Edmonton Waste Management Centre of Excellence Site 310, 13111 Meridian Street Edmonton, Alberta Telephone: 780.496.7316 Fax: 780.496.7316 Email: www.ewmce.com
Annual Report
2009/2010
Edmonton Waste Management Center of Excellence
Table of Contents
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Message from Executive Manager Page 5
Marketing & Communication Page 10-12
Technology Development Page 20-21
Auditors’ Report Page 27
Governance & Managment Page 6-7
Research Page 13-16
Education & Training Page 22-24
Summarized Financial Statements Page 28-29
Staff Page 8-9
Advisory Services Page 17-19
Outlook for 2009 – 2010 Page 25-26
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Message from the
Executive Manager Initiated
Current
Composting of Coated and Manufactured Wood Products:
Composting of Infected Tree Waste:
Testing the effects of wood products like particle board, plywood, and fiberboard on composting processes and final product quality.
Landfill Greenhouse Gas Measurement Technologies:
Comparison of remote and ground-based technologies for measurement of emissions of greenhouse gasses such as methane from large-scale areas such as landfills, compost piles, and lagoons.
Effects of Compost Maturity on Biofilter Performance
Evaluation of factors such as maturity and stability that affect the use of compost for methane-oxidizing biofilters.
Use of Compost and Biochar for Green Roof Covers
An experimental trial to assess the potential of compost and biochar as light-weight materials for use in green-roof cover mixtures
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A research project aimed at establishing protocols for composting diseased tree waste to prevent the spread of fungal pathogens.
Tire Shred Clogging in Landfill Drainage Layers:
A multi-phase study to examine current knowledge of the performance of tire shred leachate drainage layers, and to experimentally evaluate the performance of tire shred material in Alberta landfills.
Temperature Contact Time and Human Pathogen Inactivation: This study will examine the actual temperature conditions over time experienced by representative particles of compost in full-scale composting systems, and measure the impact on a variety of human pathogens and indicator organisms.
It is a pleasure to present the 2008-09 Annual Report of the Edmonton Waste Management Centre of Excellence. This report provides details of the continued success of Centre activities, reach and influence. In its sixth year of operations, the Centre is still a hub for growth and change. To manage the influx of our diverse project activities, a new organizational structure was created. Based on our four program areas, each sector is now being led by a fulltime manager rather than a committee. This new transition has already proven to be successful by allowing greater continuity, flexibility, and follow through on new initiatives. The early part of this year presented some challenges for the Centre with staff transitions. However, we have been most fortunate to hire a team of talented individuals who will execute and deliver outstanding services. The Centre’s reputation continues to grow, both locally and internationally. This recognition was enhanced by the success of our May
2008 conference ‘Waste – The Social Context 08’. Participants from around the world were in attendance, which led to the collaborative linkages with groups in Mexico and Uganda. In addition, a number of team members attended national and international conferences on waste related themes. A common observation among our group was the Centre’s Members have established a collection of facilities and systems that are world class. The potential to build on each of our program areas is enormous and very exciting. With regard to facilities, an important change occurred in March, the transfer of the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant from the City of Edmonton to EPCOR Water Services. Since both organizations are Members of the Centre, the impact on our operations is expected to be minimal. Nevertheless, the degree of support demonstrated during the transfer has been most welcome and appreciated.
ciary of a prodigious amount of volunteer time and effort from people in our Member and Stakeholder organizations. These encompass Board Members and Committee Members, and of course administrative staff that have helped in a myriad of ways. To all these individuals, we would like to extend our genuine thanks.
Sincerely, Jerry Leonard
Once again, the Centre has been the benefi-
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Research:
Solid Waste Projects Initiated
Current
Completed
Composting of Coated and Manufactured Wood Products
Composting of Infected Tree Waste
Street Sand Recycling
Testing the effects of wood products like particle board, plywood, and fiberboard on composting processes and final product quality.
Landfill Greenhouse Gas Measurement Technologies
Comparison of remote and ground-based technologies for measurement of emissions of greenhouse gasses such as methane from large-scale areas such as landfills, compost piles, and lagoons.
Effects of Compost Maturity on Biofilter Performance
Evaluation of factors such as maturity and stability that affect the use of compost for methane-oxidizing biofilters.
Use of Compost and Biochar for Green Roof Covers
A research project aimed at establishing protocols for composting diseased tree waste to prevent the spread of fungal pathogens.
Tire Shred Clogging in Landfill Drainage Layers
A multi-phase study to examine current knowledge of the performance of tire shred leachate drainage layers, and to experimentally evaluate the performance of tire shred material in Alberta landfills.
Temperature Contact Time and Human Pathogen Inactivation
This study will examine the actual temperature conditions over time experienced by representative particles of compost in full-scale composting systems, and measure the impact on a variety of human pathogens and indicator organisms.
A project to clean and recycle street sand for reuse, including removal of salt from the washwater.
Pathway of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Generation in Compost
A study of CO production in the enclosed co-composting facility at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre, aimed at developing practical strategies to limit CO emissions to safe levels.
Municipal Compost Upgrading
Impact of Pretreatment on Compost Quality
A Focus on Trace Metals, Phase III – Research on the potential sources of metals from municipal solid wastes, and the rates and mechanisms of transfer of metals into the final compost by processes like corrosion.
Landfill Evaluation of Alum Sludge
A study to determine beneficial disposal options for alum sludge residuals from drinking water treatment plants, such as use as a landfill cover material or as a compost additive
An evaluation of methods to separate glass and plastics from compost, and investigation of the physics involved in these technologies.
Drywall Waste Management
A multi-phase study with a life-cycle approach to drywall waste management. The current phase of the project involved composting drywall with biosolids, and evaluating the resulting compost for land reclamation.
An experimental trial to assess the potential of compost and biochar as light-weight materials for use in green-roof cover mixtures
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Research:
Wastewater Projects Initiated
Current
Using In-Pipe Microorganisms to Control Wastewater Contaminants
WERF Co-digestion Study
Evaluating the potential for microbially-enhanced removal of endocrine-disrupting compounds from wastewater in collection systems and treatment plants.
Options to Address Emerging Contaminants
A comprehensive study of the removal of micropollutants such as endocrine-disrupting compounds in wastewater treatment plants, assessing the efficacy of current WWTP processes, and optimize them for maximum removal.
Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Wastewater Treatment Plants
Determining the emissions of the nitrous oxide from the nitrification process at WWTP, evaluating the biological sources of this important greenhouse gas, and engineering solutions to minimize emissions.
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Exploration of the potential to add organic waste products such as greases and oils to wastewater solids for biogas production, at a pilot scale.
Calibration of Activated Sludge Model
Modification and recalibration of the “Hydromantis� sludge model, a software program designed for the modeling and simulation of municipal wastewater treatment plants.
Secondary Clarifier Research Study
Investigation of the design of secondary clarifiers at the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant and ways to improve their performance with the use of computational fluid dynamics.
Aerated Grit Chamber Study
Study of the aerated grit chambers at the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant, and investigating ways of improving their removal efficiencies with the use of laser measurement techniques and fluid dynamics.