The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is concluding its two-part “PFAS and Residuals Technology and Management Study” scrutinizing current and future prospects for managing the estimated 165,683 dry U.S. tons of wastewater sludge generated annually in the Commonwealth. The final report will be published soon at Residuals & Biosolids | Mass.gov. Earlier this year, MassDEP hosted a virtual Stakeholders Meeting to review Part 1 and preview Part 2 of the study being conducted by NEBRA members Tighe & Bond with Brown & Caldwell assisting.
Part 1 (Current and Near-Term Management of Massachusetts Wastewater Sludge) was published June 28, 2024. It looked at 2023 to get baseline conditions for sludge management in Massachusetts, making projections for the short term (2028). The outlook is grim with projected decreases in capacity at existing outlets and no new facilities on the horizon.
The major findings from Part 1 were:
7% of the sludge generated in Massachusetts in 2028 (11,826 dry tons) will be unable to be accommodated by existing methods – what NEBRA is calling “Orphan Sludge”. According to the report, that amounts to nearly 2,500 tractor trailers full of sludge each year.
Costs are projected to increase significantly. Actual costs did increase over 35% between 2018 and 2023 (average of $156 per wet U.S. ton; $0.16 per gallon). Predictions are that by 2028, these costs will increase to $190-250 per wet U.S. ton and $0.20-0.25 per gallon.
These findings do not consider changes in the Northeast biosolids market since May 2024.
In June 2024, the City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, announced it was phasing out liquid sludge acceptance, ending it completely by January 2027. The MassDEP study shows that many smaller WRRFs (most of which generate liquid sludges) and those located close to the Rhode Island border, use the Woonsocket sewage sludge incinerator as their primary outlet. In addition, the ban on biosolids-based soil amendments in Connecticut became effective in October 2024. The predicted price increases are already being felt. For example, the Orange Sewer Commission is looking at 46 cents per gallon and declining outlets for liquid sludges (Greenfield Recorder - Orange Sewer Commission eyes rate hikes to fund wastewater operations. OSC recently voted to raise its sewer rates.
Overall, the report found a high market risk for Massachusetts, being highly reliant on out of state facilities. Part 2 of the study (“Future Options and Associated Costs for Management of Massachusetts Wastewater Sludge”) looks at steps MassDEP can take to improve biosolids management practices and ensure outlets for these materials well into the future. In addition to looking at future technology and costs, the review included non-cost impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions which were of interest to MassDEP.
During the stakeholders meeting previewing Part 2, the consultants presented numerous recommendations for the MassDEP to consider, including:
Creating volume reduction facilities;
Establishing PFAS limits for biosolids land application;
Providing regulatory certainty for PFAS treatment technologies (e.g., develop a straightforward, multimedia permitting approach)
Facilitating pilots and supporting funding of full-scale projects for emerging technologies; and
Supporting the development of regional facilities through regulatory guidance and funding.
MassDEP has stated it intends to set limits for PFAS in biosolids. The need for PFAS source reduction was stressed by all stakeholders. MassDEP staff did a great job fielding numerous questions – a full listing of responses to 71 questions and/or comments can be found on the MassDEP Residual & Biosolids webpage [Residuals & Biosolids | Mass.gov] along with the recording and slides from the stakeholder meeting.