Utilizing Biosolids Marketing to Improve Your Bottom Line

EWA’s Biosolids ProgramUtilizing Biosolids Marketing to Improve Your Bottom Line

Encina Water Pollution Control Facility

How Did We Get Here?Crisis – Strategy – Management

EWA in Fiscal Year 2001Influent of 22.4

MGDClass B biosolidsBelt filter pressesLand application in

Riverside County$645,000 for

biosolids disposal

One Year Later…….

• Riverside County Class B ban

• Energy crisis

• $1 Million for biosolids disposal

• Belt presses at end of useful life

• 5 Trailers per day, 7 days a week Yuma, Arizona – 400 mile round trip730,000 transportation miles/year267% Increase from FY 2001 – FY 2008

Biosolids Annual Hauling Costs

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

$-

$500,000

$1,000,000

$1,500,000

$2,000,000

$2,500,000

Biosolids Strategic Plan

Long-term biosolids strategy

Pursue heat drying treatment to achieve Class A EQ biosolids

Assess potential markets for granular product

Biosolids Strategic Plan Implementation

2004 - Phase V design

2006 – Construction commences

2008 - Biosolids Management Plan

2009 – Heat dryer online

BMP Development Process

1. Market assessment

2. Evaluation of reuse/disposal options

3. Cost analysis

4. Product management scenarios

5. Diversified portfolio

Diversified PortfolioTier I• Biofuel• Contract

agriculture• Landfill

Tier II• Fertilizer

distributors• Soil blenders• Specialty agriculture• Golf course/turf/sod• Local communities• Research &

demonstrations

BMP – Tier 1 ExecutionAlternative fuel contract with CEMEXOne trailer a day, 5 days a weekVictorville, California - 260 miles round trip67,500 transportation miles/year222,133 in net transportation costs in FY 2012 Back-up contracts for land application and

landfill disposal

Green House Gas Emissions

2008 2009 20100

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Metric Tons Per Year Based on CCR General Reporting Protocol

Tier II ExecutionLearn your productNitrogen/phosphorous/potassium Micro and secondary nutrients

Iron/calcium/zinc/magnesiumLow salt indexLow heavy metalsHigh water holding capacity(WHC)Pathogen content (frequent testing)Educate your executive team, operations staff

and potential customers

PureGreen Analysis   Concentration

(mg/kg)

Dry Weight

Projected

Concentration(mg/kg)

Dry Weight

Actual 12/2012

Ceiling Concentration* (Table 1, 40 CRF

503.13) (daily maximum)

%Solids Cake 25 -27% 23.5 % NA%Solids Pellets >90 % 92.7 % NATKN 60,000 50,565 NAPhosphorus 60,000 62,000 NAArsenic 14 <5.5 75 mg/kgCadmium 3 1.4 85 mg/kgCopper 600 540 4300 mg/kgLead 27 13 840 mg/kgMercury 2 1.1 57 mg/kgMolybdenum 13 11 1375 mg/kgNickel 2 15 420 mg/kgSelenium 10 8.7 100 mg/kgZinc 1,200 650 7500 mg/kgSulfur 20,000 16,737 NASodium 3,000 1,120 NAManganese 200 155 NAMagnesium 7,000 5,542 NAIron 30,000 24,179 NACalcium 40,000 35,017 NA

Develop a Marketing Plan

Research Your Ag MarketContact your local Farm BureauTop 10 local crops/nurseries/sod & turf

farms/golf coursesWhat type of soil is in the area?Research your potential customersWho cannot use PureGreen? a) Leafy Green Partnership & OMRI certified

farms

Lessons LearnedBiosolids have tremendous value so have

confidence in your productDevelop and promote your brand nameDiversification opens new windows of opportunitiesBlending with other nutrients greatly increases the

value of the productBlended & bagged products reduce odor and

reheating issuesFind a Tier II partner or partners who has similar

goals Start research projects

Think Like a Private CompanyLab testing during the production

process/quality of product is crucialKnow federal, State & local regulations

concerning Class A EQ productLogistics/flexible hauling is a mustAllocate required staffDevelop contacts

Develop a Customer Presentation Package

Use 3rd party nutrient analysis

NANI report (heavy metals)State fertilizer label and

registrationMSDSWaiver agreementPertinent researchHand deliver product and

information

Annual Hauling Costs

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

$-

$500,000

$1,000,000

$1,500,000

$2,000,000

$2,500,000

Five Year Audited Performance Holding the Line

FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 $-

$2,500,000

$5,000,000

$7,500,000

$10,000,000

$12,500,000

$15,000,000

$12,756,36

6

$14,368,16

7

$13,148,78

3

$12,603,28

1

$12,649,52

0

Questions?Eric M Have

PureGreen Sales & MarketingEncina Wastewater Authority

ehave@encinajpa.com