Prepared on behalf of Peninsula Biosolids Coalition, this document describes how BC law addresses the land application of biosolids, explores legal developments from other jurisdictions challenging biosolids applications due to contamination issues, and identifies potential gaps in BC law when applying potentially contaminated biosolids to land. It follows up on ELC reports done in 2011 and 2013 intended to inform Capital Regional District (CRD) discussions on whether to remove a ban on the land application of biosolids. Although the ban was maintained, the CRD has more recently started to sell biosolids for horticultural operations, which opened up the discussion to reconsider the ban.
In recent years it has become more widely known that that biosolids are often contaminated with PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances), also known as “forever chemicals” due to their ability to persist in the environment for decades, or even centuries, after they are released. PFAS are known carcinogens that pose significant health risks to ecological systems, including human communities.
Although BC law provides for the land application of biosolids under the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation of the Environmental Management Act, it does not appear to respond to recent developments in understandings of risk associated with PFAS contamination.
