Stircor partners with Orlando Water Reclamation Division for sustainable biosolids processing – Wastewater Digest

Report on the Stircor-Orlando Partnership for Sustainable Biosolids Management

Project Overview and Strategic Objectives

1. Partnership: A strategic collaboration has been formed between Stircor and the City of Orlando Water Reclamation Division (OWRD).
2. Objective: To implement advanced biosolids drying technology at the Water Conserv II (WCII) Water Reclamation Facility.
3. Scope: The project will process a minimum of 60,000 tons of biosolids annually from the WCII and Iron Bridge facilities, converting them into a Class A product compliant with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.
4. Technology Partner: Astec Industries will supply the state-of-the-art industrial equipment for the drying process.
5. Timeline: The facility is scheduled to be fully operational by Fall 2025.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This project directly supports Target 6.3 by improving water quality through advanced wastewater solids treatment. Converting biosolids to a safe, reusable Class A product is a key step in managing sanitation byproducts and protecting water resources.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The initiative represents a significant upgrade to municipal infrastructure (Target 9.4) by integrating innovative technology to create a more resilient and sustainable industrial process for waste management.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By implementing a modern solution for biosolids management, the project helps the City of Orlando reduce its environmental impact and manage municipal waste more effectively (Target 11.6), contributing to the creation of a more sustainable urban environment.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The project establishes a circular economy model for biosolids, transforming a waste product into a valuable resource. This directly contributes to Target 12.5 by substantially reducing waste generation through reuse and recycling.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The collaboration between Stircor, a private company, and the City of Orlando, a public entity, is a prime example of a public-private partnership (Target 17.17) working to achieve critical sustainability objectives.

Operational and Economic Framework

• Service Model: Stircor is providing a comprehensive, turnkey biosolids management service.
• Responsibilities: The company is responsible for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of all equipment.
• Resource Allocation: Stircor will cover all operational costs and provide trained staff, allowing the OWRD to focus on its core mission of water reclamation without allocating internal resources to the drying facility.
• Economic Impact: The partnership is designed to streamline biosolids management and lower long-term disposal costs for the City of Orlando.

Conclusion

• The Stircor-Orlando partnership marks a forward-thinking approach to municipal waste management, aligning with global sustainability standards.
• By leveraging innovative technology within a public-private framework, the project addresses environmental challenges while delivering economic benefits.
• This initiative reinforces the City of Orlando’s commitment to environmental stewardship and contributes directly to the achievement of several key Sustainable Development Goals.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – The article focuses on managing biosolids, a byproduct of wastewater treatment, which is a critical component of sanitation systems.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The project involves implementing new technology and upgrading municipal infrastructure for waste management.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The initiative is a municipal project in Orlando aimed at improving waste management to support a growing population and enhance environmental stewardship.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – The project addresses the sustainable management of waste by converting biosolids into a reusable product, aligning with principles of a circular economy.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The article explicitly details a public-private partnership between the city of Orlando and the company Stircor to achieve environmental objectives.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution… halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
    
    Explanation: The project directly contributes to this target by treating biosolids from the Water Conserv II and Iron Bridge water reclamation facilities. Converting the material to “Class A biosolids” ensures it is treated to a high standard, preventing potential pollution associated with lower-grade disposal and preparing it for safe reuse.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable… with greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies.
    
    Explanation: The article describes the implementation of “state-of-the-art industrial equipment” and “biosolids drying technology” to upgrade Orlando’s existing biosolids program. This is a direct example of upgrading infrastructure with innovative and environmentally sound technology.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to… municipal and other waste management.
    
    Explanation: The project is a direct effort by the City of Orlando to “streamline biosolids management” and address “biosolid disposal challenges.” This improves the city’s capacity for managing municipal waste generated by its growing population.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  • Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil.
    
    Explanation: The project establishes an “end-to-end biosolids management service” that follows “EPA regulations,” specifically the Part 503 rule. This ensures the environmentally sound management of this waste stream.
  • Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
    
    Explanation: By converting biosolids into a “Class A” product, the project transforms a waste material that requires disposal into a product suitable for reuse (e.g., as a soil amendment or fertilizer). This is a form of waste reduction through recycling and reuse.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.
    
    Explanation: The entire project is founded on a public-private partnership. The article states, “Stircor announced it has partnered with the city of Orlando Water Reclamation Division (OWRD),” which exemplifies this target.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

• For Target 6.3 & 11.6

  • Indicator: Volume of wastewater sludge treated.
    
    Explanation: The article specifies that the facility will be “drying a minimum of 60,000 tons of biosolids” annually. This is a direct quantitative indicator of the amount of municipal waste being managed more effectively.
  • Indicator: Compliance with national environmental standards.
    
    Explanation: The article mentions the goal is to convert solids into “Class A biosolids, in compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPAs) Part 503 biosolids regulation.” Achieving this compliance is a key indicator of improved treatment quality.

• For Target 9.4

  • Indicator: Adoption of new technology.
    
    Explanation: The implementation and operation of the “biosolids drying technology” serves as an indicator of technological upgrading in municipal infrastructure. The project being “operational in Fall 2025” is a specific milestone.

• For Target 12.5

  • Indicator: Amount of waste recycled or reused.
    
    Explanation: The “converting existing solids into Class A biosolids” is an implied indicator. Class A status means the material is safe for reuse, thus measuring the tonnage of Class A biosolids produced indicates the amount of waste diverted from landfills and repurposed.

• For Target 17.17

  • Indicator: Existence and operationalization of a public-private partnership.
    
    Explanation: The formal partnership between “Stircor” and the “city of Orlando Water Reclamation Division (OWRD)” for designing, building, and operating the facility is a direct indicator of this target being met.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: wwdmag.com