Published June 2007

The Industry is Answering the Disposal Questions

By Jim Kneiszel, Editor (page 12)

Leaders in liquid waste hauling businesses are taking the initiative to solve a growing environmental issue.

With per-gallon septage disposal fees on the rise and tighter restrictions regarding dumping of residential and portable restroom waste at many municipal treatment plants, the liquid waste industry is getting a whole lot more proactive in seeking out solutions for the disposal dilemma.

Yes, it’s true that some pumpers still pay miniscule dumping costs and have several treatment plants to choose from when their trucks are full at the end of the day. But more and more we hear about contractors facing rising rates and longer driving distances to find receptive disposal outlets.

If you don’t have an issue with disposal, we hope you continue to prosper under ideal working conditions. If you’re starting to see the signs of a disposal storm cloud on the rise, this one’s for you. Our goal is that the stories in this issue of Pumper® give you ideas to effectively confront disposal issues — or at least assure you that your industry is working on answers to the big questions.

Turn the pages to look at these stories dedicated to meeting disposal challenges:

NAWT BRINGS IT ON

It was encouraging to see 100 people turn out for the first National Association of Wastewater Transporters Septage/Grease Trap Waste Treatment Symposium last fall. The turnout included enthusiastic pumpers who would rather solve a disposal problem than wait for someone else to do it for them. In an effort to build on that positive energy, NAWT has scheduled the second septage/grease trap symposium for Sept. 12-13 near Harrisburg, Pa. For more details, turn to the NAWT News column by Tom Ferrero, the association’s executive director.

BEST POTS FINDS A SOLUTION

Speaking of pumpers who are unafraid to seek out their own disposal options, I met Homer and Chris Rhodaback of Best Pots Inc., Albany, Ore., at the first symposium. The Rhodaback family is featured in this issue (“We’re Controlling Our Destiny’’), sharing insights about setting up their own rotary vacuum filter plant. They opened the doors to their plant for us to get a look, and generously shared what they’ve learned about the economics of septage treatment.

ANSWER IN THE PIPELINES

With suburban sprawl and restrictive regulations, land application of septage is being threatened in many areas. The issue is discussed in this month’s installment of Reader Pipelines (“The Dreaded ‘D’ Word,’’ by Mary Shafer). Shafer talks to pumpers Mike Beebe of Florida and Herman and Jeremy Clark of Minnesota about how their businesses are affected by dwindling opportunities for land-applying liquid waste.

A BIG IDEA

Michigan pumper John Campbell in 2002 joined the state Septage Waste Disposal Committee to write a study outlining new ways haulers could deal with restricted disposal. One of the potential solutions was the concept of building independently owned small septage receiving stations. Rather than simply write about the idea or talk about it, Campbell set out to bring it to reality.

His answer was developing his own onsite aerobic bacteria generating system. In this month’s Pumper Interview (“A New Take on the Disposal Dilemma,’’ by Scottie Dayton), Campbell explains his uphill battle to gain approval for the system design and reports on his progress to date.