Water Environment Federation (WEF) Discussion Forums / Biosolids & Residuals / WEF Discussion Forums / Landowner question on trash problem(tampons, etc.) / Latest Posts

RE: Landowner question on trash problem(tampons, etc.)

Dookie — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:17:42 GMT

I didnt see mentioned the volume of liquid sludge your accepting but we have used a screening box which is similar to a 40 yard roll off but has a perforated raised floor above the actual bottom and valved discharge lines out to tap into to, also a screen can be placed inside to filter the debris. Unfortunatly the debris content in larger cities biosolids is a factor.

RE: Landowner question on trash problem(tampons, etc.)

Jerry — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:43:28 GMT

I used to carry a card that said the same thing when I worked for the State, however the AG's office warned against doing any sneaking around on people's property. Public property, when someone was there, was a different story. I guess it depends on what part of the country your from. Some parts of the Ozarks,and Appalacia, for example, you do not want to go on anyones property unannounced.

RE: Landowner question on trash problem(tampons, etc.)

D Shulmister — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:02:18 GMT

Jerry

These guys have been known to show up at smaller facilities when no one was there -- and climb over the fence to inspect the facility. I would think that would come under the heading of trespassing, but the permit says they have the right to inspect the property at any reasonable time. Unfortunately, the rules do not state that the owner, permitee or operator has to be present to let them in. They take that to mean they have free rein and enter any time they like and any way necessasry to get in.

RE: Landowner question on trash problem(tampons, etc.)

Jerry — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:27:23 GMT

Had a couple people get killed in Missouri for going on someones property unanounced. One was a State inspector and the other a Sheriff's Deputy.

RE: Landowner question on trash problem(tampons, etc.)

D Shulmister — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:43:49 GMT

Living in a dream world?? Jerry, you were the first to say "there are mechanical bar screens available that would automatically rake the screen and dump it in a container(dumpster),of sorts." I was basically agreeing with you. And I doubt that we're dealing with small plants here since TexasBiosolids said the trucks come in one after another. And I don't know which states you are familiar with, but in Florida the DEP inspectors give you nil, nada, zip, nothing in the way of a warning about when they are going to inspect -- they show up on your doorstep and that's the first you know they're coming.

RE: Landowner question on trash problem(tampons, etc.)

Jerry — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:11:13 GMT

You must live in a dream world,David. Most small to medium plants don't even know what removing screenings means. I've seen operators rake the screens and dump it on the other side of the screen. Others just let it over flow the screens without raking. There's not enough inspectors in the State and the owners of these plants don't know if the operator is doing the right thing or not. In most cases when the State or EPA does an inspection, it is announced and that gives the operators or owners time to clean up things. I'm talking about 50% of the small to medium plants. This is not taking away from the concerned operators. All the State or EPA looks at, in most cases, are the effluent numbers.

RE: Landowner question on trash problem(tampons, etc.)

D Shulmister — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 13:26:14 GMT

One helpful piece of information is: WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF THE BIOSOLIDS?? Is this cake or liquid sludge? If the material is coming from a wastewater treatment plant, the plant is responsible to remove the objectionable material. They should have a screen installed to catch the debris.

RE: Landowner question on trash problem(tampons, etc.)

Jerry — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:17:24 GMT

As muffin would know, there are mechanical bar screens available that would automatically rake the screen and dump it in a container(dumpster),of sorts.

RE: Landowner question on trash problem(tampons, etc.)

TexasBiosolids — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:12:05 GMT

Well, I've had that discussion with them as well. What I've found is during hay season, they really need to pick up every day as the trash gets lost in the tall grass. Which is another issue in itself......haven't really had any complaints from the person that makes the hay out here with people complaining, but I know it's not good for a rancher to buy hay for his cows and get the "present" of tampons in the rolls.

I've asked time and time again to "police" the fields as I call it, but the one guy he has working out here is either on the tractor moving the raingun or dealing with the unloading of trucks which seem to come in one right after another.

He really needs to hire a full time person just to walk the fields.

RE: Landowner question on trash problem(tampons, etc.)

Dvant — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:33:48 GMT

One solution is to tell the application company to get a crew to come pick the stuff up. I would have to send guys out to pick plastics about twice a year. Nice application site with views of the Rockies, deer, Elk not a bad gig twice a year.

Mark

RE: Landowner question on trash problem(tampons, etc.)

TexasBiosolids — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:01:33 GMT

Alec,

Forgot to add this question and the reason I'm posting instead of emailing you direct is in the possibility that other landowners find out about this discussion group and can benefit from the info.

Here's the million dollar question. How do you keep your screens from clogging with hair?

I'll try and take some pictures of the screening box they built here and post. It is essentially a large roll off box that is separated into three compartments. The compartments are separated by the large screens and are able to be removed with a small crane to be cleaned. Although I think the hair that is supposed to be "the problem" is actually serving as the better screen.

RE: Landowner question on trash problem(tampons, etc.)

muffinmonster — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:47:30 GMT

LOL...I hear ya Jerry - that was a perfect question for our product...

And I promise - no games, no set-ups. In business today we have to earn your trust and respect one person at a time. I won't screw that up by playing games.

If I planted the TexasBiosolids post - well then I'll eat it!

RE: Landowner question on trash problem(tampons, etc.)

TexasBiosolids — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:45:17 GMT

Alec,

Thank you for the reply and info!

I should have mentioned a bit more about the screening box they built. He used expanded metal for the screens and when he brought it out here, I looked at him and said, "that's not going to filter much as the holes are too large".

Well, he said it had to be that way because any smaller and it would just clog all the time with hair. I can understand that, but then again, I'm getting to the point that this is my land and though I'm trying to do something good, is it all worth trashing up my place?

There's nothing like driving friends and family around the place and having to explain why there are condom wrappers in the field..........yes, those ARE tampon applicators lying there.......yes that is a used syringe......you know the rest.

The best part is then trying to explain WHY I let it happen.

There are positives I know, but it just seems to me that the industry would be doing everything possible to rectify the problem. Allowing this will never make it favorable in the publics eyes......of course it is funny to watch someone's eyes get about as big a saucers when I tell them they used to just pump this stuff into the rivers and ocean.

I contacted Gene over at www.biosoilds.org and he is the one that told me about this site. I had been telling them they needed to add a "Landowners Area" to theirs for us to voice our side of the equation. So I'm glad I've finally found somewhere to obtain info.

RE: Landowner question on trash problem(tampons, etc.)

Jerry — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:40:52 GMT

Looks like a set-up question and answer by muffin. Anyway I'm glad that muffin is getting on the band wagon for fine screens.

RE: Landowner question on trash problem(tampons, etc.)

muffinmonster — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:05:49 GMT

Trash, plastics, rags, sanitary napkins, q-tips, floss and other unwanted matter has been a source of grief in the industry for decades. It's what led JWC Environmental to develop sewage and sludge grinders back in 1973 and to introduce wastewater fine screens in the 1990s.

Pump stations clog, sludge pumps get wrapped up in rags, heat-exchangers jam solid with trash, aeration basins get clogged with rags, condoms float in lakes or waterfront areas and yes - some trash ends up in the biosolids spread on fields as you have experienced. Even hypodermic needles can get stuck in pumps threatening workers. As a percentage it is very small so it is not seen as a top threat to the environment, but still a very unpleasant visual. Moreover, treatment plant operators get the job of unclogging, unplugging, unsticking, skimming and otherwise trying to take out most of the trash everybody put into the sewer system.

People use their toilet as a trash can. One day they'll stop, but don't seem to be slowing down right now.

In the last five years fine screens have become increasingly popular here in the States - in part for the exact reason you mentioned - to keep trash from entering the wastewater treatment plant and escaping into the open environment. The conveyor belt like screen uses stainless steel perforate panels with tiny 1/4" or 1/8" circular holes in it to take out the trash at the start of the treatment process (called inlet works or headworks).

So you're right - the technology is available. In your area of Texas we've installed a couple dozen finescreens into wastewater treatment plants including the one above. Several hundred here in the States and over a thousand around the world.

Here is an article about the new breed of wastewater fine screens a co-worker and I completed for WE&T.

You can also get an up-close view of the sewer fine screens in our on-line video.

For more information on JWC's fine screens and handling wastewater trash you can visit our website at www.jwce.com

If you want let me know which city you're in at jwce@jwce.com and I'll see if a finescreen is nearby - you can ask the facility to check-it out yourself. The folks here at JWC focus exclusively on helping treatment plants handle the trash in wastewater. Thanks for bringing up the topic.

Also, thanks for taking all those biosolids - you deserve a big thank you. Without landowners such as yourself - the industry would be stuck with a heck of a lot of stuff on its hands.

Landowner question on trash problem(tampons, etc.)

TexasBiosolids — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:00:47 GMT

I'm a landowner that has biosoilds applied to my land. I'm growing sick and tired of the trash(tampons, condoms, pens, q-tips, syringes, etc.) that ends up in the mix out here. I stopped the cake as that was an even bigger trash problem and only allow liquids now.

I voiced my concerns with the application company and they tried to help by building a screening box. Well, that helped a little, but the trash still seems to get through.

I obviously am not in the business per say, but it just seems like in this day and age, they should be able to screen out all trash at the station where they pick this stuff up at. Am I wrong to think this?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!