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Residuals & Emerging Contaminants Program

equipment piling up residual matter

This program oversees the management of residual materials, industrial and municipal wastes with the potential to be recycled. Examples of residual materials include biosolids, septage, short paper fiber, wood ashes and water treatment residuals. In Vermont, residuals management activities must be authorized via solid waste facility certification (biosolids), sludge management plans, or certificates of approval (short paper fiber, wood ash, & imported EQ biosolids).

Beneficial Reuse - residual materials that meet specific criteria established in the Vermont Solid Waste Rules may be land applied for agronomic value. After obtaining a Solid Waste Facility Certification, sludges and septage that meet specific pollutant limits and that are treated to US EPA biosolids standards for pathogen and vector attraction reduction, may be applied to the land under a site-specific permit or, after addition pathogen treatment, distributed to the public as Exceptional Quality (EQ) biosolids. Prior to importing EQ biosolids to Vermont, a Certificate of Approval must be obtained.  

For a broad overview of biosolids and septage management in Vermont, and associated research, please see the Program's working, draft whitepaper: "Wastewater Treatment Sludge and Septage Management in Vermont".

Septage Haulers operating in Vermont (pumping and/or disposing) must pay a fee of $.01 per gallon. Fees are due quarterly and submitted via a new electronic reporting system.  

The Electronic Reporting System must be used for quarterly reporting of activities. A waiver from electronic reporting may be obtained if inaccessibility to computer or internet service is demonstrated.  Please contact the Residuals Program for more info on the waiver process.