Sludge Watch ==> Local Opposition in Toronto moves sludge to unwilling rural communities

[maureen.reilly at sympatico.ca]

Sludgewatch Admin:

A radio show on CBC hosted a segment on 'What is to be done with Toronto 
sludge' interviews.

Follow-up phone in commentaries were instructive:
Two recommended composting toilets (also known as waterless toilets)
One recommended energy from sludge in a biomass plant (Eurpean style)
One person called from the Beaches (*someone who promotes the use of Toronto 
sludge on rural lands) and blamed the show for pitting communities against 
each other!



http://www.solidwastemag.com/issues/isarticle.asp?id=56654&issue=06022006&link_targ=DailyNews&link_source=aypr_SW

Solid Waste & Recycling,  6/2/2006


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Toronto must find new landfill for its sewage sludge

Toronto will have to scramble to find a new landfill or other disposal
facility to receive the 160,000 tonnes of sewage sludge it generates
annually. Currently, 13 to 15 trucks per day haul the sludge to the Republic
Waste's Carleton Farms landfill in Michigan, but the landfill has notified
Toronto that it will cease taking the sludge on August 1. The company is
seeking to expand the landfill, and wishes to stop taking in sludge, odors
from which have upset local residents and triggered opposition. By no longer
accepting sewage sludge, the landfill hopes to improve relations with its
neighbors and get approval for its proposed expansion.

While the city's public works committee chair says she's optimistic a
disposal site can be found, others are not so sure. Most other
municipalities have limited landfill space as it is, and would not likely
welcome such material, which in some instances their landfills might not be
equipped to handle. Toronto used to burn its sludge at its multi-hearth
incinerator located at the Ashbridge's Bay Sewage Treatment Facility but
that incinerator was mothballed years ago and local opposition will likely
prevent its reopening and delay the construction of a new one, even if it
uses new and better technology.