The City of Hamilton and the Government of Canada announce substantial completion of the Biosolid Management Project

HAMILTON, ON – Today, the City of Hamilton and Infrastructure Canada announce that the substantial completion of the Biosolid Management Project was achieved this spring, offering a long-term, sustainable solution to biosolid management at the Woodward Wastewater Treatment Plant.

For the next thirty years, the newly installed thermal drying system will bring many environmental, social and economic benefits to the City of Hamilton. The new facility will use a thermal drying system which takes the nutrient-rich organic materials that result from the wastewater treatment process and turn them into pellets to be sold for fertilizer or fuel.

“This new biosolids facility transforms wastewater into useful fertilizer and a renewable fuel source, while providing the people of Hamilton with an innovative, long-term and sustainable biosolids management program. Canada's infrastructure plan is resulting in thousands of projects, creating jobs across the country and building stronger communities."

- The Honourable Catherine McKenna
Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

The public-private-partnership was supported through funding from Infrastructure Canada under the P3 Canada Fund, and the construction and continued maintenance of the new facility will be led by Harbour City Solutions.

Quick Facts:

• In 2005, the City of Hamilton undertook a Biosolids Master Plan to address the challenges associated with the existing practice of biosolid management at the Woodward Wastewater Treatment Plant.
• Biosolids are nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from the treatment of sewage in a wastewater treatment plant.
• The City of Hamilton produces about 43,000 wet tonnes of biosolids per year.
• When treated and processed, biosolids can be recycled and used as fertilizer to maintain or improve soil conditions and promote plant growth.
• The new facility will use the biosolids to produce a product, which will be sold as a slow release organic fertilizer, or to coal burning industrial facilities as a renewable fuel replacement.
• The new technology involves heating the biosolids in a large dryer drum and selling the resulting dried product.
• The project allows the City to transfer risk in processing and marketing of biosolids in the most efficient manner, providing fixed known cost over a 30-year period that was validated through a predetermined affordability threshold.

“The completion of the Biosolid Management Project is an important milestone for the City of Hamilton and we are excited to participate in a sustainably driven, emerging sector. On behalf of the City, I would like to thank our industry-leading partners for their contributions to this project, and look forward to a long and prosperous partnership with Harbour City Solutions.”

- Mayor Fred Eisenberger
City of Hamilton