Residuals Management - Guidance

The following guidance is designed to assist residuals managers with activities in Vermont:

• Interim Strategy for Managing EQ Biosolids and Short Paper Fiber Soil Amendments, Effective April 1, 2024. In consultation with a working group comprised of regional residuals management experts from both the public and private sectors, and the Vermont Department of Health and Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets, the following strategy was developed to help Vermont mitigate risks associated with potential transfer of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the environment via the management of residual materials.        
  • Vermont Residuals Interim Strategy         
• Application Rates must be calculated and submitted to the Program for review & approval prior to land application of biosolids and/or septage. First apply the UVM Ag Extension's "VT Phosphorus Index" (see below). If the P index is 'high', then application rates must be held to below typical crop removal rates of phopshorus as reported in "Nutrient Recommendations for Field Crops in Vermont" (links below).  If the P index is "low" to "medium", then application rates may be based on crop nitrogen demand.  
  • Vermont Phosphorus Index (version 6.2, 2020) 
  • Nutrient Recommendations for Field Crops in Vermont (Univ of Vermont Ag Extension, 2020)
• Sampling and Analysis
  • Methods for Chemical and Biological Analyses for Residual Waste Management  (updated 2021)
  • The Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators Guide to Biosolids Sampling Plans (NEIWPCC, 2006)
  • Sampling and Analysis of PFAS in Biosolids and Associated Media (NEBRA, 2018)
• Rules and Procedures​
  • Solid Waste Management Rules *NEW* October 31, 2020  - see subchapter 13
  • Short Paper Fiber Procedure
  • Wood Ash Procedure
• Guidance Documents
  • Guidance on PFAS Groundwater Exceedances at Certified Sites
  • Potable Water Treatment Residuals Management
  • Composting Toilet Solids Management 
  • Vermont Waste Hauler Notification User's Guide
• Residuals Management Data & Resources 
  • Wastewater Inventory Database - a database of information pertaining to residuals permittees, including environmental monitoring data
  • Waste Haulers (septage) - list of active haulers permitted to operate in Vermont
  • Residuals Management Facilites in the region - list of landfills, incinerators and residual material managers