Sludge Watch ==> Michigan - Toronto sludge - Carleton landfill - Certified Class Action Lawsuit

[Maureen Reilly]

Sludgewatch Admin:

Toronto sewage sludge has an extraordinary stench.  It is one of those 
sludges that is anaerobically digested and then centrifuge dewatered.   This 
seems to spark a staggering pathogen regrowth and reactivation according to 
research conducted by the Water Environment Research Foundation.
They are finding that 20 minutes after dewatering, the sludge has a pathogen 
indicator count that increases 10,000 times in just twenty minutes. This 
indicates that the pathogens were not killed in hte digestion processes , 
but only starved into a 'viable non culturable state' and revive in the 
presence of nutrient.


And the residents near the Carleton landfill can attest to the odours that 
result.  Toronto sludge is supposed to be treated to a standard... a mean of 
less than 2million Ecoli per gram.

But is it?  What is the Ecoli and fecal coliform count when the material 
goes on that long long drive across the border into a landfill?  No wonder 
so many people are sick where Toronto sewage sludge was spread.

Now the sludge has a really really really long drive...perhaps  to an Ohio 
landfill.  City of Toronto says its a secret where the sludge is actually 
going these days.


...........................................


http://www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070928/NEWS01/109280040/-1/NEWS


Landfill complaint earns class-action suit status
story updated September 28. 2007 11:26AM


Residents in Monroe and Wayne counties who live near the Carleton Farms 
landfill say it has received a significant amount of waste from Canada, 
consistently releases noxious odors and interferes with their ability to use 
and enjoy their properties. So they filed a complaint with the court a few 
months ago, suing the landfill owners, Republic Services.

Earlier this week, the lawsuit against Carleton Farms was certified as a 
class-action suit, the first step in getting the case heard in court.

A class-action suit consists of one or several named plaintiffs filing on 
behalf of a proposed class. The proposed class must consist of a group of 
individuals or businesses who have suffered a common injury or injuries. 
Generally, the cases result from an action on the part of a business, a 
particular product defect or a policy that applied to all proposed class 
members uniformly.

After the complaint is filed, the plaintiff must file a motion to have the 
class certified, which is what happened this week with the Carleton Farms 
case. The court held that the individual claims of those living near the 
landfill can now be prosecuted together.

Carleton Farms is a landfill in Sumpter Township on the border of Monroe and 
Wayne counties. For the past few years, the landfill accepted municipal 
sewage sludge from Toronto - something the locals say contributed to the 
odor problem. The landfill stopped accepting the sludge in 2006.

During a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality public hearing last 
year, many residents came forward to block a proposed expansion of the 
landfill because of the smell. Nevertheless, the MDEQ issued the necessary 
permits for the expansion. During the process, MDEQ officials confirmed they 
had received thousands of complaint calls about the smell.

The law firm of Macuga & Liddle is representing residents in the case. Those 
who are interested in knowing more or who want to join the case can call 
(800) 536-0045.


......................................
Reactivation and Regrowth of Fecal Coliforms in Anaerobically Digested 
Biosolids



Order No: P00611E
Medium: Electronic Download
Publisher: Water Environment Federation
Year: 2006
DOI:  10.2175/P00611


Recently published reports indicate that some wastewater treatment plants 
using anaerobic digestion and certain dewatering processes have experienced 
increases in fecal coliform concentrations immediately after dewatering 
and/or conveyance. The mechanisms behind the phenomena of fecal coliform 
reactivation and regrowth are still being studied and researchers are trying 
to understand why this has been observed at some facilities but not at 
others utilizing similar processes. This Technical Practice Update (TPU) 
presents a summary of the current body of knowledge on this issue and a 
preview of ongoing research. It gives an overview of related regulatory 
issues for biosolids stabilization and testing protocols for fecal 
coliforms. Recommendations for communication strategies on this issue are 
provided. Finally, a description of currently known methodologies to address 
reactivation/regrowth phenomena is presented. Published by WEF. Electronic 
download (pdf). 50 pages. 2006

http://www.e-wef.org/timssnet/products/tnt_products.cfm?primary_id=P00611E&Action=LONG&subsystem=ORD