Toronto Biosolids Project Overview
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2000 - City of Toronto awards US Filter a Design Build contract for construction of a pelletizer at ABTP.
Pelletizer designed to process biosolids and produce a commercial fertilizer product named Nutri-Pel.
2003 - Facility in performance test when fire occurs.
2005 - Rebuild agreement signed to reconstruct facility including several upgrades.
2007 - Veolia and City of Toronto sign a 10 year agreement for pelletizer - amended in 2010).
Toronto Biosolids Project Overview
Contract commits Veolia for pelletizer operations and maintenance and Nutri-Pel sales and marketing
2007 – Facility commissioning begins.
Today – pelletizer operational and producing 18,000 tonnes of Nutri-Pel per year. Fully integrated into ABTP.
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Process Description
Seghers technology - indirect drying system.
Process mixes dewatered biosolids (25% dry solids) with finished pellets (92% dry solids) to produce infeed at 65% - 70% dry solids.
Infeed gently dried to reach 92-95% dry solids.
Pellets screened before being recycled or discharged.
Plant operates 24/7 year round
System designed as a fertilizer manufacturing facility
Pelletizer capacity is 50% of ABTP Biosolids
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Nutri-Pel Fertilizer
Product sold under Canadian Fertilizers Act
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issues Letter of No Objection – valid/renewed every three years.
Approved label, guaranteed analysis and CFIA file number
No C of A requirements for application
Product routinely tested on site for metals, pathogens
Annual plant tests by CFIA
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Nutri-Pel Marketing
Product sold direct from plant and in the past from storage
Sold through key distributors in the past but now primarily sold directly to end user
Pellet spreading services available
Applications include wheat, soybean, corn, canola
Working to expand applications and customer base
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Nutri-Pel Marketing (Agricultural)
Product awareness developed through Farm Shows, Trade Organizations, Newspaper and Magazine Ad’s
Sold primarily within 3-4 hour drive of ABTP
Benefits of Nutri-Pel
• Significant Nutrients 3.5 - 5.0 - 0.0 (see OMAFRA comparison)
• Significant Yield Increases (good $ return)
• Approximately 50% Organic material (you can’t buy organics)
• Dry pelleted format (almost dust free) easily applied
• Pathogen free
• No permits required for application
• What about heavy metals?
• Sulfur
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Simplified Product Comparison
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Nutri-Pel Aim-Hamilton Green Bin Compost
N 3.5 2
P 5.0 1
K 0.0 1
Dry Matter 95.1 78.3%
PH 6.8 6.09
Bulk Density 49.6 lbs/ft3
11.08 lbs/ft3
Organic Matter 58% 55.8%
Nutri-Pel Market Positioning
Nutri-Pel is an effective low cost fertilizer product available year round to the agricultural market in Ontario.
Competition
• Manure
• Free Bio-Solid Sludge
• Other Bio-Solid Products
• MAP fertilizer
Focusing on price per pound/ton of Nitrogen or Phosphorus Nutri-Pel is about half the price of MAP and includes many other nutrients and benefits not delivered by MAP
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Market Challenges - Biosolids
Anti biosolids movement attempts to group Nutri-Pel (commercial fertilizer) with cake/sludge biosolids (a waste product)
Seems to have subsided dramatically in recent years.
Science is on our side (WEAO film).
Farmers speaking positively about product due to effectiveness.
Less dust less odor with enhancements made at plant.
Need fewer trucks than sludge reducing profile when spreading the product.
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Product Direction/Development
Winter Storage
• Agg. Bags at customer fields
• Eliminates double transport
• Experimenting with
bunker or silo storage
Future Markets
• Sod Farms
• Tree Nursery – Waiting on Result from 2 farms
• Exploring mixing Nutri-Pel with compost for use as soil amendment
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