By Darrell Mussatto

Biosolids are a non-chemical alternative to conventional chemical fertilizer produced from the solids remaining after sewage has been treated to destroy harmful bacteria.

The final product is an earth-like material high in nutrients and organic matter, which can improve soil health and water retention, and increase vegetation growth.

For almost 25 years, Metro Vancouver has been using biosolids as a fertilizer safely and responsibly both within our region and in other areas of the province.

The use of biosolids has resulted in significant benefits to soil and plant growth, and helped restore degraded habitat.

Over 20 per cent of our biosolids are used within Metro Vancouver to make high-quality topsoil for landscaping in our regional parks and construction projects. They are also used for local landscaping projects, including the Sea to Sky Highway and Vancouver International Airport, and to rebuild soil and grow vegetation on gravel pits and closed landfills.

Metro Vancouver’s biosolids have also been used to rebuild soil and reintroduce vegetation to mine sites and gravel pits, and fertilize forests, rangeland, and hayfields in the B.C. interior for 20 years.

British Columbia’s southwestern interior is semi-arid with relatively infertile soils lacking nutrients and organic matter, which can be provided by biosolids.

Research by Agriculture Canada on these lands has shown that biosolids have increased forage growth and quality, and improved soil health.

Provincial Ministry of Forests’ research found that native grasslands in poor condition were restored to a healthy, productive state with only one application of biosolids.

Granby Tailings in Princeton was one of the first mine projects where Metro Vancouver biosolids were used to help create soil to grow plants in mine tailings, which was credited by the BC Lung Association for helping to eliminate a huge dust problem for the town of Princeton.

Just like compost and animal manure, biosolids are not a soil but a soil amendment that adds nutrients and organic matter to soil, enhancing plant growth.

We do not grow plants directly in compost, but adding it to the soil in our gardens improves everything we grow.

Biosolids work the same way, and their use is stringently regulated.

The Organic Matter Recycling Regulation is the provincial statute that was developed specifically for soil amendments, including compost made from yard waste, animal manure, and biosolids.

This regulation is more stringent than the US Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation for biosolids, which was based on hundreds of field studies of sites where biosolids had been applied to land, and by analysis of risks to humans, plants and soil organisms, which were reviewed by dozens of experts in toxicology, soil science and agronomy.

Metro Vancouver follows a four-step quality control process for biosolids that focuses on source control, treatment, monitoring, and application practices.

We have rigorous sewer-use bylaws to reduce contaminants entering our five wastewater treatment plants, which prevents contaminants from going into biosolids, as well as into rivers and the ocean.

Substances like medical and radioactive waste are not allowed to be discharged into Metro Vancouver’s sewers, and we have a team of regulation and enforcement officers whose primary focus is to work with industries to issue permits and inspect sites for compliance with our sewer-use bylaws.

We monitor our biosolids at every stage of production, conducting an average of 9,300 tests per year to ensure they meet the provincial standards for use as fertilizer, which is significantly more than what is required by the provincial biosolids regulation.

No Metro Vancouver biosolids are used until test results confirm they meet the regulation.

Metro Vancouver staff ensure that our biosolids are used safely and responsibly, and work with professional agrologists to develop customized plans for every site to maximize the benefit of biosolids use, while protecting public health and the environment.

Metro Vancouver is a federation of 21 municipalities, a treaty First Nation, and an electoral area.

In January, when we became aware of concerns about the use of biosolids in the Nicola Valley we voluntarily stopped sending biosolids to the Merritt area.

We also sought opportunities to meet with area residents to discuss this issue, tour project sites that have benefitted from the use of our biosolids for fertilization, and to work with communities to address their questions and concerns.

We understand and respect the concerns of residents and First Nations about the health and safety of their communities and we look forward to continuing the conversations that have begun.

Darrell Mussatto is the chair of the Metro Vancouver Utilities Committee and mayor of the City of North Vancouver