Sludge Watch ==> Take our sludge home - please - somebody? anybody?

[Maureen Reilly]

Take our biosolids, please

Oct 26, 2006

By Kristi Haunfelder, Staff Writer, Lake Country Reporter, WI

City of Delafield - Since the expansion last year of the Delafield-Hartland 
Water Pollution Control facility that included a treatment process to 
extract organic solids, the facility has produced about 3,000 to 4,000 cubic 
yards of Class A biosolids - great for gardeners.

"It's free for the taking," said Bob Hyde, general manager of the Dela-Hart 
facility of the material.

Hyde said the recycled material, which is dried and stockpiled before it's 
made available to the public, makes a great fertilizer.

While biosolids haven't been shown to be harmful to people, they aren't 
recommended for use in vegetable gardens.

But biosolids can be used for flowerbeds, hedges, trees and lawns, and Hyde 
said he has used biosolids in his own yard projects.

"People, knowing biosolids are from people, don't want to take it," Hyde 
said. Since Dela-Hart began giving away biosolids this spring, only about 50 
or 60 cubic yards have been taken.

"People are more willing to spread cow manure, which has a higher 
concentration of fecal coliform bacteria, than our Class A biosolids," Hyde 
said. He said the bacteria count is very low once the organic material has 
been processed into Class A biosolids.

Hyde said if the program for people to use the biosolids as fertilizer 
doesn't take off, Dela-Hart will have to have the material trucked away.

"We have had some response and inquiries to the biosolids, one by a farmer 
or rancher interested in having biosolids applied to his hay fields," Hyde 
said.

Right now, many municipalities have ordinances that prohibit such things, 
but a change in state law might make that possible, Hyde said.

Dela-Hart will deliver 5 cubic yards of biosolids for a fee of $25, which 
covers the cost of transportation. "One guy did that, mixed it in with the 
topsoil and worked it into his lawn," Hyde said. "He has the most beautiful 
lawn. I wish more people would take us up on it."

Anyone interested in taking Dela-Hart up on free fertilizer can pick it up 
between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Dela-Hart facility, 
416 Butler Drive, Delafield.

People can also stop by on the weekends during the city's brush recycling 
program. An attendant will be on duty to help with inquiries about 
biosolids.

One cubic yard of biosolids amounts to 27 feet of the material and will fill 
about seven 30-gallon trash cans.

People are asked to bring their own trash cans or 5-gallon buckets, but 
Dela-Hart does have a few containers that can be loaned out to get the 
material home, but then must be returned to the facility.

Or folks can have the fertilizer delivered. Anyone interested in contacting 
Dela-Hart for biosolids should call (262) 646-4364.