Biosolids Recycling Program to Save $900,000 Annually

Synagro Technologies says a five-year biosolids recycling program will save city of Toledo taxpayers $900,000 annually while improving water quality in the Lake Erie watershed by reducing the use of commercial chemical fertilizer.

Benefits of the biosolids recycling plan include the following:

• Toledo’s biosolids will be used as a natural fertilizer on farm land, eliminating the need for more than 400 tons of chemical fertilizer, which has greater potential of runoff to rivers, lakes, and streams.
• The use of biosolids as fertilizer will reduce the potential for phosphorous runoff to waterways by 98 percent.
• The use of biosolids as fertilizer will benefit local farmers by avoidance of costs of commercial chemical fertilizer at an average rate of $100.00 per acre of farmland.
• An improvement of water quality through an ongoing, proactive nutrient management program on farm sites.
• Full compliance with Ohio’s rigorous environmental regulations regarding biosolids application and nutrient management.
• A savings for taxpayers of more than $900,000 per year versus landfill disposal of the biosolids.

As part of the biosolids recycling program, Synagro will have on staff a qualified agronomist/certified crop advisor to work with the farming community engaging with farmers by soil sampling, sharing best practices on nutrient management and providing an organic alternative to commercial fertilizers.

Synagro’s technical staff will also permit the land application sites, work with the operations teams to ensure placement of the biosolids using sustainable practices, and conduct public outreach meetings with the local farming communities and the general public.

Last year Synagro announced plans to build a facility in Florida to recycle biosolids and yard waste into class AA compost.