Biosolids
Safeguard Your Health: What the Public Needs to Know
Would you knowingly eat food, drink water or breathe air that contains toxic chemicals and microplastics linked to cancer that are contained in sewage sludge from Victoria, BC’s wastewater treatment plant?
Right now, forever chemicals, which true to their name last nearly forever in our environment, such as PFAS, and microplastics as well as PAHs, lead, mercury, dioxins, and pharmaceuticals are making their way into our air, water and soil through the bio-accumulation of tons of these toxic chemicals that remain in the sludge after the waste water from our homes, industry, businesses and health care facilities is processed.
Since 2022, the CRD plan was to use these dried biosolids as an alternative to fossil fuels in a cement plant, which is in keeping with a ban on the land application of biosolids the CRD Board passed in 2011. Instead, every day, 10 tons of toxic sludge, also known as “biosolids,” has been spread or buried at Victoria’s Hartland Landfill, where wind and rain erosion disperses these forever chemicals into the neighbouring farms, fields, forests and watersheds.
There is a strong triple bottom line business case for thermal conversion which the CRD needs to employ as it:
- creates a non-toxic biochar which is the desired end product as a result of thermally converting toxic biosolids into inert biochar – a new green industry;
- it’s a carbon free fuel source, not incineration, no pollution, low carbon footprint;
- a plant could be up and running within two years if treated as the emergency this is;
- thermal conversion can stop landfill expansion and convert ALL waste, not just biosolids, into fossil fuel free energy and save our waters, soil, trees, fish, our health and the beauty of the region and why so many people chose to live and visit here.
Solutions Exist! Learn More Here:
Biosolid Free BC on Facebook
Butchart Gardens
Mount Work Coalition
Raincoast Conservation Foundation
Sierra Club
Take action by letting the CRD know you oppose the land application of biosolids by emailing: crdboard@crd.bc.ca
More About Biosolids
The CRD Has Until June to Submit a Long-Term Biosolids Management Plan to the Province
Josh Hylden speaks with Philippe Lucas, founder of Biosolid Free B.C. about what a group of Texas farmers has to do with Victoria. Listen here.
Biosolids & Thermal Conversion Frequently Asked Questions
What are biosolids? Biosolids are the dried residual sludge created by treating municipal wastewater. What are the main contaminants in biosolids? Heavy metals, micro plastics, pharmaceuticals, and so called forever chemicals that never break down. What is the thermal...
The Forever Chemical Scandal | Bloomberg Investigates
PFAS chemicals are used in thousands of products aimed at making life easier. But the chemicals are now almost everywhere, including in human blood, and are being linked to severe health problems.
CRD Needs Answers and to Pursue Better Options to Protect the Public and Environment From Biosolids
Dear CRD Chair, Board and staff, In light of the emerging details about the criminal investigation and civil suits against Synagro, we're very concerned about the lack of CRD follow up on an emerging public health and environmental issue that seems to clearly have...
Company Behind CRD Biosolids Sued in U.S. Over Health Issues, Animal Deaths
The company that produces biosolids at Hartland Landfill for the Capital Regional District is being sued by a group of Texas farmers. The farmers claim fertilizer made from a product of sewage treatment by Synagro Technologies’ operation…
CRD’s Biosolids Maker Sued by Texan Farmers Over Illnesses, Animal Deaths
The company that helps produce the Capital Regional District’s biosolids is being accused of its similar products medically harming Texas farmers and fatally impacting their animals. Synagro Technologies is the majority…
Further Reading
Legal action could end use of toxic sewage sludge on US crops as fertilizer – The Guardian
3M to pay at least $10.3B to settle ‘forever chemical’ drinking water lawsuits in U.S. – CBC News
Sludge compost is an increasing source of microplastics, researchers say – Los Angeles Times
Proposed PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation – EPA
EPA sets ‘groundbreaking’ limits on toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water – The Guardian
Texas farmers claim company sold them PFAS-contaminated sludge that killed livestock – The Guardian
Academic Studies
George Heyman SCBC Letter, CRD Env Comm, 2011
IOPA Biosolids letter, 02-10-20
Maine passes first PFAS biosolids ban, taking stand against forever chemicals, 2022
Maler, An Overview of the Dangers of Sewer Sludge (Biosolids)
Sajjad et al, Microplastics in the soil environment- A critical review, 2022
Tom Maler technical analysis – sewage sludge contamination
UVic Environmental Law Society Biosolids Update for CRD, 10-30-13