Biosolids Management Program | City of Grand Rapids, MI

Biosolids are the organic material collected throughout the water recovery process. Currently, we extract this material, load it into sealed trucks, and send it to landfills.

Grand Rapids is a certified Environmental Management System with the National Biosolids Partnership. This modern management approach keeps our operations efficient and protective of the environment.

Grand Valley Regional Biosolids Authority

This board provides leadership in a regional biosolids management program. The program is sustainable, innovative, and captures the value of biosolids.

Learn more about the GVRBA

We want to hear from you.

Biosolids are the organic material collected throughout the water recovery process. Currently, we extract this material, load it into sealed trucks, and send it to landfills.

Grand Rapids is a certified Environmental Management System with the National Biosolids Partnership. This modern management approach keeps our operations efficient and protective of the environment.

We depend on oversight from independent auditors to verify that we are properly managing our environmental and community health impacts. We also depend on you. If you have comments or suggestions for our Biosolids Management Program, we want to hear from you.

Submit a Comment

Code of Good Practice

The Code of Good Practice is a broad framework of goals to guide these biosolids practices:

Production
Management
Transportation
Storage
Use
Disposal

Those who take part in the National Biosolids Partnership (NBP) commit to do the right thing. NBP participants pledge to uphold these principles of conduct:

Compliance

NBP participants pledge to follow all applicable laws. This includes federal, state, and local requirements for wastewater treatment:

Management
Transportation
Storage
Use
Disposal of biosolids away from the facility

Product

Provide biosolids that meet the applicable standards for their intended use or disposal.

Environmental Management System

Develop an environmental management system for biosolids. This includes a method of independent third-party verification. The verification ensures effective ongoing Biosolids operations.

Quality Monitoring

Enhance the monitoring of Biosolids production and management practices.

Quality Practices

Promote good housekeeping practices for biosolids production:

Processing
Transport
Storage

This includes final use or disposal operations.

Contingency and Emergency Response Plans

Develop response plans for unanticipated events. We plan for these emergencies:

Inclement weather
spills
Equipment malfunctions

Sustainable Management Practices and Operations

Enhance the environment by committing to sustainable practices. We work to make sure our lessen the environmental impact of our practices. We do this by using an environmental management system.

Preventive Maintenance

Prepare and put in place a plan for preventive maintenance. We take care of our equipment used to manage biosolids and wastewater solids.

Continual Improvement

Seek continual improvement in all aspects of biosolids management.

Communication

Provide methods of effective communication with gatekeepers, stakeholders, and interested citizens. We update stakeholders on the key elements of each environmental management system. This includes information relative to system performance.

Biosolids Management Documents