Hamilton Biosolids Management Project

operational

Opportunity Every day the City of Hamilton produces 100 tons of “biosolids”—treated sludge from local sewage. The city was paying around $3.5 million a year to a contractor to take the sludge from the sewage treatment plant and spread them on farm fields. While this practice is quite common it is increasingly being criticized due to the potential risk for water pollution. Looking for a safer, more cost effective solution, the City examined various options for disposing of the sludge, including an incinerator or a facility that could further process the sludge into fertilizer pellets. In December 2013 the Government of Canada announced that PPP Canada would provide funding for 25 per cent of eligible costs for a biosolids project, up to a maximum amount of $22.9 million through the P3 Canada Fund. Challenges The project hit numerous roadblocks and delays due to negative public opinion on the issue of an incinerator and prolonged periods of debate in city council during the procurement phase. Innovations The private sector will run the facility and shoulder the risk should market demand for the dried sewage lessen. Results The facility uses a thermal drying process to produce pellets which will be used as fertilizer or fuel. The plant processes up to 60,000 wet tonnes per year of biosolids over the 30-year term of the contract. While the project proposal was pricey compared to annual costs for a contractor to remove the sludge the agreement is over 30 years, accounts for inflation, a growing population and the $30 million cost of building a sludge storage facility.

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