Biosolids

Safeguard Your Health: What the Public Needs to Know

One Important Question To Answer

Great news! We are finally making progress on the toxic biosolid issue facing our community. The CRD is now moving towards the planning process for options to deal with biosolids.

They are asking the public for feedback by Monday, June 3rd at 11:55 pm. Please respond to their one question by cutting and pasting in the answer below (it takes less than one minute to do), using this link: https://getinvolved.crd.bc.ca/biosolids/surveys/comment-form

I support using new technologies that do not involve incineration or fossil fuels for the thermal conversion of biosolids to eliminate all toxic chemicals and produce beneficial use in biochar and fossil free energy.

I support the continued ban on all land application of biosolids in the CRD, including at Hartland.

Comments will remain anonymous and be collected and shared with the CRD Board as part of the planning process and ahead of a June 12th meeting.

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:

Frequently Asked Questions About Biosolids
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

CRD Needs Answers and to Pursue Better Options to Protect the Public and Environment From Biosolids

by Philippe Lucas

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

by Darron Kloster, Roxanne Egan-Elliott

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

by Jake Romphf

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…

CRD Under Pressure To Make A Plan For Biosolid Waste By June

by Sidney Coles

The CRD has been punting its management problem down Hartland Ave. for years. Pressure to resolve the region’s biosolids and other solid waste management plan has resurfaced as construction plans to increase capacity at the landfill are underway.

Unavoidable Legal Liability of Land Application of Biosolids

by Philippe Lucas

Dear CRD Chair and Board, Let me begin by thanking you all for your continued support for the popular and longstanding ban on the land application of biosolids in the CRD. This is just a quick note to share a news story from the Guardian about a community group suing...

Legal Action Could End Use Of Toxic Sewage Sludge On US Crops As Fertilizer

by Tom Perkins

New legal action could put an end to the practice of spreading toxic sewage sludge on US cropland as a cheap alternative to fertilizer, and force America to rethink how it disposes of its industrial and human waste. A notice of intent…