Representatives from Aries Clean Energy, Franklin, Tennessee, were joined by local officials and dignitaries to break ground on New Jersey’s first biosolids-only gasification facility Oct. 15. According to the company, once completed, the Aries Linden Biosolids Gasification Facility in Linden, New Jersey, will bring environmental and sustainable benefits to the area by processing 430 tons of biosolids daily into clean, renewable energy.

In lieu of the traditional shovels, the crowd picked up sledgehammers and began the demolition at the building that will house the plant. More than 100 gathered to usher in the facility that will be located within the Linden Roselle Sewerage Authority (LRSA) complex, which is 20 miles outside of New York City. Sixty new construction jobs will be filled during the construction phase of this project and 16 long-term, skilled jobs will be created for plant operation.

“This day culminates the years of research and hard work from the Aries team. It signals further validation of our patented gasification technology,” Gregory Bafalis, CEO of Aries Clean Energy, says. “This Aries system eliminates the need for environmentally harmful landfilling or incineration of biosolids, while producing beneficial renewable energy and biochar. We believe this truly is a beneficial and disruptive technology that will revolutionize the wastewater treatment industry and establish itself as the best available control technology for biosolids disposal [while serving] as a model for others.”

Aries will deploy its patented fluidized bed gasification system that was designed specifically for processing biosolids. The company says the system will reduce the volume of biosolids from 430 tons per day to 22 tons of beneficial biochar. The biochar will be beneficially used as a substitute for fly ash in concrete. The renewable energy that is generated from the system is then recovered and used within the system, so no fossil fuels are used during normal operations. It will also reduce greenhouse gases due to the reduction in trucking miles associated with conventional disposal methods as well as the elimination of methane generated from land application of biosolids.

“I welcome the technology that exists today that [allows us to] take biosolids and convert them into a clean and renewable energy source. I welcome the new relationship between private companies like Aries Clean Energy and the Linden Roselle Sewerage Authority,” Linden Mayor Derek Armstead says. “What a great day it is to make history for Linden and for New Jersey as we are taking a step together toward a healthier New Jersey, a healthier Earth.”

“This marks the beginning of a collaboration that will set new standards of clean and green efforts in the wastewater industry,” David Brown, executive director of LRSA, says. “I want to ensure everyone that we are confident that this collaboration between the city, the authority, and Aries will meet expectations for the long term, be more cost effective, and [offer] a beneficial reuse solution for sludge treatment and disposal. The opening of this gasification plant here will provide additional revenue, reductions in operation and maintenance costs, and give our ratepayers an economic benefit that will allow the authority and the city to stabilize our budgets.”

Landfill operators know them all too well: quite possibly the most frequent visitors to their sites, birds can be squawky, ravenous mess-makers that often overstay their welcome.

The various types of birds that post up at landfills, whether seagulls or falcons, can present a nuisance to employees and the surrounding community alike.

And while a growth in population of these species’ more iconic cousin, the bald eagle, is celebratory news to many, the population boom is creating issues both within and outside landfill boundaries for many sites throughout the country.

The Cedar Hills Regional Landfill in Seattle is one such site, and the mix of bird populations in the area has required innovative solutions for warding them off.

“We’re dealing with eagles and starlings and ravens and gulls. There are many species we’re managing, so the approaches can vary,” says Pat McLaughlin, the director of the King County Solid Waste Division, which oversees the landfill. “You try to be as proactive as you can, but then as they change their habits, you have to adapt your strategies.”

Know your birds

Though bald eagles are not the primary bird visitors most landfills see, their recent population boom that officially took them off the federal list of threatened and endangered species in 2007 has required new bird diversion strategies. As one of the largest birds in the country, they don’t always respond to the traditional scare tactics that work on small species. To make things more complicated, they’re protected under the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act from being harmed, trapped or disturbed in any way.

Whether it’s an aggressive eagle population or another species that occupies a site, the first step for operators looking to ward off any bird population is knowing what they’re dealing with.

“Your strategy always depends on the dominant infestation at any given site,” says Michael Gallion, the head of business development of Carson, California-based Bird Barrier, which provides bird diversion products and strategies for a range of sites.

Different types of birds respond to different solutions, so identifying the primary visitor narrows down diversion options. For example, products like bird spikes are effective in keeping pigeons from roosting on roofs, but larger birds can pluck the spikes right off.

Doing research on a site’s primary visitor, including into their feeding behaviors, preferred resting places and responses to disturbances, can go a long way.

McLaughlin says his team has worked with a number of biologists, consultants and organizations to help devise a plan of action. For sites looking for assistance, companies such as Bird Barrier also offer consultation and planning services.

“We really try to partner with many agencies and professionals to understand best practices, be on the leading edge and also make sure that while we’re trying to mitigate the risks of site impact, we’re respecting the wildlife in the process,” McLaughlin says.

Limit resources

Whether dealing with eagles, smaller birds or a mix, the primary diversion technique remains: identify their main motive for visiting the landfill and remove their access to it. This is especially important to do before the birds nest in the area, if possible, since nesting equates to a more permanent presence in the vicinity.

A 2015 study of bald eagle behavior near landfills in the Chesapeake Bay region of the U.S., for example, found that juvenile eagles were the most likely age group to seek food from landfills, while most others were just looking for a place to rest.

That’s why resting places are one of the primary elimination targets for McLaughlin and his team at the Cedar Hills landfill as they work to prevent eagles from getting comfortable there in the first place.

“We have some retaining walls that birds like to nest in, so we’re filling in those gaps that may otherwise provide a dark nook and cranny for them to rest in,” McLaughlin says. “It’s also important to make sure that there aren’t ample food and water sources either, so no shelter, no food and no water.”

Normal landfill maintenance, such as keeping grass short and covering waste daily, can also be effective in discouraging bird populations from taking up residence in a landfill.

“Simple things like putting lids on trash cans or keeping dumpsters closed can have a huge impact,” Gallion says. “If they know dumpsters are left open, they will habituate to that situation.”

Photo courtesy of King County Solid Waste Division

Target their senses

While removing basic resources is a useful tactic, it’s often not enough to completely eradicate bird issues, especially if they have nested in the area.

These birds are considered “residents,” Gallion says, and are much more difficult to uproot. The goal is to get them to relocate, which often takes care of the issue long-term or even permanently.

“In general, your strategy in bird control is always to relocate resident birds. Trash creates an environment that attracts the birds, and eventually the birds will pick up residence because it’s proven to be such a viable resource to live off,” Gallion says. “Typically, when they relocate, they don’t ever come back.”

A variety of products exist to fend birds off the site for good, from distressed bird call noise deterrents and mild shock systems to undesirably scented products and light reflectors. These solutions target birds’ various senses and trick them into believing a threat exists in the area.

Optical gel, for example, is a product that tricks birds into thinking a fire is in the area by reflecting UV lighting, creating the illusion of flames for birds, Gallion says.

These techniques need to be employed in a combinational approach for maximum efficacy. Birds are bold, and when they encounter a threat continuously, they often venture to examine it further. If they rule out a threat, they begin to ignore it and return to the site.

Even optical gel, which also has scent and tactile deterrents for when birds get close enough to touch it, should be used alongside other systems and techniques to confuse the birds long enough for them to decide to leave. “It’s almost like an antibody. If you use the same antibiotic over and over, the body gains immunity to it,” Gallion says.

Techniques should be introduced strategically on a rotating basis. The best strategies use techniques that comprehensively cover all areas of the landfill, including the perimeter and any office spaces where the birds can nest.

“In terms of waste and recycling customers in these big, wide-open spaces, a very specific strategy initiative has to be involved,” Gallion says.

Thinking outside the box

Over in Seattle, McLaughlin has tried a few products created specifically to deter birds. One was a drone disguised as a hawk, which had varying success depending on the bird.

For the eagles, it didn’t go over well.

“The eagles were not a fan of the drone and took it right out of the sky,” McLaughlin says.

Instead, officials there have had success with trapping and relocating smaller birds, and with bottle rocket-type pyrotechnics for dispersing larger groups of birds. One of their most successful deterrent techniques is one of the most traditional, albeit with a unique twist.

McLaughlin says the crew dresses up a scarecrow in a bright vest and hard hat to look like the staff member who deploys the other bird diversion techniques, tricking the birds into thinking he’s constantly present.

“For us, it’s been taking a combination approach, but also constantly being aware of what’s working and what’s not,” McLaughlin says. “All these things help, but we haven’t found a silver bullet or a one-shot homerun approach.”

While the biggest problem with birds is often the nuisance, they can also be a health hazard to landfill crews if they carry disease. Ingesting waste can cause the birds harm as well, which presents its own issues. And in some cases, bird problems can filter out into the surrounding community. Residents near the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill have complained of finding waste scattered across their yards and blame the eagles at the landfill for the mess, according to the Seattle Times.

“It’s not so much an operational challenge with our ability to manage waste. It’s an operational challenge for us to try to manage the birds,” McLaughlin says about the nearly 200 eagles that occupy the landfill in peak season.

The King County Solid Waste Division is currently in the process of developing a bird management plan to track the types of bird visitors at the landfill and develop mitigation solutions for each one. McLaughlin says they’re doing so not only with the help of the organizations they’ve consulted with in the past, but also with a wildlife biologist they plan to hire and keep on staff.

“Some of these animals are very smart,” McLaughlin says. “You have to evolve your approach. It’s standard for a period of time, and then the standard needs to keep changing to make it effective.”

This article originally appeared in the September issue of Waste Today. The author is the assistant editor for Waste Today magazine and can be contacted at tcottom@gie.net.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking seeking additional comment on the recently proposed rule to establish the cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel volumes for 2020 and the biomass-based diesel volume for 2021 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program.

The notice does not change the proposed volumes for 2020 and 2021. Instead, it proposes and seeks comment on adjustments to the way that annual renewable fuel percentages are calculated. Annual renewable fuel percentage standards are used to calculate the number of gallons the obligated parties are required to blend into their fuel or to otherwise obtain renewable identification numbers (RINs) to demonstrate compliance. 

Specifically, the agency is seeking comment on projecting the volume of gasoline and diesel that will be exempt in 2020 due to small refinery exemptions based on a three-year average of the relief recommended by the Department of Energy (DOE), including where DOE had recommended partial exemptions. The agency intends to grant partial exemptions in appropriate circumstances when adjudicating 2020 exemption petitions. The agency proposes to use this value to adjust the way renewable fuel percentages are calculated. 

The proposed adjustments would help ensure that the industry blends the final volumes of renewable fuel into the nation’s fuel supply and that, in practice, the required volumes are not effectively reduced by future hardship exemptions for small refineries. Consistent with the statute, the supplemental notice seeks to balance the goal of the RFS of maximizing the use of renewables while following the law and sound process to provide relief to small refineries that demonstrate the need.

EPA will hold a public hearing on Oct. 30, followed by a 30-day comment period from the date of the hearing to receive public input on these issues. The agency will finalize this action later this year.

The action fulfills the agreement reached on Oct. 4th with the White House, the EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding the RFS program.

The PepsiCo Foundation, Purchase New York, and The Recycling Partnership, Falls Church, Virginia, have announced that their joint All In On Recycling challenge has raised $25 million since its launch in July 2018. 

All In On Recycling is a large, industry-led recycling challenge in the U.S. Funds raised from the challenge are helping cities invest in new infrastructure, like curbside carts, which are a proven way to double the number of recyclables recovered. Funding is also supporting education programs to teach residents what can and cannot be recycled, helping to prevent “wishcycling.”  

“When The Recycling Partnership and PepsiCo launched this challenge a year ago, we recognized the need for significant collective action to improve recycling in the U.S., and we are pleased to see our partners and peers step up and lend support to this effort,” says Simon Lowden, chief sustainability officer at PepsiCo. “However, this is only the beginning, and we must continue to work together to create the scale of change needed to strengthen our recycling system. This is critical to reduce waste that ends up in our oceans and environments, to meet the growing demand for recycled content that powers the circular economy and to support a more sustainable future.”

Through the All In On Recycling challenge this past year, The Recycling Partnership has made investments to improve recycling programs in Ohio, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Texas and New Jersey. To date, nearly 115,000 carts have been distributed or are in the process of going to households across the country as a result of this effort. The challenge has a goal of distributing carts to more than 550,000 households within five years. PepsiCo Foundation reports that these new carts are expected to capture 55 million pounds of new recyclables per year.

In addition, The Recycling Partnership plans to expand its education and recycling program efforts to North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee and other locations in 2020, the nonprofit reports in a news release on the challenge.

“Developing a sustainable recycling system is critical to the future of our planet. The All In On Recycling challenge gives us the opportunity to come together as communities, regions and states, global corporations and as individuals, to change our path towards a healthier future,” says Keefe Harrison, CEO of The Recycling Partnership. “A circular economy where global brands can partner with nonprofits to invest in community infrastructure to better capture recyclables, educate residents on what to recycle and where and bring all stakeholders together in partnership is one that everyone should get behind. After all, we’re all in this bin together.”

Closer look

One area that has benefited from the All In On Recycling challenge investment is central Ohio, where The Recycling Partnership has been working with the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio and distributed 38,000 carts to five communities in the area—Gahanna, Reynoldsburg, Bexley, Blendon Township and Westerville—earlier this year. According to The Recycling Partnership, these households were upgraded from 18-gallon bins to 65-gallon carts, which can collect more materials and also reduce litter from flying out of smaller bins. Officials in the area are performing a “capture rate” study on the materials collected from these carts to identify areas for increased recycling education and opportunities for improvement. Results of the study are anticipated to be completed in November.

An additional grant from The Recycling Partnership has funded a recycling education campaign in several city of Columbus, Ohio, neighborhoods to reduce contamination in the city’s recycling stream and control program costs. “This important grant has allowed us to further educate residents about acceptable items to place in their curbside recycling containers,” says Tim Swauger, administrator of the Columbus Division of Refuse Collection. “As a result, many residents are gaining a better understanding of how to recycle correctly to benefit the sustainability of our recycling program.”

Update on funding

The All In On Recycling challenge kicked off with an initial $10 million in funding from The PepsiCo Foundation. Over the past year, $15 million in support has been raised from major companies and organizations across a variety of industries, including Alcoa Foundation, Colgate-Palmolive and Target, PepsiCo Foundation reports in a news release. In addition to these contributions, more than 2,800 communities are expected to participate in the initiative, which will triple the collective investment, catalyzing roughly $75 million in municipal funding and bringing the total amount of support to $100 million. Currently, more than $12 million in municipal funding has been invested in U.S. recycling as a result of the challenge, with more in the pipeline.

“As a founding partner of The Recycling Partnership, Alcoa Foundation has always believed in The Partnership's mission to transform recycling for good,” says Rosa García Pineiro, vice president of sustainability, Alcoa Corp. and president of Alcoa Foundation. “We’re proud to support the All In On Recycling challenge, which calls on leading companies to join PepsiCo, Alcoa and others to help The Recycling Partnership drive change and make it easier for 25 million families across the country to recycle more and recycle better.”