Sludge Watch ==> Ontario Paper Sludge - Clarington Township tells Province: "GET MOVING"

[Maureen Reilly]

Get moving on biosolids, Clarington Tells Province

The Canadian Statesman

June 27, 2007-07-03

www.durhamregion.com

By Jennifer Stone

jstone at durhamregion.com



CLARINGTON, Ontario



Almost a year after making a similar, apparently unheeded request, 
Clarington is once again asking the Ministry of the Environment to implement 
recommendations of an expert panel on paper fibre biosolids.



About two years ago, an MOE expert’s panel released a number of 
recommendations about the product, variations of which are used in berms or 
spread on farm fields and plowed in as fertilizer.



Nitro-Sorb, which is made up of paper sludge left over from the recycling 
process mixed with compost, and Sound-Sorb, which is paper sludge mixed with 
sand, have been the subject of concern from a number of groups, most notably 
Protect the Ridges, for some time.



When it’s mixed with sand or compost, ‘’disposal (of the material) on 
farmland is completely unregulated,” Martin Feaver, of Protect the Ridges 
told Clarington councillors.



“We hope that you will consider putting Clarington’s voice behind asking the 
ministry once again to please move forward on their review of these 
(expert’s panel) recommendations.”  Mr. Feaver said.



Asked if the MOE had been ‘ignoring’ the recommendations of the experts 
panel, Mr. Feaver said, “I hesitate to use the word ‘ignore’, but they have 
done nothing.”



The experts panel had made a number of recommendations including that it 
needs to be controlled by Ministry Certificates of Approval and other legal 
instruments to ensure protection of human health and the environment.



The new Clarington resolution says given the Ministry has “had some 24 
months to consider the recommendations”, it should “take action on the 
Experts Panel recommendations by providing both an update as to what the 
Ministry is contemplating, the alternatives they are exploring and a 
timeline for when these actions will be taken.”



The resolution, to be ratified by Clarington Council Monday, will be sent to 
other political bodies and organizations.

…………….



Front Page

To read the Expert Panel Report:

www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/techdocs/5011e.pdf

The report recommends that all paper sludge be legally professionally 
composted before distribution into the environment and even then, that it be 
utilized only with a Certification of Approval as a waste ... essentially a 
Ministry of the Environment waste permit. - Admin