The Town of Fairfield, Connecticut, is struggling to manage its wastewater sludges as a result of the 2024 ban on biosolids-based soil amendments that was included in An Act Concerning the Use of PFAS in Certain Products (Public Act 24-59) passed by the state legislature. The ban was effective October 1st.

Since 1988, the Fairfield Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) has operated a composting facility for its anaerobically digested biosolids, mixed with the Town’s brush and wood wastes using an in vessel, agitated/aerated bay technology. Fairfield’s compost was certified by the US Composting Council’s Seal of Testing Assurance and used throughout the Northeast for various applications such as soil blending, roadside reseeding projects, and golf course top dressing. Fairfield’s contractor, WeCare Denali, was in charge of compost curing, screening and marketing and even paid the Town a percentage of revenues from the compost sales. The operations were set up on an adjacent lot which, unlike most WRRFs, had some room for biosolids storage.

Biosolids compost is considered a soil amendment. Under PA 24-59, “No person shall use, sell or offer for sale in this state as a soil amendment any biosolids or wastewater sludge that contain PFAS.”

When the new law went into effect, Fairfield had to stockpile its compost. That extra storage space started filling up and was projected to run out within about 6 months. Fairfield WPCA staff started emergency and long-term planning under this new reality. The WPCA immediately contracted for emergency removal/trucking services and by March had moved approximately 2,500 cubic yards of accumulated compost out of state at a cost of around $250,000. Fairfield also entered into an emergency contract to dispose of its sludge cake at an estimated cost of $850,000 per year, going primarily to a landfill in Pennsylvania. Fairfield has since secured state approval to dispose of its sludge out of state in Pennsylvania landfills.

Fairfield is seeking any/all options to ensure uninterrupted movement of its wastewater sludges. The WPCA has initiated a biodrying pilot with another NEBRA member (BDP Industries, Inc.). If successful, the drying operation will at least open up other potential options and reduce transportation and disposal costs. BDP has proposed up to a one-year free pilot utilizing the existing space in the now mothballed composting operation. Hopes are high that the biodrying (more energy efficient) process will significantly reduce – up to 65% -- the amount of solids that need to be moved.

Although Fairfield’s wastewater flows are primarily domestic, the Town is considering performing a PFAS source identification study, including looking at former industrial sites within the collection system. The Town has some significant Infiltration/Inflow issues, currently being addressed, which may be contributing to the PFAS concentrations found in the compost. Back in January, the Town began engaging with a law firm will be signing a formal retainer to join in a multi-jurisdictional lawsuit against PFAS manufacturers for environmental and health impacts from PFAS contamination.

Fairfield is one of only 2 water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) in Connecticut to beneficially use its wastewater sludges. Generating about 700 dry US tons annually may seem like a drop in the bucket compared to the 140,000 dry tons being generated statewide (see www.BiosolidsData.org), but it has not been easy to find new outlets lately. Stamford, with more than double the population, is the other WRRF making up the 5% of Class A EQ end uses for Connecticut biosolids (87% was incinerated and 8% landfilled in 2018). Although Fairfield and Stamford generate a small fraction of the total solids generated in Connecticut, the amounts needing to be diverted are a huge and ongoing problem for those communities.

For a great article about Fairfield’s (former) composting operation, check out:
Building Longevity Into Biosolids Composting Operation | BioCycle.