, BY WHOM AND HOW? IS IT EFFECTIVE?
It is important to remember that the agricultural land application of biosolids for beneficial use from municipal wastewater treatment plants is a well-regulated practice. This practice is regulated under Ontario’s Nutrient Management Act (NMA) or Federal Fertilizer Act.
The regulatory process is very effective. It begins with the farmer’s creation and submission of a Nutrient Management Plan. This plan must be certified by a licensed agronomist. This plan is then submitted to OMFRA for approval, which in turn must meet the standards set by the MECP. For biosolids that are further processed into pellets, these fertilizers must be approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. There have never been any reported negative impacts to public health or the environment when regulatory processes have been followed.
ARE SOME FARMERS FEARFUL OF USING BIOSOLIDS AS FERTILIZERS?
Biosolids do not qualify as a source of organic fertilizers. Therefore, if a farmer wished to be certified as an organic producer, they would need to fulfill the qualifications under the Canada Organic Regime. You should contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for more information.
HOW MUCH BIOSOLIDS IS APPLIED TO FARMLAND IN ONTARIO ANNUALLY? IS THIS MORE OR LESS THAN PREVIOUS YEARS?
Our Council estimates that about one-half of one percent of farmland in Ontario uses biosolids as fertilizer. That is about 217,000 tonnes a year – about 60% of all the biosolids municipalities generate. As the population of Ontario continues to grow, the amount of biosolids that are applied to farmlands grows at approximately the same rate.
WHAT ARE THE OTHER OPTIONS FOR MUNICIPALITIES TO DISPOSE OF THEIR BIOSOLIDS? WHY AREN’T THEY USED MORE?
If not applied to land as fertilizer and soil enhancement, biosolids then become a waste disposal issue for municipalities. The options for disposal include landfilling and incineration. While both of these practices are still used, their cost is higher than providing biosolids to farmers. Also, landfills have capacity limits and incineration can have negative impacts on air quality.