Guide for the Beneficial Use of Non-Agricultural Source Materials on Agricultural Land

This notice was originally posted in the old Environmental Registry under number PA04E0008.

Description of policy

As part of the nutrient management initiative, the Ontario Ministries of the Environment (MOE) and Agriculture and Food (OMAF) reviewed the provincial land application program for non-agricultural source materials in order to ensure continuous improvement of, and maintain best management practices for, the application of these materials on agricultural land. Following this, the Guidelines for the Utilization of Biosolids and Other Wastes on Agricultural Land (March 1996) (Guidelines) were reviewed and revised to include the enhanced land application requirements set out in Ontario Regulation 267/03, as amended and made under the Nutrient Management Act, 2002. Changes in regulatory procedures and references to applicable Acts, regulations and publications were also updated in the revised Guidelines. This initiative has resulted in the above-noted proposal entitled "Guide for the Beneficial Use of Non-Agricultural Source Materials on Agricultural Land."

The title has been changed to ensure that existing Certificates of Approval which reference the 1996 Guidelines are not affected. Once the Guide for the Beneficial Use of Non-Agricultural Source Materials on Agricultural Land is finalized, the revised standards contained in it will be used as a Guide for the issuance of all new Certificates of Approval.

Regulation 267/03, under the Nutrient Management Act, was effective September 30, 2003. The Guideline has been updated to include requirements such as the three which took effect on that date:

• a ban on the winter spreading of sewage biosolids
• a ban on the use of high trajectory irrigation guns to apply these materials
• a requirement for a 20 metre setback from surface water for these materials

The other enhanced requirements will take effect incrementally, applying to fields where non-agricultural source materials are applied, as the farm is phased into the Nutrient Management Act requirements. Until these farms are phased in, Certificates of Approval will continue to be issued for the application of non-agricultural source materials on agricultural land, using the criteria in the proposed Guide for the Beneficial Use of Non-Agricultural Source Materials on Agricultural Land.

Non-agricultural source materials include sewage biosolids, pulp and paper biosolids and other materials that are not from an agricultural source that are capable of being applied to land to improve the growing of agricultural crops but do not include commercial fertilizers or compost. Land application of non-agricultural source materials as a beneficial agricultural use has been an accepted, regulated practice in Ontario for more than 25 years.

Land application of non-agricultural source materials offers municipalities and other generators a safe, cost-effective and environmentally sound alternative to managing their residuals by reducing costs associated with the disposal of these materials in landfill sites or by incineration while at the same time providing farmers with required nutrients for their crops.

The fertilizer value of non-agricultural source materials is proven. Its use provides cost savings to farmers by allowing them to reduce their use of commercial fertilizers. Non-agricultural source materials are monitored for nutrients, trace metals, pathogens, solids content, organic compounds and pH. No crop-animal toxicity or disease transfer has been attributed to the use of non-agricultural source materials as an agricultural fertilizer or as a soil amendment material.

Purpose of policy

The purpose of the proposal is to update the Guideline to include the new standards so that generators (e.g. municipalities) and haulers are aware of the new standards. It has also been updated to incorporate other revisions identified by ministry working groups (e.g. housekeeping changes, changes in terminology, and proper referencing to applicable Acts, regulations, publications, etc.).

Other public consultation opportunities

A hyper-link to a draft copy (in .pdf format) of the "Guide for the Beneficial Use of Non-Agricultural Source Materials on Agricultural Land " can be found at the end of this notice.