SWANA Winter Conference February 9, 2015 CLOSING THE LOOP: LEE COUNTY S COMPOST SUCCESS STORY

Transcription

1 SWANA Winter Conference February 9, 2015 CLOSING THE LOOP: LEE COUNTY S COMPOST SUCCESS STORY

2 OVERVIEW Background Conditions Favoring Development Who s Composting? Development Steps The Process Facility Expansion (2014/15) Operations Snapshot

3 BACKGROUND

4 PROJECT BACKGROUND Lee County Utilities Investigating Sludge Options (~2006) Composting was not an option Biological conversion by static pile or windrow composting was eliminated since these processes have a poor operating track record and are problematic with regard to odor containment and control. Solution: $18MM Thermal Drying Facilility located on WTE property using free steam from the facility. Cost analysis noted that a facility was only viable as a beneficial use driven facility as current landfill disposal option is cheaper.

5 PROJECT BACKGROUND FS Rulemaking (8/2010, eff. Jan 1, 2013) Land application hurdles Several years in the making Modified land application protocols Nutrient Management Plans Restricted application in the Okeechobee watershed Storage requirements for Class AA Increased recordkeeping and reporting Exempted USCC STA program enrollees outside of Lake O watershed from fertilizer rules

6 FAVORABLE CONDITIONS

7 BIOSOLIDS DISPOSAL HURDLES Northern Everglades and Estuary Protection Program

8 BIOSOLIDS DISPOSAL Landfill operational considerations Disposal capacity (co-disposal) Ash ~25% moisture Biosolids ~85% moisture

9 DISPOSAL HEADACHES

10 SITE SELECTION

11 FEEDSTOCK AVAILABILTIY Local Utilities (~40 50k tons wet) City of Fort Myers Lee Co. Utilities (current practice landfill disposal) City of Cape Coral Cities also disposing of MSW under interlocal agreements

12 FEEDSTOCK AVAILABILITY Bulking Agent Yard waste from residential program (~50k tons) Yard waste from commercial customers (~30k tons) Existing contract for yard waste processing 2 minus screen

13 YARD WASTE PROCESSING

14 FINANCIAL Early estimates for construction around $1-3MM. Final cost with equipment ~#3.5MM. Department had a strong financial position 100% financed through reserves Operational P&L 2 revenue sources tip fees and compost sales How much can we sell?

15 Compost Supply and Demand WHO S COMPOSTING IN FLORIDA?

16 COMPOST PRODUCTION No accurate totals available No central collection of data Estimates range from 100k to 200k tons per year statewide In our market area, only two known bulk operators, one at approx. 51,000 cy per year (25,000 tons), the second unknown but composting biosolids (2014).

17 BIOSOLIDS COMPOSTING (2011) 8 permitted facilities Approx. 35,000 dry tons distributed Assuming 50% moisture, 70,000 wet tons of compost, or about 140,000 cy 121,000 total Class AA dry tons distributed Compost (29%) Pellets Alkaline Treatment

18 WHO S BUYING COMPOST Agriculture Citrus, vegetables 550,000 acres of citrus statewide 1,100,000 tons of compost needed at 2 tons per acre as a supplement to existing nutrient use 120,000 acres of citrus in surrounding 4 counties (Lee, Hendry, Collier, Charlotte) Residential Bags - Black Kow, Atlas, C&C Peat, Oldcastle Bulk Nutri-Source, Bio-Resource Management, others?

19 HURDLES Stigma of Biosolids Compost San Francisco Utilities Wu et al. Ick factor for retail Metals, metals, metals. PPCP s Politics you won t sell any of that stuff Not Organic (USDA/OMRI)

20 BIOSOLIDS DISTRIBUTION

21 Development Steps IF WE BUILD IT, WILL THEY COME?

22 PILOT STUDY Experimented with different recipes All activity occurred on Class I Landfill All drainage was contained Dry season Purchased small scale pull behind turner Approval from DEP due to location, final disposition of all materials (disposal)

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25 PILOT STUDY End result Success!!! Difficulties due to (but could overcome): Sun/Wind exposure Operator/monitoring training Site conditions uneven surfaces Could reach and maintain regulatory temperatures Preliminary testing through IFAS/UF was positive Material looked like compost next steps...

26 PERMITTING Capacity Design parameters Impervious surfaces Weather effects Size and type of equipment Stormwater Other facility issues (corrosion) Location Zoning/Development Considerations

27 PERMITTING/CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE Permitting Efforts started in June 2008 Application Submitted December 2008 Permit Issued May 2009 Construction Complete February 2010 Renewal and Expansion Permit August 2013 Expansion NTP April 21, 2014 Expansion Construction Complete - tomorrow

28 THE PROCESS

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30 The Division s sludge hauling operation with the CFM started Mid December 2009

31 S LU D G E

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36 BACKHUS

37 COMPOST TURNER

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41 FACILITY EXPANSION

42 EARLY CONSTRUCTION/EXISTING FACILITY

43 90% COMPLETE

44 OFFICE AND MAINTENANCE BUILDING

45 OFFICE AND MAINTENANCE BUILDING

46 DIESEL TANK

47 EQUIPMENT WASH AREA

48 COMPOST STORAGE (PRE-DISTRIBUTION)

49 UPGRADED WATER SYSTEM

50 OPERATIONS SNAPSHOT

51 COMPOST MONITORING

52 COMPOST PRODUCTION

53 TRAINING AND SAFETY

54 PROCESSING AND HOUSEKEEPING

55 FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING REQUIREMENTS FAC Rule requires biosolids to be distributed and marketed in accordance with FS Chapter 576 and FAC Rule 5E-1. County must obtain a fertilizer distribution license and pay per ton inspection fees DACS inspects, samples and analyzes biosolids to be distributed and marketed as fertilizer County must follow all labeling requirements (Guaranteed Analysis)

56 RETAIL SALES

57 WHY COMPOST? Improves water retention properties Improves soil structure for root growth Adds macro and micronutrients Typically insoluble May control or suppress soil borne plant pathogens Adds significant organic matter to soils Can improve and stabilize soil ph Can supply beneficial micro-organisms to the soil Can improve the Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) of soils helps hold nutrients for plant use Great for existing lawns and establishing planting beds

58 RESULTS Retail (CY) 700 3,200 5,500 4,700 Delivery (CY) 400 1,200 2,200 1,500 Bags (ea.) 2,200 2,500 3,200 1,700 Total (tons)* 13,000 15,300 21,300 23,100** *includes bulk sales **2015 sales projected to be ~ 30,000 tons Total materials (biosolids and mulch) processed to date over 250,000 tons

59 QUESTIONS? Keith Howard Deputy Director Lee County Solid Waste (239)