[All] Feedback re: Biosolid master plan

[Louisette Lanteigne]

Hi everyone.
In Region of Waterloo, a fair portion of our farm wastes and human sludge ended up being used as fertilizers in farm fields over top our primary recharge area. This contributed to high nutrient loads in our tributaries creating phosphate/nitrate issues in area wells, the Grand and Erie. Air born particulates are often released in applications. Sludge was dumped in our own landfills which do leak and partially treated wastes were also being discharged into the Grand from treatment centers.  
I've reviewed the biosolid master plan and overall it should reverse many of the adverse impacts significantly via the diversion of wastes to anaerobic digestion and baking oven processes. This will secure he reduction of pathogens in soil and water while providing new energy options while generating revenues for the region. 
In terms of carbon output, all natural wastes release carbon as they rot. To take advantage of faster carbon breakdown allows us to benefit from the energy produced with less ecological impacts when compared to energy sources being used today.  It's a far better source of energy than extracting, transporting and burning natural gas or coal. It's a surface material, not a mined one. It's locally provided, not imported so less air born emissions are associated with it's production and use. 
To review the data on the biosolid masterplan, you can visit here: 
http://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/aboutTheEnvironment/biosolidsmasterplan.asp
Below is the feedback I've provided to the Region regarding their masterplan. Personally I support it. From where we are at today the implementation of the proposed measures would be a  big improvement from where we are today. That's a good thing.
Lulu :0)

--- On Sun, 9/11/11, Louisette Lanteigne <butterflybluelu at rogers.com> wrote:

From: Louisette Lanteigne <butterflybluelu at rogers.com>
Subject: feedback re: Biosolid master plan
To: JBicudo at regionofwaterloo.ca, tom.mahood at ch2m.com
Date: Sunday, September 11, 2011, 11:14 AM

Hello
I have reviewed the Region of Waterloo's Biosolid Masterplan and I am very pleased to see the planned implementation of the anaerobic digestion and baking oven processes. This will help facilitate energy production while reducing pathogens and it will produce sludge pellets that can be used for cement, fertilizers and/or energy production.
Here is a recent article on how sludge pellets are currently being proposed as a means to replace coal for energy in the UK.  http://www.berwickshirenews.co.uk/news/local-headlines/lafarge_to_use_sewage_pellets_as_new_fuel_1_1807327
I encourage the Region to connect with private sector industries and firms such as Sustainable Waterloo to see if partnership opportunities exist that could help local companies make the transition from burning coal to sludge pellets. To replace imported coal with locally produced sludge pellets would certainly be more cost effective for them and it's a great way to reduce carbon
 emissions normally associated with coal extraction and transportation. Perhaps if the potential is lucrative enough, we could explore options to expand similar programs to include the farm wastes and food processing wastes as well to create more pellets.
Overall I am very pleased to see Waterloo Region progressing towards a more sustainable future and I do support the biosolid masterplan. 
Thank you kindly for your time
 and your effort in this project. It is greatly appreciated.
Louisette Lanteigne700 Star Flower Ave.Waterloo Ontario
N2V 2L2
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20110911/947ce0b2/attachment.html>