Biosolids Legislation

Canadian Biosolids Legislation

Canada
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Nunavut
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon Territory

Canada
Department	Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Legislation	Fertilizer Act
Summary	An Act that regulates agricultural fertilizers, i.e. prohibitions (import and selling), regulations (registration, form and composition, packaging and labelling, sampling and analyzing, safeguarding, disposition) enforcement, offences and punishment.

Department	Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Legislation	Fertilizer Regulations
Summary	Regulate and control the registration, form and composition, packaging and labelling, sampling and analyzing, safeguarding, disposition of fertilizers and supplements. Shedule II: Names and Standards of Fertilizers and Supplements, Class 1: Nitrogen Products, 1.19: Designated name: Processed sewage, Composition: Products made from sewage, freed from grit and coarse solids, that are dried, ground and screened.

Alberta
Department	Alberta Environment
Legislation	Environmental protection and Enhancement Act, E12, 1996
Summary	The purpose of this Act is to support and promote the protection, enhancement and wise use of the environment. In this Act “wastewater system” means a system for collecting, treating and disposing of wastewater and includes wastewater sludge treatment and disposal facilities.

Department	Alberta Environment
Legislation	Guidelines for the Application of Municipal Wastewater Sludges to Agricultural Lands,2001
Summary	Guidelines for the application of municipal wastewater sludges to agricultural lands were first published by Alberta Environment in March 1982. The guidelines were intended for the use of municipalities considering or practicing land application as a method of municipal wastewater sludge disposal. After fifteen years since the guidelines were developed, the focus of the program still remains the same, i.e.; land treatment of sludge is agriculturally beneficial and environmentally acceptable.

British Columbia
Department	Ministry of Environment
Legislation	Environmental Management Act and Health Act - Organic Matter Recycling Regulation, 18/2002; amendments 321/2004
Summary	The Regulation governs the production, quality and land application of certain types of organic matter. In the past, this organic matter have been predominantly burnt, buried or otherwise disposed of. It applies to the construction and operation of composting facilities and the production, distribution, storage, sale and use or land application of biosolids and compost.

Department	Ministry of Environment
Legislation	The Compost Facility Requirements Guideline:How to Comply With Part 5 of the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation, 2004
Summary	The Compost Facility Requirements Guideline:How to Comply With Part 5 of the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation (OMRR) is intended as a companion document of the OMRR. The intent of this Guideline is to massist waste generators, the general public, qualified professionals, compost producers and/or facility owners and Ministry staff in understanding and/or complying with the conditions established in Part 5.

Manitoba
Department	Manitoba Conservation
Legislation	The Environment Act, E125, 1998
Summary	The intent of this Act is to develop and maintain an environmental management system in Manitoba which will ensure that the environment is maintained in such a manner as to sustain a high quality of life, including social and economic development, recreation and leisure for this and future generations. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act according to their intent, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations and orders: (k) respecting the design, construction, adaptation, alteration, operation, maintenance and installation of systems, processes or works to abate or control pollution or other environmental damage including but not limited to waste disposal grounds, landfills, sewage collection and treatment, sewage or industrial sludge handling and disposal, incinerators, and recycling systems.

New Brunswick
Department	Department of Environment
Legislation	Guidelines for Issuing Certificates of Approval for the Utilization of Wastes as Soil Additives
Summary	The Guidelines cover the acceptable methods of stabilization, suitability of the land where biosolids may be applied, as well as application rates, separation distances (for example, between the land where biosolids are being used and a drinking water supply), and waiting periods between the application of the biosolids and various uses of the land. For a copy of the Guidelines for Issuing Certificates of Approval for the Utilization of Wastes as Soil Additives, or for information regarding land application of municipal wastewater biosolids, please contact: Municipal Services Section Approvals Branch New Brunswick Department of Environment Marysville Place P.O. Box 6000 Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1 Telephone: (506) 444-4599

Department	Department of Environment
Legislation	Guidelines for the Site Selection, Operation and Approval of Composting Facilities in New Brunswick
Summary	Composting of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste is receiving increasing interest in the province. Presently there are some composting operations in the province which are handling a variety of materials including leaves, fish waste, sewage sludge and animal manures. Typically these projects are evaluated on a case by case basis by the Department of Environment in terms of environmental approval. However, as composting efforts increase in terms of both scale and number it is becoming necessary to provide those involved in composting operations with some guidance with regard to the composting process and environmental protection.

Nova Scotia
Department	Ministry of Environment and Labor
Legislation	Guidelines For Land Application and Storage of Biosolids in Nova Scotia, 2004
Summary	These Guidelines pertain to land application of biosolids and the storage of biosolids at land application sites. These Guidelines have been created in response to a requirement to manage the biosolids generated at wastewater treatment facilities in Nova Scotia. Research from other jurisdictions that utilize the organic matter and beneficial nutrients contained in biosolids formed the basis of these Guidelines.

Ontario
Department	Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Legislation	O. Reg. 267/03 General Regulation under the Nutrient Management Act, 2002
Summary	The Nutrient Management Act and its Regulation 267/03 address land-applied materials containing nutrients. This includes provisions for the development of strong new standards for all land-applied materials containing nutrients, a proposal to ban the land application of untreated septage over a five-year period, and proposed strong new requirements such as: the review and approval of nutrient management plans, certification of land applicators and a new registry system for all land applications.

Department	Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Legislation	Publication 811: Soil Management and Fertilizer Use, Chapter 2, point 17. Adjustments to Fertilizer Recommendations (Legumes and Manure) 2002. Issue 2003 has to be purchased.
Summary	This guide is designed to be a reference for detailed information related to the production, pest management, harvest and storage of the field crops produced in Ontario.Chapter 2 discusses various aspects of soil management and fertilizer uses that are common to all field crops in Ontario.

Department	Ministry of Environemnt
Legislation	Interim Guidelines for the Production and Use of Aerobic Compost in Ontario, 2004
Summary	The Guidelines for the Production and Use of Aerobic Compost in Ontario has been prepared to assist composting proponents, ministry staff and staff of other agencies in the selection and/or approval of appropriate aerobic composting methods and the production of quality compost based on good operating practices, compost characteristics, and current Ministry of the Environment legislation. It provides a review of regulatory requirements for aerobic composting and a brief overview of the process, highlighting parameters critical to the success of composting.The Guidelines should be used along with good judgement and past practical experience in the handling of compostable wastes, their biodegradation, and marketing of product. While this guide includes discussion of measures for the protection of the environment and human health, specific market applications may requires more stringent quality specifications. Moreover, it is not intended to provide detailed specifications for all markets but distinguishes between composted material as a product, that may have many uses, or as a waste, and that must be managed as such.

Department	Ministry of Environemnt
Legislation	Guidelines for the Utilization of Biosolids and Other Waste, 1997
Summary	The purpose of this document is to facilitate the use of biosolids and other waste materials on agricultural land, while protecting environmental quality, consumer and animal health, food quality and the productivity of the land. These Guidelines are intended to supplement Ontario Regulation 347 under the Environmental Protection Act. The document outlines criteria which must be met before biosolids or other waste materials can be considered for use on agricultural land. In essence, these materials must be of benefit to crop production or soil health and not degrade the natural environment, before approval for use will be given by the Ministry of Environment (MOE). The materials should supply essential plant nutrients and/or organic matter, or other constituents that will maintain crop production or soil health. For clarification, the term sewage biosolids refers to stabilized municipal "sewage sludge" as included in Processed Organic Waste, in Ontario Regulation 347. Hauled sewage (septage) is not included in this category. The term "other wastes" includes materials not defined as sewage biosolids, septage or agricultural waste in Ontario Regulation 347. The term "waste materials" is used frequently in this document and refers to both sewage biosolids and other wastes.

Department	Ministry of Environemnt
Legislation	Guide for Applying for a Certificate of Approval to Spread Sewage and Other Biosolids on Agricultural Lands (Organic Soil Conditioning) [Sewage Biosolids and Other Wastes], 1997
Summary	A Certificate of Approval for a Waste Disposal Site (Organic Soil Conditioning) must be obtained before waste can be applied on agricultural land. This document outlines the minimum information required by MOE staff to properly assess an application for a Certificate of Approval. This Certificate is only for the receiving site. An additional Certificate of Approval for an Organic Waste Management System must be obtained for transporting the waste from the waste generator to the transfer and/or receiving site(s).

Quebec
Department	Environment Quebec
Legislation	Guidelines for the beneficial use of fertilizing residuals, 2004 and ADDENDUM - Feb 2006
Summary	This document is intended primarily for the Ministère de l’Environnement (MENV) staff located in the regional offices for regulatory enforcement purposes and for professionals involved in fertilizing residual (FR) beneficial use projects. The context for the reclamation of FRs is outlined beginning in Section 2, which provides general information on fertilizing residuals, and Section 3, which presents the main regulatory bodies. An addendum describes modifications made in February 2006 to the pathogen criteria, as well as the sampling of FR by accredited firms. Justification and expected impacts are presented. The modifications described in this addendum are applicable to all certificates of authorization applied for as of February 15th 2006 Standards: CAN/BNQ 0413-200 - Organic Soil Conditioners - Composts CAN/BNQ 0413-400 - Organic Soil Conditioners - Granulated Municipal Biosolids.

Saskatchewan
Department	Saskatchewan Environment
Legislation	Land Application of Municipal Sewage Sludge Guidelines, 2004, EPB 296
Summary	The guideline’s purpose is to provide adequate instructions and requirements to the owner/operators of wastewater treatment works, individuals and consultants who plan to apply/spread municipal sewage sludge onto agricultural land for beneficial use. The guideline’s objective is to ensure the application of municipal sewage sludge onto agricultural lands is done in a beneficial and environmentally acceptable manner, protecting the environment and human health from adverse effects. The guidelines do not apply to industrial wastes.