Biosolids in B.C.

Biosolids are the stabilized products that are recovered at the end of the wastewater treatment process. Biosolids are rich in nutrients that may be beneficially used to improve soil conditions and provide nutrition for plants. Because of the biological components of biosolids, proper management is important to control the impact on the environment and human health.

In B.C., the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation sets requirements for the production of high-quality biosolids and subsequent beneficial use in land application and composting. For questions or concerns regarding the current land application season, please e-mail env.omrr.reg.reviews@gov.bc.ca.

Related documents & reports

Use these resources to learn more about biosolids:

• Biosolids Infographic (PDF)
• Biosolids: Alternative Management Options (PDF)
• Soil Amendment and Fertilizer Comparison (PDF)
• Biosolids World Map (PDF)
• Biosolids Regulatory Framework (PDF)

Technical working group - scientific review

Due to an increase in questions concerning biosolids land application, on June 17, 2015, the provincial government announced that a technical working group would conduct a scientific review of biosolids. The scientific review includes two key components: a review of scientific and academic literature on biosolids land applications; and a sampling project for both soils and biosolids. The literature review and sampling technical reports are available for viewing.

• Biosolids Scientific Review: Informing the OMRR Review (PDF)
• Biosolids Literature Review Covering Memorandum – June 6, 2016 (PDF)
• Literature review of risks of using biosolids and compost from biosolids with relevance to the Nicola Valley, B.C. (PDF, 8.1 MB)
• Soil Sampling Report (October 2016) - (PDF, 2.6 MB)
• Biosolids Sampling Report (January 2019) - (PDF, 2.5 MB)

Biosolids research​

• Information Update: Microconstituents in Biosolids: Current State of Knowledge (PDF)
• Uptake of pharmaceuticals, hormones and parabens into vegetables grown in soil fertilized with municipal biosolids
• Agricultural land application of municipal biosolids: PBDE and metal levels in cow's milk (PDF)
• Assessing the Fate and Significance of Microconstituents and Pathogens in Sewage Biosolids (PDF) - Update of the 2001 WEAO Report on Fate and Significance Water Environment Association of Ontario
• Evidence for the Absence of Staphylococcus aureus in Land Applied Biosolids
• Land Application Sustainability Studies with Class B Biosolids, and Novel Approaches for Obtaining Class A Biosolids (PDF)