COMPOSTING/BIOSOLIDS MANAGEMENT

This page is designed to share information with the public regarding current and future sludge/biosolids management practices.

Current Management

Currently, the facility dewaters sludge using a volute screw press. This press type is able to dewater sludge to an average of 25% solids content. The facility produces an estimated 1560 wet tons of dewatered sludge per year.

Current sludge hauling contract:

Synagro Northeast, LLC

Period 1: 1/01/2023-6/30/2023 $189.00/wet ton

Period 2: 7/01/2023-6/30/2024 $198.45/wet ton

Period 3: 7/01/2024-6/30/2025 $208.37/wet ton

Under Synagro, the dewatered sludge is hauled to an incinerator in Naugatuck, CT.

Previous sludge hauling contract:

Casella Waste Management

Period 1: 7/01/2022-1/01/2023: $223.25/wet ton

Under Casella, the dewatered sludge was hauled to either a composting facility in Canada, or to a landfill in New York.

Future Management

As disposal options for biosolids in New England are becoming increasingly strained, and costs anticipated to climb, the facility is looking into more economical and environmentally friendly solutions to the problem.

One option is to compost the biosolids, creating a nutrient rich and pathogen free soil product, recycling the waste and drastically reducing the carbon footprint created by hauling the solids elsewhere.

The facility participated in a successful pilot program for composting biosolids several years ago, and wishes to re-instate and scale the program in order to compost all of the facilty's generated biosolids. The potential to process and compost regionally would also assist neighboring facilities who also feel the strain of disposal of sludge, while also generating significant revenue for the facility.

Food Locally Grown with Montague Compost-- A Natural, Slow-Release Fertilizer

PFAS

IS THERE PFAS IN WASTEWATER AND BIOSOLIDS?

Wastewater treatment plants are not original sources of PFAS but “receivers” of these chemicals as used by manufacturers and consumers. Wastewater treatment plants do not add or have the capability to remove these compounds during the treatment process.

Given the widespread use of PFAS, there are background levels from PFAS in wastewater and biosolids.

Please check out the links bellow for more information on PFAS