Toledo, Ohio moves away from biosolids

N-Viro International Corporation (NVIC) announced that after 22 years of providing the City of Toledo with a Class A biosolids program, Toledo City Council with an 8 to 3 vote chose a Class B blending and disposal option.

The decision provides for approximately 50,000 wet tons of Class B biosolids to be dumped and blended on a 70 acre site located within a Confined Disposal Facility (CDF) within the Maumee Bay at the westernmost point of Lake Erie. This facility was constructed decades ago by the Army Corps of Engineers to dispose of contaminated river spoils dredged from the Toledo shipping channel. Despite strong objections to this choice because of the potential for environmental damage, the City of Toledo stood by its decision. A letter from CEO/president Timothy R. Kasmoch to the Toledo City Council and others can be viewed on the home page of N-Viro International’s website under latest news.

Kasmoch had these remarks; “A well managed Class B program can be beneficial. I do not believe this is a well managed program. In fact I believe this decision is completely detrimental to the health and welfare of the Maumee Bay and Lake Erie because of the potential of pathogen leaching and phosphorus contamination resulting in elevated toxic algae growth. Despite the loss in revenue this will represent, management has implemented a plan for adjustment and future growth elsewhere. N-Viro is moving forward with its N-Viro Fuel™ technology. In my opinion, the City of Toledo moved its biosolids program in the opposite direction in one hasty decision.” Kasmoch concluded, “We don’t believe the City of Toledo understands the seriousness of this decision.”